21 August 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
Israel started construction on hundreds of housing units in the West
Bank and Jerusalem since its assault on the Gaza Strip began in early
July, Palestinian experts on settlement issues in the West Bank said.
Experts told the Anadolu
news agency that Israel has refrained from announcing ongoing
construction work in the new housing units to avoid further tensions in
the West Bank and more international pressure during the war.
Anadolu's correspondent reported settlement expansion
activities since the beginning of the war on Gaza, wherein Israel
annexed more Palestinian agricultural land to build new housing units in
settlements that are located on the road linking Nablus, north of the
West Bank, with Ramallah in the centre.
The correspondent said that according to eyewitnesses, there is
ongoing construction work in the northern Jordan Valley and in
Bethlehem, south of the West Bank.
"Israel unofficially gave settlers the green light to carry out
construction work in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, especially inside
large settlement areas, without tendering or licensing [for new
construction]," said Suhail Khalilieh, a researcher at the Applied
Research Institute in Jerusalem (ARIJ).
"Relevant bodies will work later, after the end of the war, on issuing official decisions to license them," he added.
"Through daily monitoring of tenders for the construction of new
settlement or housing units published in Israeli media, we can notice
that there is a significant decrease [in the number of tenders] in
comparison to the situation before the war on Gaza," Khalilieh added,
noting that the Israeli government is adopting the policy of "silent
settlement expansion" likely because it fears an increase in popular
anger in the West Bank and a rise in international pressures on Israel.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the north of the
West Bank, said that settlement construction in the West Bank has not
stopped but rather it is witnessing abnormal growth amid silence from
Israeli officials. Daghlas pointed out that settlement construction has
increased by 60 per cent.
He said that settlers' attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have
decreased amid the war on Gaza, noting that this can be attributed to
the fear of the outbreak of a new uprising in the West Bank, which is
not preferred by the Israeli authorities especially during the Gaza war.
"The West Bank has witnessed a decline in the number of Israeli
attacks during the war on Gaza. There is a desire to avoid popular
rage," he said.
Another expert who specialises in settlement activity, Abdul Hadi
Hantash, classified settlement construction into two categories: The
first is publicly announced construction, and the second is discrete
construction that the Israeli authorities do not unveil.
Hantash told Anadolu that since the beginning of the Gaza
war, Israel has accelerated discrete construction, adding that building
has been concentrated in large settlement areas such as Gush Etzion -
near Bethlehem, Ma'ale Adumim - in East Jerusalem, and Ariel - in the
north of the West Bank).
He noted that settlers have seized thousands of dunams of agricultural in the vicinity of Salfit and Nablus.
Hantash also said that the Israeli settlements council, the Yesha
Council, is currently implementing plans that it had prepared and
submitted to the government before the Gaza war. The council is now
capitalising on the war and implementing these plans without obtaining
government approval, Hantash explained.
According to Anadolu's correspondent, the West Bank is
witnessing tensions due to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which has
continued since July 7. Palestinians stage rallies and sit-ins that
often result in confrontations with the Israeli army, which has caused
the death of 22 Palestinians and the injury of hundreds, according to
official Palestinian sources.
On Tuesday, Israel resumed air strikes on a number of areas in Gaza
after it announced that rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards
Israeli towns. No Palestinian group claimed responsibility for the
rockets. Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, and Saraya Al-Quds,
Islamic Jihad's military wing, later announced that they responded to
Israeli strikes with rocket fire.
Israeli strikes launched on Tuesday killed 19 Palestinians, which
raised the number of victims in the Gaza Strip since its start on July 7
to 2,036.
Link: .middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/13638-while-gaza-war-rages-israel-quietly-speeds-up-settlement-construction-in-the-west-bank-and-jerusalem.
Showing posts with label Judaisation of Jerusalem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Judaisation of Jerusalem. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Israeli forces assault worshipers at Al-Aqsa, detain 1
22/07/2014
Source: Maan News Agency
Source: Maan News Agency
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) --
Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa mosque compound Thursday and assaulted
worshipers while providing security to a group of right-wing Jewish
extremists, witnesses said.
Witnesses told Ma'an that a group of settlers entered the Al-Aqsa compounds through the Moroccan Gate while provoking worshipers, who in turn chanted "Allah Akbar," or "God is Great" in Arabic.
