9 feb 2014

Israeli settlers early Sunday raided private Palestinian land near Ramallah and uprooted hundreds of newly planted olive trees, locals told Ma'an.
Locals said that dozens of settlers raided fields in the village of Sinjil north of Ramallah and uprooted and stole 800 olive saplings.
The saplings had been planted days earlier after settlers uprooted olive trees in the same area on Jan. 22.
The trees uprooted on Jan. 22 had recently been planted in coordination with a project funded by the International Red Cross Committee.
Israeli authorities rarely investigate violent crimes carried out by settlers against Palestinian communities.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the Palestinian Authority ministry and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Locals said that dozens of settlers raided fields in the village of Sinjil north of Ramallah and uprooted and stole 800 olive saplings.
The saplings had been planted days earlier after settlers uprooted olive trees in the same area on Jan. 22.
The trees uprooted on Jan. 22 had recently been planted in coordination with a project funded by the International Red Cross Committee.
Israeli authorities rarely investigate violent crimes carried out by settlers against Palestinian communities.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the Palestinian Authority ministry and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.

A group of Jewish settlers led by the fanatic rabbi Yehuda Glick entered the Aqsa Mosque on Sunday morning via the Maghareba gate. Eyewitnesses inside the Aqsa Mosque said that special Israeli police forces escorted the settlers during their tour of the holy site.
They said that Glick was lecturing the settlers on the myth of the so-called temple and its alleged location in place of the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli soldiers stationed at the gates to the Mosque detained the ID cards of young worshipers to prevent any attempt to protest the settlers’ tour. One of the young men was arrested.
They said that Glick was lecturing the settlers on the myth of the so-called temple and its alleged location in place of the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli soldiers stationed at the gates to the Mosque detained the ID cards of young worshipers to prevent any attempt to protest the settlers’ tour. One of the young men was arrested.
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![]() Israeli Ta'ayush organization activist was escorting goat herders in area belonging to Palestinians when attack occurred
An Israeli activist from the leftist Ta'ayush organization was attacked on Saturday in the West Bank by a group of masked settlers who beat him with clubs. The victim belongs to a group of activists who go every Saturday to south Mount Hebron region and conduct joint activities with local Palestinians. on Saturday morning, the activists said, they arrived to escort goat herders in an area belonging to Palestinians near Mitzpe Ashtamoa, a neighborhood in Mount Hebron. There were six goat herders in the area, and at a certain stage, the activists said, 15 masked settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers emerged from the outpost, and began to approach the activists. The soldiers remained at a distance throughout the incident, and it is far from certain that they saw the attack. At that point the activists began to partially document the event. Danny Kronberg told Ynet that the incident began at 11 am, when some of the masked men approached him as he was standing at some distance from his friends. "One of the masked men approached me and started pushing me, and then two more joined and began to kick me while I was lying on the floor, and striked me a club." Kronberg said he was injured in his legs and back. "At first one of them thought I was a Palestinian and then he realized I was an Israeli and yelled at me why did I come here to support Palestinians," Kronberg added. Krongberg said that the attack lasted a short time and that the settlers fled immediately after. At the time of the attack, the soldiers were apparently some distance from the location. Later on, the masked men used slingshots to hurl stones at the activists. The activists said that the settlers called upon the soldiers to shoot the settlers, and threatened that if they won't do it, the settlers would shoot them themselves. (Israeli video on the link) In video: Settlers beat Israeli activist protecting Palestinians |
Footage released by a rights group on Saturday appears to show Jewish settlers beating an Israeli activist as he tries to defend Palestinian farmers while Israeli soldiers look on.
The videos released by joint Israeli-Palestinian human rights group Ta'ayush show an Israeli activist who has accompanied Palestinians to their farm lands in the village of Khirbet Shuweika in the South Hebron Hills being assaulted by Jewish settlers.
The videos, which could not be independently verified, also show that after the settlers have beaten the activist, an Israeli soldier approaches the settlers but pats one of them on the back and does not attempt to detain or reprimand them in anyway.
According to Israeli alternative news website +972, the assault occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday.
An Israeli activist affiliated with Ta'ayush had accompanied local Palestinians after they had been prevented from reaching their lands numerous times in recent weeks by local settlers, even though Israeli authorities recognize the area as private Palestinian land.
The Jewish settlers were from the nearby Eshtemoa outpost, and according to an activist affiliated with the group, none of them were detained by Israeli forces.
Following the attack, the activist went to the Kiryat Arba police station and Israeli authorities said an investigation would be launched into the incident.
Israeli news site Haaretz quoted an IDF spokesperson as saying that the video was "tendentiously edited," and that Israeli soldiers on the scene had acted to "distance" the settlers and call on police to investigate the incident, as per protocol, according to +972.
In 2013, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In the last week alone, hundreds of olive trees across the West Bank have been chopped in a number of incidents targeting Palestinian farmers' livelihoods.
The videos released by joint Israeli-Palestinian human rights group Ta'ayush show an Israeli activist who has accompanied Palestinians to their farm lands in the village of Khirbet Shuweika in the South Hebron Hills being assaulted by Jewish settlers.
The videos, which could not be independently verified, also show that after the settlers have beaten the activist, an Israeli soldier approaches the settlers but pats one of them on the back and does not attempt to detain or reprimand them in anyway.
According to Israeli alternative news website +972, the assault occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday.
An Israeli activist affiliated with Ta'ayush had accompanied local Palestinians after they had been prevented from reaching their lands numerous times in recent weeks by local settlers, even though Israeli authorities recognize the area as private Palestinian land.
The Jewish settlers were from the nearby Eshtemoa outpost, and according to an activist affiliated with the group, none of them were detained by Israeli forces.
Following the attack, the activist went to the Kiryat Arba police station and Israeli authorities said an investigation would be launched into the incident.
Israeli news site Haaretz quoted an IDF spokesperson as saying that the video was "tendentiously edited," and that Israeli soldiers on the scene had acted to "distance" the settlers and call on police to investigate the incident, as per protocol, according to +972.
In 2013, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In the last week alone, hundreds of olive trees across the West Bank have been chopped in a number of incidents targeting Palestinian farmers' livelihoods.
8 feb 2014

