6 oct 2013
Late Saturday night, a nine-year old girl was shot and injured while standing outside her home in the Israeli settlement of Psagot, located next to the Palestinian village of el-Bireh, in the central West Bank.
The child, identified as Noam Glick, was taken to an Israeli hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.
She was hit by a single shot fired from a homemade weapon. The weapon was left by the assailant at the scene.
The assailant has not been apprehended, and Israeli police say they have no leads in the case.
But the Israeli military has stormed the Al-Biereh town, and surrounding areas in the hours since the attack, and have detained and interrogated a number of residents.
Like in the shooting of an Israeli solider two weeks ago, the police and military intelligence say they had no advance warning that an attack was going to take place.
The police say this was likely an unplanned attack by a single, probably mentally unstable, assailant who acted without coordination with any armed resistance.
Following the wounding of the child, Israeli settlers stormed al-Jalazun refugee camp north of Ramallah and began throwing stones at villagers, and vandalizing Palestinian cars.
The child, identified as Noam Glick, was taken to an Israeli hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.
She was hit by a single shot fired from a homemade weapon. The weapon was left by the assailant at the scene.
The assailant has not been apprehended, and Israeli police say they have no leads in the case.
But the Israeli military has stormed the Al-Biereh town, and surrounding areas in the hours since the attack, and have detained and interrogated a number of residents.
Like in the shooting of an Israeli solider two weeks ago, the police and military intelligence say they had no advance warning that an attack was going to take place.
The police say this was likely an unplanned attack by a single, probably mentally unstable, assailant who acted without coordination with any armed resistance.
Following the wounding of the child, Israeli settlers stormed al-Jalazun refugee camp north of Ramallah and began throwing stones at villagers, and vandalizing Palestinian cars.
5 oct 2013
Israeli occupation forces stormed on Saturday parts of the City of Ramallah, the Seat of the Palestinian Authority, following a non-fatal shooting of a Jewish settler girl at the nearby colony of Bsagot.
Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of Israeli troops, backed by armored vehicles, stormed the town of al-Bireh, Ramallah's twin city, searching residential homes and arresting youngsters from the streets.
One eyewitness from the Sath Marhaba neighborhood described Israeli soldiers' behavior as "violent and nervous."
Earlier, a young Israeli settler was wounded from gunfire the Israeli occupation army said originated in surrounding Palestinian localities. Israeli occupation sources also suspected infiltration by Palestinian resistance activists into the Jewish settlements.
The Israeli media spoke of a "Ramallah sniper"
This is the third incident of its kind in less than two weeks. On 22 September, an Israeli occupation soldier was shot a killed in Hebron at the hands of "a professional Palestinian sniper."
Israeli troops launched an aggressive manhunt campaign to apprehend the suspected Palestinian sniper but to no avail.
A day earlier, another soldier was killed near the northern Palestinian town of Kalkilya by a Palestinian who reportedly wanted to exchange the soldier's body for the release of his brother who is spending a heavy sentence in an Israeli jail.
It is still uncertain if these resistance attacks which Israel calls terrorist attacks are individualistic in nature or constitute a definite portent for an outbreak of a new intifada or uprising against the Israeli occupation.
Palestinians are facing difficult political and economic conditions and speculations that a new intifada is in the offing are rife in many quarters.
According to Saleh Aruri, a high ranking Hamas official, the latest attacks show that there is a state of bitterness and disenchantment prevailing in the West Bank .
"We have the failed peace process, the continued settlement expansion; a growing settler population in the West Bank …along with relentless Israeli efforts to take over the Aqsa Mosque….These things provoke ordinary Palestinian and push them to rise up against the occupation."
Aruri, who was speaking during an interview with the al-Aqsa TV Saturday evening, said Israeli behavior and PA conduct were leaving the Palestinian masses very little hope.
"It is not important who is carrying out these acts. The important thing is that they are happening despite the scandalous security coordination between Israel and the PA regime in Ramallah.
Last month Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk was quoted as saying that "We are already on the eve of an intifada."
Moreover, one Fatah official was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that "an uprising of some sort is inevitable."
"You surely don't expect me to tell you an uprising will take place on a given day and time. But I can tell you with a high degree of certitude that an intifada is coming, perhaps sooner than many of us think," Abu Jihad, Fatah grass-roots leader.
Both Israeli and Palestinian spokespersons are expressing pessimism over the recently presumed talks between Israel and the PA.
Most observers note that a "miracle" would be required for the talks to succeed given the extremely insurmountable problems facing these talks.
Others readily contend that there is no real chance left for the creation of a viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state on the West Bank , thanks to unmitigated Jewish settlement activities and the Judaizing of East Jerusalem.
Jewish female settler shot near Ramallah
A Jewish female settlers was seriously wounded on Saturday in a possible sniper attack in Psagot settlement to the northeast of Ramallah city, the Israeli police claimed. The Israeli police are still investigating all options, including the possibility that the Psagot settlement was infiltrated by a Palestinian resistance fighter, according to different media reports.
The Israeli settler was shot outside her dwelling and taken to an Israeli hospital in occupied Jerusalem. Israelis claim she is in critical condition, although media pictures of her show otherwise.
The Israeli occupation forces, in turn, were deployed intensively around and inside the settlement and made a sweep of the area.
The Israeli army also imposed a curfew on the settlement for fear of a similar attack.
Last month, an Israeli soldier was killed in a sniper attack in Al-Khalil city and consequently, the Israeli police and army launched wanton arrest campaigns against the Palestinians in the west bank, yet they failed to find the perpetrator.
Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of Israeli troops, backed by armored vehicles, stormed the town of al-Bireh, Ramallah's twin city, searching residential homes and arresting youngsters from the streets.
One eyewitness from the Sath Marhaba neighborhood described Israeli soldiers' behavior as "violent and nervous."
Earlier, a young Israeli settler was wounded from gunfire the Israeli occupation army said originated in surrounding Palestinian localities. Israeli occupation sources also suspected infiltration by Palestinian resistance activists into the Jewish settlements.
The Israeli media spoke of a "Ramallah sniper"
This is the third incident of its kind in less than two weeks. On 22 September, an Israeli occupation soldier was shot a killed in Hebron at the hands of "a professional Palestinian sniper."
Israeli troops launched an aggressive manhunt campaign to apprehend the suspected Palestinian sniper but to no avail.
A day earlier, another soldier was killed near the northern Palestinian town of Kalkilya by a Palestinian who reportedly wanted to exchange the soldier's body for the release of his brother who is spending a heavy sentence in an Israeli jail.
It is still uncertain if these resistance attacks which Israel calls terrorist attacks are individualistic in nature or constitute a definite portent for an outbreak of a new intifada or uprising against the Israeli occupation.
Palestinians are facing difficult political and economic conditions and speculations that a new intifada is in the offing are rife in many quarters.
According to Saleh Aruri, a high ranking Hamas official, the latest attacks show that there is a state of bitterness and disenchantment prevailing in the West Bank .
"We have the failed peace process, the continued settlement expansion; a growing settler population in the West Bank …along with relentless Israeli efforts to take over the Aqsa Mosque….These things provoke ordinary Palestinian and push them to rise up against the occupation."
Aruri, who was speaking during an interview with the al-Aqsa TV Saturday evening, said Israeli behavior and PA conduct were leaving the Palestinian masses very little hope.
"It is not important who is carrying out these acts. The important thing is that they are happening despite the scandalous security coordination between Israel and the PA regime in Ramallah.
Last month Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk was quoted as saying that "We are already on the eve of an intifada."
Moreover, one Fatah official was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that "an uprising of some sort is inevitable."
"You surely don't expect me to tell you an uprising will take place on a given day and time. But I can tell you with a high degree of certitude that an intifada is coming, perhaps sooner than many of us think," Abu Jihad, Fatah grass-roots leader.
Both Israeli and Palestinian spokespersons are expressing pessimism over the recently presumed talks between Israel and the PA.
Most observers note that a "miracle" would be required for the talks to succeed given the extremely insurmountable problems facing these talks.
Others readily contend that there is no real chance left for the creation of a viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state on the West Bank , thanks to unmitigated Jewish settlement activities and the Judaizing of East Jerusalem.
Jewish female settler shot near Ramallah
A Jewish female settlers was seriously wounded on Saturday in a possible sniper attack in Psagot settlement to the northeast of Ramallah city, the Israeli police claimed. The Israeli police are still investigating all options, including the possibility that the Psagot settlement was infiltrated by a Palestinian resistance fighter, according to different media reports.
The Israeli settler was shot outside her dwelling and taken to an Israeli hospital in occupied Jerusalem. Israelis claim she is in critical condition, although media pictures of her show otherwise.
The Israeli occupation forces, in turn, were deployed intensively around and inside the settlement and made a sweep of the area.
The Israeli army also imposed a curfew on the settlement for fear of a similar attack.
Last month, an Israeli soldier was killed in a sniper attack in Al-Khalil city and consequently, the Israeli police and army launched wanton arrest campaigns against the Palestinians in the west bank, yet they failed to find the perpetrator.
Israeli settlers Saturday cut more than 100 olive trees in the Nablus area village of Deir Sharaf, according to a local activist. Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, told WAFA that settlers from Shavi Shomron entered the Palestinian land and cut the olive trees as the olive picking season was starting.
Entire Palestinian villages make their annual living from olive picking.
Ahead of olive harvest, settlers chop down trees near Nablus
Extremist Jewish settlers chopped down more than 100 olive trees Saturday morning in Deir Sharaf village south of Nablus, a Palestinian official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settler activities in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that settlers from Shave Shomron settlement stormed olive fields in the al-Ghazan neighborhood of Deir Sharaf and destroyed more than 100 trees. He highlighted that the attack came a few days before the olive harvest.
The trees belong to Yasser Fuqaha, Sidqi Fuqaha, Mustafa Fuqaha and other farmers from the Meri family.
On Friday, a mob of settlers assaulted Palestinian farmer Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim Awad while he was picking olives in his field in Jammain village south of Nablus. He was forced to leave the field at gunpoint after the assailants completely destroyed his private vehicle.
Entire Palestinian villages make their annual living from olive picking.
Ahead of olive harvest, settlers chop down trees near Nablus
Extremist Jewish settlers chopped down more than 100 olive trees Saturday morning in Deir Sharaf village south of Nablus, a Palestinian official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settler activities in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that settlers from Shave Shomron settlement stormed olive fields in the al-Ghazan neighborhood of Deir Sharaf and destroyed more than 100 trees. He highlighted that the attack came a few days before the olive harvest.
The trees belong to Yasser Fuqaha, Sidqi Fuqaha, Mustafa Fuqaha and other farmers from the Meri family.
On Friday, a mob of settlers assaulted Palestinian farmer Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim Awad while he was picking olives in his field in Jammain village south of Nablus. He was forced to leave the field at gunpoint after the assailants completely destroyed his private vehicle.