Israeli police on the scene then called special police forces to secure the group as they moved through the compound and then out through the Chain Gate, before they reportedly assaulted worshipers with batons and pushed them to the ground causing bruises to many.
The special forces detained an employee who works for the Al-Aqsa endowment office and took him to police station located at the Chain Gate, witnesses said.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed that there were no clashes but "only Arabs shouting Allah Akbar," adding that the individual was detained for "trying to attack the group" that had entered the compound.
Because of the sensitive nature of the Al-Aqsa compound, Israel maintains a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls it to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area. Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Witnesses told Ma'an that a group of settlers entered the Al-Aqsa compounds through the Moroccan Gate while provoking worshipers, who in turn chanted "Allah Akbar," or "God is Great" in Arabic.
Israeli police on the scene then called special police forces to secure the group as they moved through the compound and then out through the Chain Gate, before they reportedly assaulted worshipers with batons and pushed them to the ground causing bruises to many.
The special forces detained an employee who works for the Al-Aqsa endowment office and took him to police station located at the Chain Gate, witnesses said.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed that there were no clashes but "only Arabs shouting Allah Akbar," adding that the individual was detained for "trying to attack the group" that had entered the compound.
Because of the sensitive nature of the Al-Aqsa compound, Israel maintains a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls it to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area. Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Friday in Occupied Jerusalem
14 June 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
The Israeli occupation has again stepped up its closure policies in East Jerusalem and around al-Aqsa mosque over recent weeks amidst ongoing colonisation projects and renewed calls from extremist Zionist groups to demolish the mosque in order to build the 'Third Jewish Temple'.
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza cannot reach Jerusalem without special travel permits that are issued by the Occupation. These restrictions usually apply to Palestinian men under 50 and women under 45. Such permits require specific reasons such as urgent hospital appointments to have any chance of success and are often still refused even in emergencies.
Recently, reports have stated that new rules have been imposed allowing only Palestinians with either Jerusalem ID or Israeli citizenship to enter the mosque although these restrictions are not yet being implemented every day.
On some recent days, nobody under the age of 45 has been allowed to enter al-Aqsa irrespective of ID status. This has been applied to Palestinians as well as Muslims with foreign passports. Palestinians have on regularly been forced to leave their ID cards at the entrance to the mosque before entering.
Checkpoints have been installed around the Old City to impose these policies. In some cases, people have been prevented from even entering the Old City area on Fridays without meeting various age limit and ID status restrictions (which already prevented most Palestinians from the West Bank and virtually all from Gaza from reaching Jerusalem). Such policies not only prevent religious freedoms but also strangle the Old City itself including its economy, identity and culture.
Palestinians continue to carry our regular protests against the occupation's policies in East Jerusalem. The recent 'Global March to Jerusalem' was one such event which was tolerated by the Occupation. Conversely, a planned protest in solidarity with Palestinian hunger-striking prisoners was prevented when a wide blockade of the Old City and its surrounding area was enforced on May 30th with flying checkpoints preventing people even reaching the Old City walls. Following Friday prayers on Friday June 13th the Occupation forces were much less evident than on previous weeks before the prayers, yet as a demonstration broke out in solidarity with the hunger-strikers after the prayers occupation forces invaded the mosque compound shooting rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades towards worshippers as they attempted to leave. 28 people were injured during these attacks and 8 people were detained.
East Jerusalem is recognised by the international community as the capital of the future Palestinian state. Israel denies this fact and refers to Jerusalem as the 'undivided and eternal capital of Israel' as it continues to colonise as much of the city as possible whilst implementing policies which aim to deny Palestinian access to, as existence in, Jerusalem.
MEMO Photographer: Rich Wiles
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/12103-fridays-in-occupied-jerusalem.
Source: Middle East Monitor
The Israeli occupation has again stepped up its closure policies in East Jerusalem and around al-Aqsa mosque over recent weeks amidst ongoing colonisation projects and renewed calls from extremist Zionist groups to demolish the mosque in order to build the 'Third Jewish Temple'.
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza cannot reach Jerusalem without special travel permits that are issued by the Occupation. These restrictions usually apply to Palestinian men under 50 and women under 45. Such permits require specific reasons such as urgent hospital appointments to have any chance of success and are often still refused even in emergencies.
Recently, reports have stated that new rules have been imposed allowing only Palestinians with either Jerusalem ID or Israeli citizenship to enter the mosque although these restrictions are not yet being implemented every day.