A large force of Israeli forces assembled south of Nablus late Saturday after a molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli settler's vehicle on the road earlier in the day.
Witnesses told Ma'an that large numbers of Israeli soldiers massed on the road leading to the Israeli settlement of Itzhar near the village of Burin after the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces fired a number of flares and began conducting searches in the area in order to detain those who had thrown the cocktail.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Witnesses told Ma'an that large numbers of Israeli soldiers massed on the road leading to the Israeli settlement of Itzhar near the village of Burin after the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces fired a number of flares and began conducting searches in the area in order to detain those who had thrown the cocktail.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
7 feb 2014

Palestinian resistance fighters on Thursday night set fire to a settler bus while it was passing between the town of Ya'abad south of Jenin and Dotan settlement, leading to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Local sources told PIC's correspondent that the resistance fighters threw Molotov cocktails at a bus carrying settlers.
They added that the occupation forces deployed soldiers in Ya'abad and declared the area a closed military zone.
They have also re-installed the Iron Gate at the village's southern entrance that leads to the city of Tulkarem, and started raiding the citizens' houses.
The sources said that the town witnessed violent clashes last night, during which the IOF fired gas bombs, causing dozens of civilians to suffocate.
For its part, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that it was able to transfer 5 wounded, including 2 children, to the Governmental Hospital in Jenin.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian house in the village was damaged after being hit by a stun grenade during the confrontations.
Local sources told PIC's correspondent that the resistance fighters threw Molotov cocktails at a bus carrying settlers.
They added that the occupation forces deployed soldiers in Ya'abad and declared the area a closed military zone.
They have also re-installed the Iron Gate at the village's southern entrance that leads to the city of Tulkarem, and started raiding the citizens' houses.
The sources said that the town witnessed violent clashes last night, during which the IOF fired gas bombs, causing dozens of civilians to suffocate.
For its part, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that it was able to transfer 5 wounded, including 2 children, to the Governmental Hospital in Jenin.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian house in the village was damaged after being hit by a stun grenade during the confrontations.
6 feb 2014