4 oct 2013
The Israeli settlers' attacks have escalated recently in West Bank cities, where they uprooted on Thursday 40 olive seedlings in Yatta, south of al-Khalil. Dozens of settlers stormed Khella Gazioa area in Yatta town and uprooted 40 olive seedlings under the protection of Israeli forces, the activist Ratib Jabour said.
Jabour added that the Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian farmers from having access to their lands while protecting the settlers in attacking Palestinians and their properties.
In similar attack, Israeli settlers have severely beaten a Palestinian farmer up and stole his olive fruits in Zawiya town in Salfit, while he was with his wife picking olives on his land.
They also forced his family to leave the land before steeling his olive harvest.
Palestinian farmers in West Bank districts have complained of the escalated settlers attacks that precede the olive harvest season.
In Nablus, Palestinian farmers are subjected to settlers' attacks on daily basis especially near Itamar and Elon Moreh settlement built on Palestinian lands.
Local sources in Deir al-Hatab said that the Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands without coordination with the Israeli Civil Administration.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers from Itamar settlement have attacked farmers in Furik municipality where 4 Palestinians were arrested.
Settler attacks usually witness a sharp escalation during the Olive harvest season, and include the uprooting of Palestinian trees, in addition to attacks the residents, and international supporters, while picking their olive trees.
Jabour added that the Israeli forces prevented the Palestinian farmers from having access to their lands while protecting the settlers in attacking Palestinians and their properties.
In similar attack, Israeli settlers have severely beaten a Palestinian farmer up and stole his olive fruits in Zawiya town in Salfit, while he was with his wife picking olives on his land.
They also forced his family to leave the land before steeling his olive harvest.
Palestinian farmers in West Bank districts have complained of the escalated settlers attacks that precede the olive harvest season.
In Nablus, Palestinian farmers are subjected to settlers' attacks on daily basis especially near Itamar and Elon Moreh settlement built on Palestinian lands.
Local sources in Deir al-Hatab said that the Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands without coordination with the Israeli Civil Administration.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers from Itamar settlement have attacked farmers in Furik municipality where 4 Palestinians were arrested.
Settler attacks usually witness a sharp escalation during the Olive harvest season, and include the uprooting of Palestinian trees, in addition to attacks the residents, and international supporters, while picking their olive trees.
A number of fundamentalist Israeli settles burnt a Palestinian grapevine in the Al-Bweira area, near the Kharseena illegal settlement, in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Local sources have reported that the settlers burnt four Dunams (0.98 Acres) planted with grapes, that belong to resident Mousa Abdul-Mon’em Jaber, and that the fire completely consumed them.
He said that this attack is not the first, and that several residents have been subject to similar and frequent attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers in the area.
Late on Wednesday at night, extremist settlers closed the west entrance of Ya’bod village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and attacked several residents. Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene, and invaded the village instead of removing the settlers.
Earlier on Wednesday, a number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked and destroyed a car wash facility that belongs to a resident in Nabi Samuel village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. The attack is the fourth of its kind in two months.
Local sources have reported that the settlers burnt four Dunams (0.98 Acres) planted with grapes, that belong to resident Mousa Abdul-Mon’em Jaber, and that the fire completely consumed them.
He said that this attack is not the first, and that several residents have been subject to similar and frequent attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers in the area.
Late on Wednesday at night, extremist settlers closed the west entrance of Ya’bod village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and attacked several residents. Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene, and invaded the village instead of removing the settlers.
Earlier on Wednesday, a number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked and destroyed a car wash facility that belongs to a resident in Nabi Samuel village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. The attack is the fourth of its kind in two months.
3 oct 2013
A number of extremist Israeli settlers closed, late on Wednesday at night, the western entrance of Ya’bod village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and harassed several residents. Soldiers invaded the village and broke into a store.
Local sources said the settlers were dancing in the streets, chanting anti-Arab slogans, and were cursing at the residents, and conducting provocative acts.
The settlers used generators to light out the streets, and to power up loud speakers, while Israeli soldiers were deployed in the area without attempting to stop them, the Safa News Agency has reported.
Later on, the army invaded the village, not to remove the settlers, but to break into a local store that belong to resident Salah Abu Dyak.
The soldiers violently searched the store and withdrew from the village.
On Thursday morning, several Israeli military jeeps installed a roadblock at the eastern entrance of Ya’bod, and nearby villages, and blocked all Palestinian traffic.
Soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars, and questioned the passengers before forcing them back, an issue that pushed dozens of residents to take unpaved rough roads to reach their places of work, universities and schools.
Dozens of soldiers further invaded Sielet Ath-Thaher town, south of Jenin, broke into the home of resident Nasser Ibrahim Malloul, and handed his son Bilal, 27, a military warrant ordering him to the Salem military base for interrogation.
Local sources said the settlers were dancing in the streets, chanting anti-Arab slogans, and were cursing at the residents, and conducting provocative acts.
The settlers used generators to light out the streets, and to power up loud speakers, while Israeli soldiers were deployed in the area without attempting to stop them, the Safa News Agency has reported.
Later on, the army invaded the village, not to remove the settlers, but to break into a local store that belong to resident Salah Abu Dyak.
The soldiers violently searched the store and withdrew from the village.
On Thursday morning, several Israeli military jeeps installed a roadblock at the eastern entrance of Ya’bod, and nearby villages, and blocked all Palestinian traffic.
Soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars, and questioned the passengers before forcing them back, an issue that pushed dozens of residents to take unpaved rough roads to reach their places of work, universities and schools.
Dozens of soldiers further invaded Sielet Ath-Thaher town, south of Jenin, broke into the home of resident Nasser Ibrahim Malloul, and handed his son Bilal, 27, a military warrant ordering him to the Salem military base for interrogation.