On some recent days, nobody under the age of 45 has been allowed to enter al-Aqsa irrespective of ID status. This has been applied to Palestinians as well as Muslims with foreign passports. Palestinians have on regularly been forced to leave their ID cards at the entrance to the mosque before entering.
Checkpoints have been installed around the Old City to impose these policies. In some cases, people have been prevented from even entering the Old City area on Fridays without meeting various age limit and ID status restrictions (which already prevented most Palestinians from the West Bank and virtually all from Gaza from reaching Jerusalem). Such policies not only prevent religious freedoms but also strangle the Old City itself including its economy, identity and culture.
Palestinians continue to carry our regular protests against the occupation's policies in East Jerusalem. The recent 'Global March to Jerusalem' was one such event which was tolerated by the Occupation. Conversely, a planned protest in solidarity with Palestinian hunger-striking prisoners was prevented when a wide blockade of the Old City and its surrounding area was enforced on May 30th with flying checkpoints preventing people even reaching the Old City walls. Following Friday prayers on Friday June 13th the Occupation forces were much less evident than on previous weeks before the prayers, yet as a demonstration broke out in solidarity with the hunger-strikers after the prayers occupation forces invaded the mosque compound shooting rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades towards worshippers as they attempted to leave. 28 people were injured during these attacks and 8 people were detained.
East Jerusalem is recognised by the international community as the capital of the future Palestinian state. Israel denies this fact and refers to Jerusalem as the 'undivided and eternal capital of Israel' as it continues to colonise as much of the city as possible whilst implementing policies which aim to deny Palestinian access to, as existence in, Jerusalem.
MEMO Photographer: Rich Wiles
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/12103-fridays-in-occupied-jerusalem.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
'Thousands' of Israeli Jews to march on Aqsa compound
27/05/2014
Source: Ma'an News Agency
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- The Waqf Foundation in charge of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound said various Israeli nationalist organizations had called for a march through the compound on Wednesday.
Thousands of Israeli Jews will attend, the organization said, adding that police would close roads in East Jerusalem during the march.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted: "Police complete security assessments for tomorrow's "Jerusalem day" celebrations. Hundreds of officers will be involved in security measures."
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel celebrating what Israelis call the reunification of the city. The day is marked by marches through the Old City of Jerusalem by right-wing activists.
For Palestinians and the international community, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory.
Earlier, police escorted Jewish groups through the Al-Aqsa compound, witnesses said. Some 72 Israeli Jews entered the compound as Palestinians chanted "Allahu Akbar."
Rosenfeld tweeted: "Stones thrown at visiting group on Temple Mount by Arabs. Policeman at scene injured lightly. Visits continue regularly. Situation calm."
Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the compound, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Link: http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=700205.
Source: Ma'an News Agency
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- The Waqf Foundation in charge of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound said various Israeli nationalist organizations had called for a march through the compound on Wednesday.
Thousands of Israeli Jews will attend, the organization said, adding that police would close roads in East Jerusalem during the march.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted: "Police complete security assessments for tomorrow's "Jerusalem day" celebrations. Hundreds of officers will be involved in security measures."
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel celebrating what Israelis call the reunification of the city. The day is marked by marches through the Old City of Jerusalem by right-wing activists.
For Palestinians and the international community, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory.
Earlier, police escorted Jewish groups through the Al-Aqsa compound, witnesses said. Some 72 Israeli Jews entered the compound as Palestinians chanted "Allahu Akbar."
Rosenfeld tweeted: "Stones thrown at visiting group on Temple Mount by Arabs. Policeman at scene injured lightly. Visits continue regularly. Situation calm."
Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the compound, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Link: http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=700205.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Israeli forces break into Al-Aqsa and attack worshippers
16 April 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
Tens of worshippers were wounded yesterday when the Israeli army and police broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacked Palestinians inside, eyewitnesses reported
According to locals "many worshipers suffocated from inhaling tear gas and others were bruised after the Israeli forces beat them up with batons."
The injured are being treated inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and the medical centre.
The Israeli forces tried to break into the mosque yesterday morning angering Muslim worshippers and prompting clashes.
An official in the Islamic Waqf who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: "The Israeli army seems to be trying to evacuate Muslim worshippers from the mosque to allow Jewish settlers to storm the mosque."
The Israeli forces and settlers gathered outside the Maghrabi Gate in the western wall which the settlers use to storm the mosque.