Hundreds of worshipers and vigilantes in the Aqsa Mosque foiled on Thursday Jewish settlers’ attempt to break into the holy site carrying Israeli flags. The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said in a statement that hundreds of Jerusalemites, worshipers and Palestinians of the 1948 occupied land flocked to the Aqsa since Wednesday night.
It said that hundreds others arrived to the Mosque in the early morning hours on Thursday and foiled schemes by the settlers to break into the holy site and raise Israeli flags inside it.
AFEH said that Israeli forces arrested two young men near the holy site then released them later after questioning them at a police station, adding that they were both physically assaulted during the detention.
It said that hundreds others arrived to the Mosque in the early morning hours on Thursday and foiled schemes by the settlers to break into the holy site and raise Israeli flags inside it.
AFEH said that Israeli forces arrested two young men near the holy site then released them later after questioning them at a police station, adding that they were both physically assaulted during the detention.

Two Palestinian young men were injured with rubber bullets in Qasra village, south of Nablus, on Thursday during confrontations with Israeli occupation forces (IOF). Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the incidents started after a group of Jewish settlers attacked the village and assaulted farmers.
They said that IOF soldiers stormed the village to protect the settlers and violent confrontations ensued with young men, who threw stones and empty bottles at the invaders.
They said that the clashes were still raging in the afternoon and that two young men were injured with rubber bullets while others suffered breathing difficulty as a result of the IOF intensive firing of teargas bombs and rubber bullets at the youths.
Ghassan Daghlas, an activist monitoring settlement activity north of the West Bank, said that the settlers came from Yash Kodesh settlement outpost and attacked Palestinian farmers trying to evict them from their land but the farmers confronted the attempt.
He said that inhabitants rushed to aid the farmers and the IOF soldiers arrived to the scene and the confrontations then flared up.
They said that IOF soldiers stormed the village to protect the settlers and violent confrontations ensued with young men, who threw stones and empty bottles at the invaders.
They said that the clashes were still raging in the afternoon and that two young men were injured with rubber bullets while others suffered breathing difficulty as a result of the IOF intensive firing of teargas bombs and rubber bullets at the youths.
Ghassan Daghlas, an activist monitoring settlement activity north of the West Bank, said that the settlers came from Yash Kodesh settlement outpost and attacked Palestinian farmers trying to evict them from their land but the farmers confronted the attempt.
He said that inhabitants rushed to aid the farmers and the IOF soldiers arrived to the scene and the confrontations then flared up.

A Palestinian man sustained multiple fractures late Wednesday after being knocked down by an Israeli driver who then fled the scene, his family said.
Basim Umran told Ma'an on Thursday that his brother Tayseer, 42, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident near Yitzhar settlement south of Nablus.
Umran highlighted that an Israeli settler hit his brother while he was waiting for a taxi to drive him to his home in Deir al-Hatab village east of Nablus.
Umran suffered multiple fractures in the incident and underwent surgery at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.
Basim Umran told Ma'an on Thursday that his brother Tayseer, 42, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident near Yitzhar settlement south of Nablus.
Umran highlighted that an Israeli settler hit his brother while he was waiting for a taxi to drive him to his home in Deir al-Hatab village east of Nablus.
Umran suffered multiple fractures in the incident and underwent surgery at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