A group of Israeli settlers destroyed over 50 olive trees in the south Hebron hills on Thursday, locals said.
Palestinian farmer Jaber Ali Shatat told Ma'an that settlers from Susiya raided agricultural land next to the illegal settlement and damaged 50 trees.
Settlers deliberately target olive trees during the harvesting season, Shatat added.
Settlers routinely attack Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank with impunity.
Annual figures compiled by Israeli rights group Yesh Din have repeatedly shown that nine out of 10 police investigations about settler crimes fail to lead to a prosecution.
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.
Palestinian farmer Jaber Ali Shatat told Ma'an that settlers from Susiya raided agricultural land next to the illegal settlement and damaged 50 trees.
Settlers deliberately target olive trees during the harvesting season, Shatat added.
Settlers routinely attack Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank with impunity.
Annual figures compiled by Israeli rights group Yesh Din have repeatedly shown that nine out of 10 police investigations about settler crimes fail to lead to a prosecution.
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.
2 oct 2013
World Zionist Organization (WZO) condemned Wednesday, the 'price tag' attacks carried out by extremist Jewish settlers against the Palestinians and their property in the occupied territories.
Israeli media outlets said that the Zionist World Union held a meeting to discuss this issue, following the assault on a Christian cemetery near the old city of east Jerusalem, and the vandalizing of graves.
Yaakov Haguel, head of the WZO's Department for Promoting Anti-Semitism, said that 'price tag' attacks must completely stop, adding that the union can't condemn the racist acts in the world, while its followers continue to practice racism in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli media outlets said that the Zionist World Union held a meeting to discuss this issue, following the assault on a Christian cemetery near the old city of east Jerusalem, and the vandalizing of graves.
Yaakov Haguel, head of the WZO's Department for Promoting Anti-Semitism, said that 'price tag' attacks must completely stop, adding that the union can't condemn the racist acts in the world, while its followers continue to practice racism in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Dozens of Jewish extremists stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday led by the extremist settler and activist Yehuda Glick, protected by Israeli police. More than 30 Jewish settlers stormed al-Aqsa mosque since the early morning hours escorted by the extremist settler Yehuda Glick, eyewitnesses said.
The Israeli police stepped up its security measures at the gates of al-Aqsa mosque, where they searched the worshipers and students while entering the mosque. A state of anger prevailed among the worshipers.
For their turn, the Palestinian worshipers have intensified their presence in the mosque protesting the extremists' break-ins into the holy site, the sources added.
The Israeli authorities seek to impose a status quo and to divide the mosque between the Muslim and Jewish worshipers.
The Israeli police stepped up its security measures at the gates of al-Aqsa mosque, where they searched the worshipers and students while entering the mosque. A state of anger prevailed among the worshipers.
For their turn, the Palestinian worshipers have intensified their presence in the mosque protesting the extremists' break-ins into the holy site, the sources added.
The Israeli authorities seek to impose a status quo and to divide the mosque between the Muslim and Jewish worshipers.
In the early hours of 1st October settlers from the settlement of Bracha set fire to two cars parked outside the house of Edrees Shehadeh in Huwwara.
The family was woken at 2 a.m. by the noise of settlers setting fire to their car, parked among olive trees next to their house. The perpetrators ran away up the hill upon discovery and the residents managed to put out the fire. The other car, a white Fiat, was completely destroyed.
A plastic bottle containing gas and a box of Israeli branded matches was found on the ground next to the car that was saved. This car was parked next to the children’s room, and the smoke from the fire could have harmed them if it had not been put out so quickly. In recent years 12 cars belonging to the family have been set alight.
This attack forms part of a sustained campaign of intimidation against the village, which includes the 2002 murder of Adnan Shehadeh-Howwara, the 21 year old son of Edrees Shehadeh. Adnan was shot to death by a settler as he was standing on the roof of his family’s house.
Other recent settler attacks to this village include stone-throwing at a house situated even closer to the settlement. Additionally more than 30 olive trees growing on the hill were damaged with axes, killing many of them and resulting in loss of livelihood for the owners.
This article was originally published by the International Solidarity Movement Nablus team. View original post here.
The family was woken at 2 a.m. by the noise of settlers setting fire to their car, parked among olive trees next to their house. The perpetrators ran away up the hill upon discovery and the residents managed to put out the fire. The other car, a white Fiat, was completely destroyed.
A plastic bottle containing gas and a box of Israeli branded matches was found on the ground next to the car that was saved. This car was parked next to the children’s room, and the smoke from the fire could have harmed them if it had not been put out so quickly. In recent years 12 cars belonging to the family have been set alight.
This attack forms part of a sustained campaign of intimidation against the village, which includes the 2002 murder of Adnan Shehadeh-Howwara, the 21 year old son of Edrees Shehadeh. Adnan was shot to death by a settler as he was standing on the roof of his family’s house.
Other recent settler attacks to this village include stone-throwing at a house situated even closer to the settlement. Additionally more than 30 olive trees growing on the hill were damaged with axes, killing many of them and resulting in loss of livelihood for the owners.
This article was originally published by the International Solidarity Movement Nablus team. View original post here.
Local sources in the Nabi Samuel village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem, have reported that a number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked and destroyed a car wash facility that belongs to a resident in the village. The attack is the fourth of its kind in two months.
Resident Anas Adel Obeid, 33, stated that his facility is the only source of livelihood to 12 family members, the Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported.
Obeid said that during this attack, and all three previous attacks, the settlers damaged water tanks and threw them onto the ground, destroyed pipelines and other equipment.