Hundreds of Palestinian Jerusalemites and Palestinian citizens of Israel gathered in the mosque to prevent the settlers from storming it.
Extremist Israeli groups called to break into Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Jewish holiday of Passover which began on Monday and lasts a week.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10940-israeli-forces-break-into-al-aqsa-and-attack-worshippers.
Source: Middle East Monitor
Tens of worshippers were wounded yesterday when the Israeli army and police broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacked Palestinians inside, eyewitnesses reported
According to locals "many worshipers suffocated from inhaling tear gas and others were bruised after the Israeli forces beat them up with batons."
The injured are being treated inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and the medical centre.
The Israeli forces tried to break into the mosque yesterday morning angering Muslim worshippers and prompting clashes.
An official in the Islamic Waqf who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: "The Israeli army seems to be trying to evacuate Muslim worshippers from the mosque to allow Jewish settlers to storm the mosque."
The Israeli forces and settlers gathered outside the Maghrabi Gate in the western wall which the settlers use to storm the mosque.
Hundreds of Palestinian Jerusalemites and Palestinian citizens of Israel gathered in the mosque to prevent the settlers from storming it.
Extremist Israeli groups called to break into Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Jewish holiday of Passover which began on Monday and lasts a week.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10940-israeli-forces-break-into-al-aqsa-and-attack-worshippers.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Settlers vandalise monastery in Jerusalem
01 April 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
A Latin Patriarchate Monastery in the outskirts of occupied Jerusalem was vandalised by Israeli Jewish settlers this morning, witnesses said.
The name of the Price Tag group was painted on to the monastery; the movement of settlers is against Israeli reconciliation with Arabs and the peace negotiations with Palestinians.
They insulted the Christian faith by writings insults against the Virgin Mary.
The settlers also damaged tyres of four Palestinian cars and a van that were parking near the monastery.
Link:
www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10651-settlers-vandalise-monastery-in-jerusalem.
Source: Middle East Monitor
A Latin Patriarchate Monastery in the outskirts of occupied Jerusalem was vandalised by Israeli Jewish settlers this morning, witnesses said.
The name of the Price Tag group was painted on to the monastery; the movement of settlers is against Israeli reconciliation with Arabs and the peace negotiations with Palestinians.
They insulted the Christian faith by writings insults against the Virgin Mary.
The settlers also damaged tyres of four Palestinian cars and a van that were parking near the monastery.
Link:
www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10651-settlers-vandalise-monastery-in-jerusalem.
Israeli committee approves huge synagogue near Al-Aqsa Mosque
01 April 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
A Palestinian Islamic foundation concerned with protecting the sacred sites in Jerusalem revealed on Monday that an Israeli committee has approved a scheme to build a huge synagogue in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City, only 200 meters away from Al-Aqsa Mosque.
A statement issued by Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said that a sub-committee of the District Committee for Planning and Building in Jerusalem, which is affiliated with the Israeli Ministry of Interior, approved during a meeting that took place on Sunday, 30 March 2014 the establishment of a very large synagogue called the Jewel of Israel in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The synagogue, which will be located only 200 meters to the west of Al-Aqsa Mosque, will consist of four floors, topped by a vaulted dome in addition to an underground space.
According to the foundation's statement, "So far, the Israeli occupation has built about 100 synagogues and Jewish schools in the Old City of Jerusalem and its surroundings, where each Jewish religious school has its own synagogue."
Furthermore, the foundation added that in recent years the Israeli authorities have already built two large synagogues in the Old City; one called Ruin Synagogue, built on the ruins of a mosque in Al-Sharaf neighbourhood, and the second called Beit Yitzhak Synagogue, built on Waqf land, about 50 meters west of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli authorities' decision to construct yet another large synagogue in East Jerusalem accelerates the occupation's Judaisation project in the holy city.
The foundation pointed out that: "The occupation plans to Judaise the entire Old City over the next twenty years, so that it will become completely Jewish."
However, the foundation also emphasised that "the resilience and stability of the people of Jerusalem will lead to the failure of the occupation's schemes."
Although the foundation did not mention when the Israeli committee will start the construction of the synagogue in question, the Jewish religious establishment often speeds up the implementation of Israeli settlement schemes in occupied Jerusalem.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10649-israeli-committee-approves-huge-synagogue-near-al-aqsa-mosque.