Beit El settlement in Ramallah
Dozens of Jewish settlers from Beit El settlement, north of Ramallah city, chanted slogans and carried banners during a night march Wednesday calling for killing the Palestinians and displacing them from their homes. The settlers marched from the entrance of the settlement to the Israeli liaison barrier, one of Ramallah's entrances, under tight military protection.
Palestinian Authority security forces also helped their Israeli counterparts to secure the march and prevented Palestinian vehicles from reaching the liaison barrier.
Violent clashes broke out last Friday outside Beit El settlement between scores of angry Palestinian young men from Al-Jalazoun refugee camp and Israeli soldiers.
More than 30 Palestinians suffered live bullet injuries during those events.
Dozens of Jewish settlers from Beit El settlement, north of Ramallah city, chanted slogans and carried banners during a night march Wednesday calling for killing the Palestinians and displacing them from their homes. The settlers marched from the entrance of the settlement to the Israeli liaison barrier, one of Ramallah's entrances, under tight military protection.
Palestinian Authority security forces also helped their Israeli counterparts to secure the march and prevented Palestinian vehicles from reaching the liaison barrier.
Violent clashes broke out last Friday outside Beit El settlement between scores of angry Palestinian young men from Al-Jalazoun refugee camp and Israeli soldiers.
More than 30 Palestinians suffered live bullet injuries during those events.
5 feb 2014
He was taken to Hadassah hospital in Ein Kerem following the attack.
Turmusayya sits immediately south of the Jewish settlement of Shiloh halfway between Ramallah and Nablus.
In 2012, there were 353 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
Turmusayya sits immediately south of the Jewish settlement of Shiloh halfway between Ramallah and Nablus.
In 2012, there were 353 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.

Three settlement outpost residents are indicted with planning, executing price tag operations in Samarian Palestinian village due to 'nationalistic motive, hostility towards Arab public'
Yehuda Landsberg, Benjamin Richter and Yehuda Savir – three residents of the Havat Gilad settlement outpost – were charged Wednesday with planning and executing price tag operations in the Samarian Palestinian village of Far'ata.
According to the indictment, the three arrived three months ago at the Palestinian village, set two Palestinian-owned vehicles on fire and sprayed Stars of David on nearby walls. Substantial damage was caused to the two cars that were torched. "The forbidden actions of the group members were performed due to nationalistic motives and out of hostility towards the Arab public," the indictment reads.
The three, aged 22-25, were defined by the Shin Bet as radical right-wing activists, and two of them were previously affiliated with other violent acts. Landsberg, according to the Shit Bet statement, was involved in illegal and violent activities against Palestinians and their property, was arrested several times by the police and interrogated on suspicion of carrying out severely violent activities due to nationalistic motives, but was never prosecuted.
Richter was involved in severe violent acts against Palestinians and their property, and was also interrogated by the police. In 2013, he was accused of attacking two Palestinians and his freedom of movement was restricted. The current indictment also claims he had violated his freedom of movement restrictions.
The Shin Bet investigation revealed additional information regarding the illegal and violent activities by the three in the Palestinian village. "If the truth had been revealed on time, it would have brought on a violent escalation," the incitement reads. "Price tag activities can undermine the public and region's safety," the statement reads.
"This affair shows the potential threat behind a small group of extremist activists, who use violent methods in order to fulfill their ideological desires, even at challenging government decisions and spreading terror within the Palestinian community. All this while causing severe damage to the State's image in the international arena."
Yehuda Landsberg, Benjamin Richter and Yehuda Savir – three residents of the Havat Gilad settlement outpost – were charged Wednesday with planning and executing price tag operations in the Samarian Palestinian village of Far'ata.
According to the indictment, the three arrived three months ago at the Palestinian village, set two Palestinian-owned vehicles on fire and sprayed Stars of David on nearby walls. Substantial damage was caused to the two cars that were torched. "The forbidden actions of the group members were performed due to nationalistic motives and out of hostility towards the Arab public," the indictment reads.
The three, aged 22-25, were defined by the Shin Bet as radical right-wing activists, and two of them were previously affiliated with other violent acts. Landsberg, according to the Shit Bet statement, was involved in illegal and violent activities against Palestinians and their property, was arrested several times by the police and interrogated on suspicion of carrying out severely violent activities due to nationalistic motives, but was never prosecuted.
Richter was involved in severe violent acts against Palestinians and their property, and was also interrogated by the police. In 2013, he was accused of attacking two Palestinians and his freedom of movement was restricted. The current indictment also claims he had violated his freedom of movement restrictions.
The Shin Bet investigation revealed additional information regarding the illegal and violent activities by the three in the Palestinian village. "If the truth had been revealed on time, it would have brought on a violent escalation," the incitement reads. "Price tag activities can undermine the public and region's safety," the statement reads.
"This affair shows the potential threat behind a small group of extremist activists, who use violent methods in order to fulfill their ideological desires, even at challenging government decisions and spreading terror within the Palestinian community. All this while causing severe damage to the State's image in the international arena."