“The nature of these attacks indicate that the assailants are watching us, as they wait until we leave the place and reach home before they carry their attacks out”, he said, “Several residents repeatedly saw the settlers observing the facility, and walking around it”.
“The village is subject to frequent attacks by extremist settlers’ groups, and repeated Israeli military invasions, it also includes the Samuel Tomb, and a synagogue”, Obeid added.
The village fell under Israeli military occupation in 1967 during the 6-day war when Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Approximately 300 Palestinians, holders of Palestinian ID cards, inhabit the village that became isolated from the West Bank after Israel built its illegal Annexation Wall several years ago. Palestinians who wish to enter the village are required to file for a permit at the Israeli District Coordination Office.
Resident Anas Adel Obeid, 33, stated that his facility is the only source of livelihood to 12 family members, the Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported.
Obeid said that during this attack, and all three previous attacks, the settlers damaged water tanks and threw them onto the ground, destroyed pipelines and other equipment.
“The nature of these attacks indicate that the assailants are watching us, as they wait until we leave the place and reach home before they carry their attacks out”, he said, “Several residents repeatedly saw the settlers observing the facility, and walking around it”.
“The village is subject to frequent attacks by extremist settlers’ groups, and repeated Israeli military invasions, it also includes the Samuel Tomb, and a synagogue”, Obeid added.
The village fell under Israeli military occupation in 1967 during the 6-day war when Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Approximately 300 Palestinians, holders of Palestinian ID cards, inhabit the village that became isolated from the West Bank after Israel built its illegal Annexation Wall several years ago. Palestinians who wish to enter the village are required to file for a permit at the Israeli District Coordination Office.
1 oct 2013
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For the second time in two days, extremist Israeli settlers broke a gravestone in a Christian Cemetery that belongs to the Latin Patriarchate in occupied East Jerusalem. Extremists also slashed tires of six cars.
Resident Amjad Ka’mash, stated that dozens of settlers were celebrating in Nabi Daoud area, and later on, some of them infiltrated into the area, destroyed Christian gravestone, and wrote racist graffiti, such as “Revenge”, and “Price Tag”, on a number of walls and cars. He added that the settlers slashed tires of six cars that belong to the Palestinian families of Zanada, Halaby and Olewaat, in addition to slashing tires of a car that belongs to an Israeli guard working in the Boraq Wall area. |
Ka’mash further stated that the attack was caught by surveillance cameras, and added that local residents noticed the settlers, and chased them away.
Jawad Siyam, head of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, stated that the land where the attack took place belongs to the Latin Patriarchate, and is used as a parking lot for residents and visitors of the neighborhood.
Describing it as cowardice, Father Firas Hijazin slammed the attack, and said that extremist Israelis repeatedly attacked Christian sites in the occupied territories, and denounced the inaction on the part of the Israeli police.
On Sunday [September 29, 2013] a number of Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed 15 gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Settlers also punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
A month ago, a Christian Monastery in the Deir Jamal area, between Jerusalem and Ramla, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, while racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, were found on its exterior walls, the Arabs48 news Website has reported.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa.
Jawad Siyam, head of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan, stated that the land where the attack took place belongs to the Latin Patriarchate, and is used as a parking lot for residents and visitors of the neighborhood.
Describing it as cowardice, Father Firas Hijazin slammed the attack, and said that extremist Israelis repeatedly attacked Christian sites in the occupied territories, and denounced the inaction on the part of the Israeli police.
On Sunday [September 29, 2013] a number of Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed 15 gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem. Settlers also punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
A month ago, a Christian Monastery in the Deir Jamal area, between Jerusalem and Ramla, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, while racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, were found on its exterior walls, the Arabs48 news Website has reported.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa.
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Following a pattern of ongoing hate crimes against Palestinians, four young Israeli extremists invaded a Christian Cemetery in the occupied Jerusalem and defaced 15 gravestones in the Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, in the King David Tomb, on Sunday September 29.
The four criminals, who were caught by Israeli Police personnel, are students of a Jewish Yeshiva, and range from 17 – 26 years of age. Two of the four fanatics, were previously caught by the police for hate crimes against Palestinians. The same two individuals belong to an extremist group of Israeli settlers, the Hilltop Youth Movement, an organization known for its deep seeded racism and numerous attacks against Palestinian lands and property. The Israeli state’s leniencies towards its citizens who commit racist hate crimes is so pervasive and comprehensive, it begs the question: does the Israeli government covertly |
hope to assure the continuation of racist crimes against Palestinians?
Israel Turns a Blind Eye to its Citizens' Racist Crimes
B’Tselem, an Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, released a report in 2011 indicating that Israeli Police, the entity responsible for investigating settler violence and hate crimes against Palestinians, do not properly examine claims of violence, nor do they enforce punishment based on Israel penal law.
From September 2000 to the end of 2011, B'Tselem submitted 352 complaints to the Israeli Police, demanding to know if investigations had been opened in cases ranging from gunfire, assault, destruction of property, forcing people off their land, threats, evictions, theft of crops, and torching of fields.
Of the 352 racially charged hate crimes, only 29 resulted in an indictment. 137 files were closed with no measures being taken against anyone involved. In 80 cases, the police did not open an investigation, primarily because the person injured did not file a formal complaint, though the police are required by law to investigate every time they hear of a suspected crime. In 16 cases, B'Tselem received no response, one case was still being processed and in five cases, the authorities claimed that the file could not be located.