Source: Middle East Monitor
A Palestinian Islamic foundation concerned with protecting the sacred sites in Jerusalem revealed on Monday that an Israeli committee has approved a scheme to build a huge synagogue in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City, only 200 meters away from Al-Aqsa Mosque.
A statement issued by Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said that a sub-committee of the District Committee for Planning and Building in Jerusalem, which is affiliated with the Israeli Ministry of Interior, approved during a meeting that took place on Sunday, 30 March 2014 the establishment of a very large synagogue called the Jewel of Israel in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The synagogue, which will be located only 200 meters to the west of Al-Aqsa Mosque, will consist of four floors, topped by a vaulted dome in addition to an underground space.
According to the foundation's statement, "So far, the Israeli occupation has built about 100 synagogues and Jewish schools in the Old City of Jerusalem and its surroundings, where each Jewish religious school has its own synagogue."
Furthermore, the foundation added that in recent years the Israeli authorities have already built two large synagogues in the Old City; one called Ruin Synagogue, built on the ruins of a mosque in Al-Sharaf neighbourhood, and the second called Beit Yitzhak Synagogue, built on Waqf land, about 50 meters west of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli authorities' decision to construct yet another large synagogue in East Jerusalem accelerates the occupation's Judaisation project in the holy city.
The foundation pointed out that: "The occupation plans to Judaise the entire Old City over the next twenty years, so that it will become completely Jewish."
However, the foundation also emphasised that "the resilience and stability of the people of Jerusalem will lead to the failure of the occupation's schemes."
Although the foundation did not mention when the Israeli committee will start the construction of the synagogue in question, the Jewish religious establishment often speeds up the implementation of Israeli settlement schemes in occupied Jerusalem.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10649-israeli-committee-approves-huge-synagogue-near-al-aqsa-mosque.
Israelis call to present Easter sacrifices in Al-Aqsa
31 March 2014
Source:: Middle East Monitor
Jewish groups are calling on the Israeli public to take part in preparations for events which they hope will take place in Al-Aqsa Mosque on the eve of the Jewish Passover, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has warned.
The preparations are due to take place on the evening of Thursday April 10 at the site west of Jerusalem, when Jewish groups will simulate how to offer Easter sacrifices in Al-Aqsa Mosque in the hope that they would implement this plan in reality on Passover.
In a press release, the Al-Aqsa Foundation added that these Jewish groups had sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convince him to facilitate the procedures of building a synagogue near Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The letter was signed by a number of rabbis and academics.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation called on Muslims to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque more regularly and warned of the repercussions of Jewish extremists' intrusions into the mosque and their schemes against it.
The Foundation said that the latest Jewish calls to storm Al-Aqsa and make Easter sacrifices inside it and also the plans to build a synagogue in the mosque's grounds, constitute "serious indications that the occupation is stepping up its violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Link:
.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10623-israelis-call-to-present-easter-sacrifices-in-al-aqsa.
Source:: Middle East Monitor
Jewish groups are calling on the Israeli public to take part in preparations for events which they hope will take place in Al-Aqsa Mosque on the eve of the Jewish Passover, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has warned.
The preparations are due to take place on the evening of Thursday April 10 at the site west of Jerusalem, when Jewish groups will simulate how to offer Easter sacrifices in Al-Aqsa Mosque in the hope that they would implement this plan in reality on Passover.
In a press release, the Al-Aqsa Foundation added that these Jewish groups had sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convince him to facilitate the procedures of building a synagogue near Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The letter was signed by a number of rabbis and academics.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation called on Muslims to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque more regularly and warned of the repercussions of Jewish extremists' intrusions into the mosque and their schemes against it.
The Foundation said that the latest Jewish calls to storm Al-Aqsa and make Easter sacrifices inside it and also the plans to build a synagogue in the mosque's grounds, constitute "serious indications that the occupation is stepping up its violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Link:
.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10623-israelis-call-to-present-easter-sacrifices-in-al-aqsa.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Settlers prepare move into key E.Jerusalem site
March 27, 2014
By Majeda el-Batsh
Source: Yahoo News
By Majeda el-Batsh
Source: Yahoo News
Jerusalem (AFP) - Radical Jewish
settlers are readying to move into a major property in the commercial
heart of annexed east Jerusalem, overlooking the walls of the Old City,
officials have told AFP.
A large part of
the property, which also houses east Jerusalem's main post office and
an Israeli police station, was purchased last year by a radical settler
group called Ateret Cohanim, which bought it from Israel's Bezeq
telecoms company.