Israeli settlers on Wednesday destroyed over 100 olive trees in the Nablus district, a Palestinian Authority official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that settlers from Itamar cut down the olive trees in an open area in Wadi Yanoun, which is situated between Awarta and Yanoun villages.
Jewish settlers on Sunday vandalized private Palestinian agricultural lands north of Ramallah and uprooted more than 1,000 olive trees and newly planted saplings.
In 2012, there were 353 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Settler regularly target Palestinian olive trees for attack.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
Jewish settlers chop down 250 olive trees
Jewish settlers chopped down 250 olive trees to the north of Aqraba village, south of Nablus, on Wednesday. Hamza Deiriya, an anti-settlement activist in southern Nablus areas, told the PIC reporter that he received a phone call from farmers in Yanun hamlet, north of Aqraba, at noon saying that dozens of old trees were chopped down in their fields.
He said after visiting the scene that settlers from Itamar settlement had launched the attack and destroyed the trees, most of which were 150 years old, using manual saws.
Deiriya said that the trees are owned by families in Nablus city and Aqraba village.
The hamlet is a favorite target for Itamar settlers and comes under daily attack while vehicles passing along the Yanon street leading to Nablus are routinely pelted with stones by settlers from the same settlement.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that settlers from Itamar cut down the olive trees in an open area in Wadi Yanoun, which is situated between Awarta and Yanoun villages.
Jewish settlers on Sunday vandalized private Palestinian agricultural lands north of Ramallah and uprooted more than 1,000 olive trees and newly planted saplings.
In 2012, there were 353 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Settler regularly target Palestinian olive trees for attack.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
Jewish settlers chop down 250 olive trees
Jewish settlers chopped down 250 olive trees to the north of Aqraba village, south of Nablus, on Wednesday. Hamza Deiriya, an anti-settlement activist in southern Nablus areas, told the PIC reporter that he received a phone call from farmers in Yanun hamlet, north of Aqraba, at noon saying that dozens of old trees were chopped down in their fields.
He said after visiting the scene that settlers from Itamar settlement had launched the attack and destroyed the trees, most of which were 150 years old, using manual saws.
Deiriya said that the trees are owned by families in Nablus city and Aqraba village.
The hamlet is a favorite target for Itamar settlers and comes under daily attack while vehicles passing along the Yanon street leading to Nablus are routinely pelted with stones by settlers from the same settlement.

A number of extremist Israeli settlers invaded Ein Sara and Ras al-Jouza neighborhoods, in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers and settlers invaded the two neighborhoods, and provoked several Palestinians, while carrying maps and pictures of the area.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the settlers took pictures of homes, streets and property in the two areas, and even photographed water springs and lands belonging to the Palestinians.
WAFA added that the soldiers restricted the movement of the local residents, and alleged the settlers are searching for two springs referred to as Ein Sara and Ein Khallit Botrokh.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers and settlers invaded the two neighborhoods, and provoked several Palestinians, while carrying maps and pictures of the area.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the settlers took pictures of homes, streets and property in the two areas, and even photographed water springs and lands belonging to the Palestinians.
WAFA added that the soldiers restricted the movement of the local residents, and alleged the settlers are searching for two springs referred to as Ein Sara and Ein Khallit Botrokh.
4 feb 2014