De-criminalization of Israelis & Criminalization of Palestinians
B’Tselem’s report sheds light on a pattern of Israeli hate crimes against Palestinians going unpunished, time and time again. Their lack of investigations into violence could simply indicate the Israeli state’s disregard for crime– if it weren’t for the simultaneous criminalization of Palestinians.
Israeli Occupation Force officers perform nightly raids on Palestinians towns and refugee camps, arresting young men and children as young as eleven years old. The arrests occur randomly, and for no apparent reason, forcing local Palestinians to live in a constant state of fear, even in the dead of night, when they are in the supposed safety of their own homes.
A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report published in March 2013, states “For some of the children what follows [the arrest] is a chaotic and frightening scene, in which furniture and windows are broken, accusations and verbal threats are shouted, and family members are forced to stand outside in their nightclothes as the accused child is forcibly removed from the home.” The report goes on to state that confessions are obtained from children through the use of intimidation, threats, and physical violence.
The same report states that an average of two Palestinian children are arrested each day, and 700 children ages 12 to 17 are arrested, interrogated, and detained by Israeli army, police, and security agents each year. According to Israeli law, Palestinian children may be held in prison for four days without charges, and can be tried as adults starting at the age of 16. Israeli children, on the other hand, are not tried as adults until the age of 18.
While all Palestinians are tried in military court, Israeli’s receive the privilege of trials in the civilian court system. Additionally, illegal settlers living in the occupied West Bank are granted the legal liberties of the Israeli judicial system, while Palestinians living in the same area legally, are not. Apart from the blatant unequal treatment of people with different nationalities, this system violates the principle of territoriality, according to which a single system of law must apply to all persons living in the same territory.
The Israeli police and occupation force arrest Palestinian children for the simple purpose of instilling fear into their communities and criminalizing them, but allow Israeli adults who commit racist hate crimes to go unpunished. Those committing the hate crimes are not the only racist force at play: the Israeli Police and the Israeli Occupation Force play a paramount role in systemically encouraging hate crimes against Palestinians, and maintaining dis-symmetry in the racial and power dynamics of the legal system that deals with Israelis and Palestinians.
Recent Hate Crimes
The Middle East Media Center reports the following list of recent racial hate crimes committed by Israelis:
On Monday, the Police apprehended two Israeli teenagers, 14 and 16 years of age, on suspicion of being involved in defacing and damaging eight Palestinian cars, near Nabi Saleh Graveyard, in the occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier this week Israelis punctured the tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh. ’Price Tag’ graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a church in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Last month, a Christian Monastery located in the Deir Jamal area between Jerusalem and Ramallah, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail. Racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, was found on its exterior walls.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa.
On Friday June 14 Israeli extremists set ablaze two Palestinian cars in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and spray painted racist graffiti. The extremists also wrote racist graffiti on some graves in the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa and drew the Star of David on a number of graves.
Extremists vandalized the wall of the home Khaled Kaboub, an Arab District Court Judge in Tel Aviv, with graffiti.
There have been hundreds of similar attacks, that included burning and attempting to burn Churches and Mosques throughout Palestine. In addition to numerous attacks targeting both Islamic and Christian graveyards and places of worship, settlers uproot and burn hundreds of Palestinian trees and flood farmlands with waste-water. Those attacks are part of ongoing violations targeting Palestinians lands and livelihoods.
Israel Turns a Blind Eye to its Citizens' Racist Crimes
B’Tselem, an Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, released a report in 2011 indicating that Israeli Police, the entity responsible for investigating settler violence and hate crimes against Palestinians, do not properly examine claims of violence, nor do they enforce punishment based on Israel penal law.
From September 2000 to the end of 2011, B'Tselem submitted 352 complaints to the Israeli Police, demanding to know if investigations had been opened in cases ranging from gunfire, assault, destruction of property, forcing people off their land, threats, evictions, theft of crops, and torching of fields.
Of the 352 racially charged hate crimes, only 29 resulted in an indictment. 137 files were closed with no measures being taken against anyone involved. In 80 cases, the police did not open an investigation, primarily because the person injured did not file a formal complaint, though the police are required by law to investigate every time they hear of a suspected crime. In 16 cases, B'Tselem received no response, one case was still being processed and in five cases, the authorities claimed that the file could not be located.
De-criminalization of Israelis & Criminalization of Palestinians
B’Tselem’s report sheds light on a pattern of Israeli hate crimes against Palestinians going unpunished, time and time again. Their lack of investigations into violence could simply indicate the Israeli state’s disregard for crime– if it weren’t for the simultaneous criminalization of Palestinians.
Israeli Occupation Force officers perform nightly raids on Palestinians towns and refugee camps, arresting young men and children as young as eleven years old. The arrests occur randomly, and for no apparent reason, forcing local Palestinians to live in a constant state of fear, even in the dead of night, when they are in the supposed safety of their own homes.
A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report published in March 2013, states “For some of the children what follows [the arrest] is a chaotic and frightening scene, in which furniture and windows are broken, accusations and verbal threats are shouted, and family members are forced to stand outside in their nightclothes as the accused child is forcibly removed from the home.” The report goes on to state that confessions are obtained from children through the use of intimidation, threats, and physical violence.
The same report states that an average of two Palestinian children are arrested each day, and 700 children ages 12 to 17 are arrested, interrogated, and detained by Israeli army, police, and security agents each year. According to Israeli law, Palestinian children may be held in prison for four days without charges, and can be tried as adults starting at the age of 16. Israeli children, on the other hand, are not tried as adults until the age of 18.