Located on
the corner of Salah al-Din and Sultan Suleiman in the busy centre of
east Jerusalem just outside the Old City walls, the property is
currently being converted into a Jewish seminary, or yeshiva, an Israeli
official and Palestinian workers told AFP.
Ateret
Cohanim actively works to settle as many Jews as possible in densely
populated Palestinian areas in and around the Old City.
The
purchase was first reported in Israel's Haaretz newspaper, which
published part of an email in which Ateret Cohanim’s Executive Director
Daniel Luria contacted supporters to announce the acquisition of more
than 1,000 square metres (10,760 square feet) in "a very large and
strategic building" just outside the Old City.
Speaking
to AFP, an Israeli official confirmed the group had bought parts of the
property and was currently carrying out renovations in order to have it
ready for occupancy before the week-long Passover festival begins in
mid-April.
"They are now renovating it for
the yeshiva and for a school to prepare Orthodox Jews for military
service," he told AFP. "They are trying to set it all up before Passover
on April 13."
Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Bezeq refused to confirm who was behind the purchase.
"We will not disclose the identity of the buyers," he said.
Luria declined to speak to AFP.
The building is currently being renovated by Palestinian workers under the supervision of Israeli technicians and engineers.
"We work day and night. It is almost ready," said one worker who refused to give his name.
Local shopkeepers said they had been aware of the plan for several months.
"We
found out four months ago from the workers that settlers had purchased
the property and are turning it into a yeshiva," said Adel al-Sharbati,
who owns a nearby mobile phone shop and spoke of a sense of
powerlessness.
"They’re the strong ones here -- who should we complain to?" he told AFP, saying it was likely to raise tensions in the area.
"The whole area will be affected negatively once they're here," he added.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Most Jews want to perform Jewish rituals in Al-Aqsa Mosque
13 March 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
Some 78 per cent of religious Jews want to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque compared to only 18 per cent from the national Haredim, a new poll has revealed.
Published by Maagar Mohot and conducted in cooperation with the Temple Organisations, the survey showed that 45 per cent of secular Jews wanted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.
About 80 per cent of the national religious Jews believe that entering Al-Aqsa Mosque has to keep up with the teachings of Judaism, which stipulate carrying out religious rituals upon accessing certain places inside the mosque.
Regarding tourism visits to the mosque, the poll showed that 68 per cent of the national religious Jews want to enter Al-Aqsa as tourists, compared with 60 per cent of secular Jews and 20 per cent of Haredim.
The poll showed that 73 per cent of national religious Jews support building a Jewish temple in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Commenting on the results of the poll, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Islamic Heritage said that this reaffirms that all facets of Israeli society want to invade Al-Aqsa Mosque and build a Jewish Temple in its place.
Link:
www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10293-most-jews-want-to-perform-jewish-rituals-in-al-aqsa-mosque.
Source: Middle East Monitor
Some 78 per cent of religious Jews want to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque compared to only 18 per cent from the national Haredim, a new poll has revealed.
Published by Maagar Mohot and conducted in cooperation with the Temple Organisations, the survey showed that 45 per cent of secular Jews wanted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.
About 80 per cent of the national religious Jews believe that entering Al-Aqsa Mosque has to keep up with the teachings of Judaism, which stipulate carrying out religious rituals upon accessing certain places inside the mosque.
Regarding tourism visits to the mosque, the poll showed that 68 per cent of the national religious Jews want to enter Al-Aqsa as tourists, compared with 60 per cent of secular Jews and 20 per cent of Haredim.
The poll showed that 73 per cent of national religious Jews support building a Jewish temple in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Commenting on the results of the poll, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Islamic Heritage said that this reaffirms that all facets of Israeli society want to invade Al-Aqsa Mosque and build a Jewish Temple in its place.
Link:
www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10293-most-jews-want-to-perform-jewish-rituals-in-al-aqsa-mosque.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Israelis storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and injure dozens of Palestinians
16 March 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
Dozens of Palestinian worshippers were wounded on Sunday morning when Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets towards them in Al-Aqsa Mosque. The media coordinator for Al-Aqsa Foundation for Religious Endowments and Islamic Heritage, Mahmoud Abu Atta, said that countless Israeli forces stormed the mosque from the Mughrabi Gate and assaulted the Muslims at prayer inside.