The Israeli occupation authorities set up on Monday night two mobile homes on the lands of al-Khader village to the south of Bethlehem. Local sources told PIC's correspondent that Israeli soldiers, accompanied by large mechanisms, removed a military tower from lands in the south of Khader village, and set up in its place two caravans, in the framework of the expansion of the outpost that has been recently set up in the region.
Meanwhile, Palestinian farmers and workers said that settlers from the new settlement of Leshem, located in the north-west of the town of Kafr a-Dik to the west of Salfit, continued the construction works to expand their settlement at the expense of farmers' land.
Researcher and observer of settlement expansion in Salfit Khalid Ma'aly pointed out that the Minister of Housing in the Israeli government had announced in 2013 the construction of the new settlement of Leshem on the lands of Kafr al-Dik.
Meanwhile, Palestinian farmers and workers said that settlers from the new settlement of Leshem, located in the north-west of the town of Kafr a-Dik to the west of Salfit, continued the construction works to expand their settlement at the expense of farmers' land.
Researcher and observer of settlement expansion in Salfit Khalid Ma'aly pointed out that the Minister of Housing in the Israeli government had announced in 2013 the construction of the new settlement of Leshem on the lands of Kafr al-Dik.

In a provocative precedent, Israeli intelligence officers broke into the Dome of Rock Tuesday morning under heavy Israeli police protection. Local sources confirmed that 30 intelligence officers stormed into al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, and broke into the Dome of Rock amid female worshipers' protests.
Israeli officers tried to photograph the female protesters' faces, which led to clashes and verbal insults between the two parties, the sources added.
The sources pointed out that Israeli police confiscated the female protesters' identity cards and transferred them to Qishleh police station in occupied Jerusalem.
In the same context, 17 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate escorted by Israeli police.
The so-called Jewish Temple organizations have called on its supporters to gather in front of the Mughrabi Gate next Thursday to break into al-Aqsa Mosque, and to raise the Israeli flag in its squares.
Israeli officers tried to photograph the female protesters' faces, which led to clashes and verbal insults between the two parties, the sources added.
The sources pointed out that Israeli police confiscated the female protesters' identity cards and transferred them to Qishleh police station in occupied Jerusalem.
In the same context, 17 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate escorted by Israeli police.
The so-called Jewish Temple organizations have called on its supporters to gather in front of the Mughrabi Gate next Thursday to break into al-Aqsa Mosque, and to raise the Israeli flag in its squares.
3 feb 2014

Jewish settlers led by the extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick entered the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Monday morning under tight security measures.
Eyewitnesses said that 14 settlers broke into the holy site and toured its various courtyards as the rabbi delivered lectures on the alleged temple, noting that the settlers were accompanied by heavy police escort throughout their tour.
Calls have been made for a massive storming of the Aqsa Mosque next Thursday that would be coupled with raising the Israeli flag in its yards.
Eyewitnesses said that 14 settlers broke into the holy site and toured its various courtyards as the rabbi delivered lectures on the alleged temple, noting that the settlers were accompanied by heavy police escort throughout their tour.
Calls have been made for a massive storming of the Aqsa Mosque next Thursday that would be coupled with raising the Israeli flag in its yards.

Ahmed Ouda, former member of Akka municipal council, warned Palestinians ,in the old city of Acre, of selling their homes to Zionist extremist groups aimed who tried to Judaize the city. Ouda said that the extremist Zionist groups seek to implement a large and dangerous scheme to buy many homes in (Al-Mablata district) Anis Feran square, in attempt to house highly extremist Zionist students.
Ouda stated that the plan includes the establishment of a Jewish museum in the district, in addition to a direct route between al-Remal synagogue (located behind the targeted homes) and Anees Feeran district.
Ouda called upon the officials in the city to prevent the establishment of these extremist Zionist schools, emphasizing the importance of a unified and a firm stand to stop this dangerous scheme.
Ouda stated that the plan includes the establishment of a Jewish museum in the district, in addition to a direct route between al-Remal synagogue (located behind the targeted homes) and Anees Feeran district.
Ouda called upon the officials in the city to prevent the establishment of these extremist Zionist schools, emphasizing the importance of a unified and a firm stand to stop this dangerous scheme.