While all Palestinians are tried in military court, Israeli’s receive the privilege of trials in the civilian court system. Additionally, illegal settlers living in the occupied West Bank are granted the legal liberties of the Israeli judicial system, while Palestinians living in the same area legally, are not. Apart from the blatant unequal treatment of people with different nationalities, this system violates the principle of territoriality, according to which a single system of law must apply to all persons living in the same territory.
The Israeli police and occupation force arrest Palestinian children for the simple purpose of instilling fear into their communities and criminalizing them, but allow Israeli adults who commit racist hate crimes to go unpunished. Those committing the hate crimes are not the only racist force at play: the Israeli Police and the Israeli Occupation Force play a paramount role in systemically encouraging hate crimes against Palestinians, and maintaining dis-symmetry in the racial and power dynamics of the legal system that deals with Israelis and Palestinians.
Recent Hate Crimes
The Middle East Media Center reports the following list of recent racial hate crimes committed by Israelis:
On Monday, the Police apprehended two Israeli teenagers, 14 and 16 years of age, on suspicion of being involved in defacing and damaging eight Palestinian cars, near Nabi Saleh Graveyard, in the occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier this week Israelis punctured the tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh. ’Price Tag’ graffiti was also found on the outer walls of a church in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Last month, a Christian Monastery located in the Deir Jamal area between Jerusalem and Ramallah, was attacked by a Molotov cocktail. Racist graffiti, used by Price Tag extremist Israeli groups, was found on its exterior walls.
In mid-June, a number of extremist settlers wrote racist graffiti on some graves at the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa.
On Friday June 14 Israeli extremists set ablaze two Palestinian cars in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and spray painted racist graffiti. The extremists also wrote racist graffiti on some graves in the Christian Greek Orthodox graveyard in Jaffa and drew the Star of David on a number of graves.
Extremists vandalized the wall of the home Khaled Kaboub, an Arab District Court Judge in Tel Aviv, with graffiti.
There have been hundreds of similar attacks, that included burning and attempting to burn Churches and Mosques throughout Palestine. In addition to numerous attacks targeting both Islamic and Christian graveyards and places of worship, settlers uproot and burn hundreds of Palestinian trees and flood farmlands with waste-water. Those attacks are part of ongoing violations targeting Palestinians lands and livelihoods.
Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian car in the Nablus village of Burin on Tuesday, a Palestinian Authority official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, said that settlers from the notorious Yizhar settlement set fire to a car belonging to Abdul-Athim Shehadah at the entrance to Burin village.
Shehadah has been the victim of 13 settler attacks since 2000, Daghlas added.
Settlers in the occupied West Bank routinely attack Palestinians and their property.
Israeli forces often impose restrictions on Palestinians following settler violence, and the perpetrators are rarely prosecuted for their crimes.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, said that settlers from the notorious Yizhar settlement set fire to a car belonging to Abdul-Athim Shehadah at the entrance to Burin village.
Shehadah has been the victim of 13 settler attacks since 2000, Daghlas added.
Settlers in the occupied West Bank routinely attack Palestinians and their property.
Israeli forces often impose restrictions on Palestinians following settler violence, and the perpetrators are rarely prosecuted for their crimes.
Palestinians in the Jordan Valley have petitioned the High Court of Justice to have their land between the border fence and Jordanian border returned, and to have the settlers cultivating dates there removed.
In January, a Civil Administration document confirmed that over the past 20 years, under the military order barring Palestinians from entering the area, more than 5,000 dunams (1,250 acres) belonging to Palestinians had been awarded to settlers. In some places the border fence is up to two kilometers from the Jordan River.
The land was handed over to the World Zionist Organization, backed by an opinion from the State Prosecutor's Office and the approval of the Central Command head at the time, Amram Mitzna. The WZO leased the land to the settlers; the government hoped to create a kind of buffer zone along the border.
The land was cultivated by Palestinians even after the Six-Day War. They were banished in 1969 after Palestinians began trying to return to the area from Jordan. Before January, the Palestinians had not realized that others were cultivating the land.
Heirs of three landowners petitioned the High Court via attorney Wissam George Asmar.
"As a result of the investigation, the petitioners examined the issue of their real estate; they discovered that it is part of the same real estate being cultivated by settlers who have no possessory connection,” the petition reads, adding that the settlers had planted Medjool date orchards, “which is considered a very profitable and flourishing industry.”
According to the petition, “over the years, the late owners and their heirs, the petitioners, believed that the real estate continued to be minefields and/or a closed military area not in use, and that therefore conditions were not yet ripe to restore their possessory right.”
The petitioners are also requesting an interim order that will halt the current cultivation of the site by the settlers. Justice Uri Shoham gave the state 21 days to respond.
This article was originally posted on Haaretz.
In January, a Civil Administration document confirmed that over the past 20 years, under the military order barring Palestinians from entering the area, more than 5,000 dunams (1,250 acres) belonging to Palestinians had been awarded to settlers. In some places the border fence is up to two kilometers from the Jordan River.
The land was handed over to the World Zionist Organization, backed by an opinion from the State Prosecutor's Office and the approval of the Central Command head at the time, Amram Mitzna. The WZO leased the land to the settlers; the government hoped to create a kind of buffer zone along the border.
The land was cultivated by Palestinians even after the Six-Day War. They were banished in 1969 after Palestinians began trying to return to the area from Jordan. Before January, the Palestinians had not realized that others were cultivating the land.
Heirs of three landowners petitioned the High Court via attorney Wissam George Asmar.
"As a result of the investigation, the petitioners examined the issue of their real estate; they discovered that it is part of the same real estate being cultivated by settlers who have no possessory connection,” the petition reads, adding that the settlers had planted Medjool date orchards, “which is considered a very profitable and flourishing industry.”