"The Israeli police fired volleys of stun grenades and rubber bullets," said Abu Atta. "Among all the injuries, at least one young man was seriously wounded in the head during the assault." He pointed out that the Israeli police prevented students from reaching their religious lessons inside the mosque. The students then staged an impromptu protest outside the Hettan and Al-Majlis Gates.
"Some Muslims spent the night in the mosque while others arrived during the dawn prayers and stayed to protect the site following calls from the Temple organisations to celebrate the Jewish Purim festival there" added Abu Atta.
Jewish settlers have called for an escalation of incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, urging people to storm the site so that they can celebrate the Jewish Passover there in the middle of April. The Al-Aqsa Foundation reported that Israeli forces had a high security presence outside the gates of the sanctuary and in the alleys of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Foundation warned of the fierce Israeli campaign against Al-Aqsa and other Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem. It called upon Islamic, Arab and Palestinian organisations to take urgent action to protect and save the mosque, Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites from the ravages of the Israeli occupation.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10333-israelis-storm-al-aqsa-mosque-and-injure-dozens-of-palestinians.
Source: Middle East Monitor
Dozens of Palestinian worshippers were wounded on Sunday morning when Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets towards them in Al-Aqsa Mosque. The media coordinator for Al-Aqsa Foundation for Religious Endowments and Islamic Heritage, Mahmoud Abu Atta, said that countless Israeli forces stormed the mosque from the Mughrabi Gate and assaulted the Muslims at prayer inside.
"The Israeli police fired volleys of stun grenades and rubber bullets," said Abu Atta. "Among all the injuries, at least one young man was seriously wounded in the head during the assault." He pointed out that the Israeli police prevented students from reaching their religious lessons inside the mosque. The students then staged an impromptu protest outside the Hettan and Al-Majlis Gates.
"Some Muslims spent the night in the mosque while others arrived during the dawn prayers and stayed to protect the site following calls from the Temple organisations to celebrate the Jewish Purim festival there" added Abu Atta.
Jewish settlers have called for an escalation of incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, urging people to storm the site so that they can celebrate the Jewish Passover there in the middle of April. The Al-Aqsa Foundation reported that Israeli forces had a high security presence outside the gates of the sanctuary and in the alleys of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Foundation warned of the fierce Israeli campaign against Al-Aqsa and other Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem. It called upon Islamic, Arab and Palestinian organisations to take urgent action to protect and save the mosque, Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites from the ravages of the Israeli occupation.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10333-israelis-storm-al-aqsa-mosque-and-injure-dozens-of-palestinians.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
So that Al-Aqsa does not end up like Al-Ibrahimi
04 March 2014
Ali Jaradat
Source: Middle East Monitor
On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly issued Resolution 181 which stipulated the division of Palestine and the establishment of two states, an "Arab" and a "Jewish" state and placed Jerusalem under international protection, meaning that it must be kept as is and none of its population or geographic features can be changed. According to the division map, Jerusalem extended from Bethlehem in the south, to Kofr Akab, near Ramallah in the north, and from Abu Dis in the east to Ein Karem in the west.
However, Israel's leaders forcefully imposed, contrary to the stipulations of the UN resolution, the borders of its state on 78 per cent of Mandatory Palestine, including what became the so-called "West Jerusalem". When he was criticised for going beyond the borders set by the division map, Ben-Gurion said, "Israel's borders end where its last soldier stands".
After the occupation of the rest of Palestine in 1967, the Knesset issued a decision to annex what had been known as "East Jerusalem", although the seizure decision did not include enforcing all Israeli laws upon it, as it continued to be called "Jerusalem Military District" until 1981, when the Knesset signed the Camp David Peace Accords with Egypt, but did not consider the Palestinian Jerusalemites as citizens, but "residents" instead.
This was done in order to implement the plan to Judaise Jerusalem and make it the eternal capital of the State of Israel. It was also an attempt to expel as many of its inhabitants as possible, especially its national political and community leaders, such Abdel Hamid Al-Sayeh, Rawhi Al-Khatib, Bahjat Abu Gharbieh, Dr Subhi Ghosheh, writer Mahmoud Shukair, Ahmed Khalifa, Archbishop Hilarion Capucci and many others.
We must not forget the Israeli decision to move the Jordanian Court of Cassation headquarters from Jerusalem to Ramallah and put the Israeli District Court in its place which led to the strike of an overwhelming majority of lawyers and judges in the West Bank, including Jerusalemite lawyers and judges, who refused to plead before any West Bank or Jerusalem court, or work there until the strike was ended after the Oslo Accords and the emergence of the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the agreement, in 1994.