The so-called Jewish Temple organizations have called on its supporters to gather in front of the Mughrabi Gate next Thursday to break into al-Aqsa Mosque, and to raise the Israeli flag in its squares . The Jewish Temple organizations stressed Monday on raising the Israeli flag in al-Aqsa Mosque in response to raising flags in its squares by Palestinian factions.
Al-Aqsa Mosque guards and Palestinian worshipers and students have foiled several Israeli settlers' attempts to raise the Israeli flag in the Mosque’s squares most recently was in November.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Hayel Abdul Hafeez, warned of Israeli police's violations in al-Aqsa Mosque after allowing 30 Israeli armed soldiers to access the Mosque.
The minister said in a statement on Monday that this dangerous precedent aims to legalize "military tourism" in the holy site and to provoke Muslims' feelings all over the world, adding that it would increase extremism in the region and perhaps would lead to the outbreak of a religious war.
Al-Aqsa Mosque guards and Palestinian worshipers and students have foiled several Israeli settlers' attempts to raise the Israeli flag in the Mosque’s squares most recently was in November.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Hayel Abdul Hafeez, warned of Israeli police's violations in al-Aqsa Mosque after allowing 30 Israeli armed soldiers to access the Mosque.
The minister said in a statement on Monday that this dangerous precedent aims to legalize "military tourism" in the holy site and to provoke Muslims' feelings all over the world, adding that it would increase extremism in the region and perhaps would lead to the outbreak of a religious war.
2 feb 2014

Israeli forces on Sunday evacuated five settlers who said they mistakenly entered the Ein Hijla encampment protest near Jericho.
Abdullah Abu Rahma, a representative of the West Bank popular committees against Israel’s separation wall and settlements, told Ma’an that Palestinian activists, who have been encamping in Ein Hijla for the third day, stopped the settlers and questioned them for half an hour.
The settlers told the activists they entered the village “mistakenly and that they support the Palestinians and the peace process,” according to Abu Rahma.
He added that Israeli forces stormed the encampment area and evacuated the settlers.
Abdullah Abu Rahma, a representative of the West Bank popular committees against Israel’s separation wall and settlements, told Ma’an that Palestinian activists, who have been encamping in Ein Hijla for the third day, stopped the settlers and questioned them for half an hour.
The settlers told the activists they entered the village “mistakenly and that they support the Palestinians and the peace process,” according to Abu Rahma.
He added that Israeli forces stormed the encampment area and evacuated the settlers.

Israeli forces forbade the Islamic call for prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron 49 times in the month of January because it "annoyed" Jewish settlers, according to an official from the Palestinian Authority ministry of endowments.
Director of the Hebron office of the ministry of endowments Sheikh Taysir Abu Sneinah said that Israeli forces in the old city of the occupied southern West Bank city have repeatedly banned the mosque from broadcasting the call to prayer.
The pretext, he said, was that the sound of the Islamic call to prayer annoys Israeli settlers performing Jewish rites in the part of the mosque known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs that has been take over by Israeli forces.
Abu Sneinah denounced what he called "abusive Israeli practices" against Palestinian places of worship.
Hebron is a frequent site of clashes due to the presence of 500 Israeli settlers in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants. They are protected by thousands of Israeli forces.
A 1997 agreement split Hebron into areas of Palestinian and Israeli control.
The Israeli military-controlled H2 zone includes the ancient Old City, home of the revered Ibrahimi Mosque -- also split into a synagogue referred to as the Tomb of the Patriarchs -- and the once thriving Shuhada street, now just shuttered shops fronts and closed homes.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Director of the Hebron office of the ministry of endowments Sheikh Taysir Abu Sneinah said that Israeli forces in the old city of the occupied southern West Bank city have repeatedly banned the mosque from broadcasting the call to prayer.
The pretext, he said, was that the sound of the Islamic call to prayer annoys Israeli settlers performing Jewish rites in the part of the mosque known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs that has been take over by Israeli forces.
Abu Sneinah denounced what he called "abusive Israeli practices" against Palestinian places of worship.
Hebron is a frequent site of clashes due to the presence of 500 Israeli settlers in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants. They are protected by thousands of Israeli forces.
A 1997 agreement split Hebron into areas of Palestinian and Israeli control.
The Israeli military-controlled H2 zone includes the ancient Old City, home of the revered Ibrahimi Mosque -- also split into a synagogue referred to as the Tomb of the Patriarchs -- and the once thriving Shuhada street, now just shuttered shops fronts and closed homes.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.