According to the petition, “over the years, the late owners and their heirs, the petitioners, believed that the real estate continued to be minefields and/or a closed military area not in use, and that therefore conditions were not yet ripe to restore their possessory right.”
The petitioners are also requesting an interim order that will halt the current cultivation of the site by the settlers. Justice Uri Shoham gave the state 21 days to respond.
This article was originally posted on Haaretz.
Unknown suspects punctured the tires of five parked vehicles on the road Ma’ale HaShalom in the Old City of al-Quds (Jerusalem) during Monday night and Tuesday early morning. A nearby wall was sprayed with the phrase “price tag.”
“Price tags” are attacks on Palestinians and their property carried out by Jewish extremists. They often follow Israeli settlement freezes or attacks on Jews, however "price tags" can happen in locations unrelated to the incidents that "spark" them.
Tuesday morning's incident was the fifth “price tag” to occur in the past few days and an investigation has been launched.
Israeli new source Yedioth quoted Tareq, the owner of one of the vandalized vehicles saying, "Near us there are people I define as 'crazy settlers' who are committing terror here." Another Palestinian said, "There are young (Jewish) religious kids who cause trouble here. We tried talking to the rabbis in the area, but it didn't work out. No one cares.”
There have been several complaints to local Police about acts against Arabs and Jews. A memorial for IOF soldiers was found sprayed with the words “Allahu Akbar” (‘God is great’ in Arabic) on Monday and on Sunday two Jewish minors were held on suspicion of vandalizing eight Palestinian vehicles. Police also claimed to have detained four Jewish minors who were destroying Christian tombstones in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem District Police have presented figures that indicate a new and steep increase in the occurrences of “price tag” incidents. The majority of the acts recorded have been perpetuated against Palestinians. Of the 56 incidents recorded in 2012, only 12 of the suspects were arrested and only some of them were indicted, according to Jerusalem District Police Commander Yossi Pariente.
“Price tags” are attacks on Palestinians and their property carried out by Jewish extremists. They often follow Israeli settlement freezes or attacks on Jews, however "price tags" can happen in locations unrelated to the incidents that "spark" them.
Tuesday morning's incident was the fifth “price tag” to occur in the past few days and an investigation has been launched.
Israeli new source Yedioth quoted Tareq, the owner of one of the vandalized vehicles saying, "Near us there are people I define as 'crazy settlers' who are committing terror here." Another Palestinian said, "There are young (Jewish) religious kids who cause trouble here. We tried talking to the rabbis in the area, but it didn't work out. No one cares.”
There have been several complaints to local Police about acts against Arabs and Jews. A memorial for IOF soldiers was found sprayed with the words “Allahu Akbar” (‘God is great’ in Arabic) on Monday and on Sunday two Jewish minors were held on suspicion of vandalizing eight Palestinian vehicles. Police also claimed to have detained four Jewish minors who were destroying Christian tombstones in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem District Police have presented figures that indicate a new and steep increase in the occurrences of “price tag” incidents. The majority of the acts recorded have been perpetuated against Palestinians. Of the 56 incidents recorded in 2012, only 12 of the suspects were arrested and only some of them were indicted, according to Jerusalem District Police Commander Yossi Pariente.
Tuesday at dawn, October 1, 2013, a number of extremist Israeli settlers burnt a Palestinian car, in Burin village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Israeli extremists also slashed tires of five cars in Silwan, in occupied Jerusalem.
Ghassan Daghlas, in charge of Israeli Settlements File in the northern part of the West Bank, stated that the settlers infiltrated into the village, and burnt the car of resident Abdul-Athim Shihada.
He added that such attacks witnessed a sharp escalation this week, targeting Palestinian lands and property in Nablus, mainly in its countryside.
Daghlas further stated that, on Monday, extremist settlers attacked Palestinian olive orchards close to Khirbit Yanoun village, near Nablus.
In related news, Israeli extremists slashed tires of five Palestinian cars, in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem.
The attack took place on Tuesday at dawn; the settlers also wrote racist graffiti, including “Price Tag” and “Death To Arabs”, on a wall near the parked cars.
On Sunday at night, a group of extremist settlers damaged and defaced eight Palestinian cars, in Sheikh Jarrah, in East Jerusalem.
Also on Sunday, a group of Israeli extremists broke into a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed several gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem, and the settlers also punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
Ghassan Daghlas, in charge of Israeli Settlements File in the northern part of the West Bank, stated that the settlers infiltrated into the village, and burnt the car of resident Abdul-Athim Shihada.
He added that such attacks witnessed a sharp escalation this week, targeting Palestinian lands and property in Nablus, mainly in its countryside.
Daghlas further stated that, on Monday, extremist settlers attacked Palestinian olive orchards close to Khirbit Yanoun village, near Nablus.
In related news, Israeli extremists slashed tires of five Palestinian cars, in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem.
The attack took place on Tuesday at dawn; the settlers also wrote racist graffiti, including “Price Tag” and “Death To Arabs”, on a wall near the parked cars.
On Sunday at night, a group of extremist settlers damaged and defaced eight Palestinian cars, in Sheikh Jarrah, in East Jerusalem.
Also on Sunday, a group of Israeli extremists broke into a Christian Cemetery in occupied Jerusalem, and destroyed several gravestones before Israeli police officers chased, and apprehended them.
Nearly a week ago, Price Tag graffiti was found on the outer walls of a Church in the Old City of Jerusalem, and the settlers also punctured tires of 28 Palestinian cars, and wrote racist graffiti in Abu Ghosh.