Israeli settlers Sunday uprooted around 1625 olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the towns of Turmus Ayyaand and Sinjl, near Ramallah, according to a local official. Head of sinjil municipality Ayoob Sowaid told WAFA that settlers uprooted around 1200 newly planted olive trees in Sinjil, in addition to around 425 trees in Turmus Ayya.
This is the second attack by settlers in less than a week; settlers earlier in the week also uprooted around a 1000 olive saplings and seized them.
Extremist Settlers Uproot Hundreds Of Trees In Nablus, Ramallah
Extremist Israeli settlers invaded Palestinian orchards in the West Bank districts of Nablus and Ramallah, and uprooted more than 1425 olive trees and saplings.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli Settlements File at the Palestinian Authority in the northern part of the West Bank, stated that extremist settlers uprooted 425 olive trees in the ath-Thahra area, in Turmus Ayya village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The trees belong to resident Mohammad Jamal Abu Awwad, the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported, the Maan News Agency has reported.
Furthermore, settlers of the Shilo illegal settlement, uprooted more than 1000 olive saplings, planted by the residents nearly three years ago, in Sinjel village, between Nablus and Ramallah.
The saplings were planted as part of a project funded by the International Red Cross, and are located in a number of orchards belonging to the villagers.
Daghlas said the recent attacks show a further escalation in assaults carried out by fanatic Israeli settlers against the Palestinian people, their lands, homes and property, and their holy sites, including graveyards.
He called on international human rights groups to intervene, and stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in different parts of the occupied territories.
This is the second attack by settlers in less than a week; settlers earlier in the week also uprooted around a 1000 olive saplings and seized them.
Extremist Settlers Uproot Hundreds Of Trees In Nablus, Ramallah
Extremist Israeli settlers invaded Palestinian orchards in the West Bank districts of Nablus and Ramallah, and uprooted more than 1425 olive trees and saplings.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli Settlements File at the Palestinian Authority in the northern part of the West Bank, stated that extremist settlers uprooted 425 olive trees in the ath-Thahra area, in Turmus Ayya village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The trees belong to resident Mohammad Jamal Abu Awwad, the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported, the Maan News Agency has reported.
Furthermore, settlers of the Shilo illegal settlement, uprooted more than 1000 olive saplings, planted by the residents nearly three years ago, in Sinjel village, between Nablus and Ramallah.
The saplings were planted as part of a project funded by the International Red Cross, and are located in a number of orchards belonging to the villagers.
Daghlas said the recent attacks show a further escalation in assaults carried out by fanatic Israeli settlers against the Palestinian people, their lands, homes and property, and their holy sites, including graveyards.
He called on international human rights groups to intervene, and stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in different parts of the occupied territories.

A number of Israeli settlers attacked several Palestinian villagers working on their own lands in Wad Abu ar-Reesh -- Khirbit Safa area -- in Beit Ummar town, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
Mohammad Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, said that several settlers invaded Palestinian farmland and orchards, close to the illegal Beit Ayen settlement.
He added that the settlers assaulted the villagers, and pushed them out of their lands while threatening and cursing at them.
The attack comes just a few days after settlers attacked local villagers in the same area.
On Wednesday, settlers uprooted more than 25 Palestinian olive trees in Madama village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Mohammad Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, said that several settlers invaded Palestinian farmland and orchards, close to the illegal Beit Ayen settlement.
He added that the settlers assaulted the villagers, and pushed them out of their lands while threatening and cursing at them.
The attack comes just a few days after settlers attacked local villagers in the same area.
On Wednesday, settlers uprooted more than 25 Palestinian olive trees in Madama village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.