Regardless of the case, the sensitivity towards the religious and cultural significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque remained present, posing a mine which all successive Israeli governments avoided pushing too far for fear of igniting a fire that would explode and extend past the borders of Palestine and would be difficult to control and contain. This explains the agreement of the many Israeli governments to Jordan remaining the custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding holy sites.
This was emphasised in the "Wadi Araba Peace Treaty" signed between Jordan and Israel in 1994. Despite the fact that the Israeli leaders had the upper hand and many strong points, despite their distinguished and unmatched political arrogance and ideological firmness and despite their imposition of settlements and Judaisation, they realise that going too far in attacking Al-Aqsa Mosque was the direct reason for the outbreak of many of the Palestinian uprisings, both those that took place before the establishment of their state in the 1920s, most notably the "Al-Buraq Revolution" in 1929 and those that took place after the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, most notably the "Tunnel Intifada" In 1996 due to the excavation under the Mosque and the "Al-Aqsa Intifada" in 2000 because of Sharon's provocative visit to the mosque courtyards.
However, the events occurring today in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, including Israel's attempts to pass legislations, unleash the extremist Jewish settlers and their representatives in the government and Knesset to violate the Holy Mosque and the political refusal to negotiate the issue of Jerusalem, all reflect hidden intentions and a new-old desire to seize the Holy mosque. They are encouraged by the Arab powers' preoccupation with their internal affairs and concerns, which has increased the internal Palestinian divide and allowed Israeli misguidance to lead popular Arab uprisings by means of inciting groups that are selling Jerusalem and stabbing it in the heart. Such groups disguise themselves under the name of Jerusalem and commit all sorts of strife and sectarian and denomination wars in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.
They have reversed the standards of resistance and Jihad, as Palestine and its heart, Jerusalem, no longer have a place in their thoughts and agendas, despite the fact that many hide under names associates with Jerusalem and the Holy Land etc.
It is true that the attempts to pass legislation to divide the Haram Al-Sharif, both in terms of space and time, and ending the Jordanian custodianship over the area have not been translated into law yet, but it is also true that merely daring to do so is a prelude to gradually entering this idea into the minds of the Palestinians, Arabs, and the international community. Making the repeated ground and political violations of the Haram Al-Sharif a normal issue makes it possible to repeat what happened in the case of Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
The habit of Israeli leaders to gradually allow the world to get used to their plans has become a feature and main characteristic of their daily policies. It is worth recalling how Golda Meir breathed a sigh of relief, despite her political concern, after the Arab reaction towards the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969 was much calmer than she had expected. Meir drew the policy of continued violation of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and all the holy sites while being reassured by the weakness of the Arab's response.
We have discovered that there is a market for Jewish citizens located under Al-Aqsa which has taken away custom from the city's old markets.
The subjection of Al-Aqsa Mosque to unprecedented political and ground violations are all part of the escalating and ongoing Judaisation process of Jerusalem. Apart from generalisations, there is now a process of methodical purging of the city by easing Palestinian construction in areas of Jerusalem outside the Separation Wall in order to attract a new generation of Jerusalemites. This has made the city of Kafr Akab, a district of Jerusalem adjacent to Ramallah and which is located outside the Separation Wall, a densely populated residential city, full of Jerusalemites who are sick of the complications and difficulties of obtaining a building permit to build a house in the city.
The danger of this issue lies in the fact that merely declaring that the borders of Jerusalem are dictated by the Wall will deprive all Jerusalemites of their right of life or access to the city with just a stroke of a pen. Hence, the result is ridding the city of tens of thousands of Jerusalemites, as well as the decision of the Israeli Ministry of the Interior to dictate the validity of a Jerusalem ID, setting it at ten years, which would be the first time it has done so since 1967. There is also the decision of the Ministry of Education to apply the Israeli educational curriculum to all schools in Jerusalem after it had allowed schools to teach the Jordanian and then the Palestinian curriculum, after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.
This article is a translation of the Arabic text published by Al Quds newspaper on 3 March, 2014
Link: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/10101-so-that-al-aqsa-does-not-end-up-like-al-ibrahimi.
Ali Jaradat
Source: Middle East Monitor
On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly issued Resolution 181 which stipulated the division of Palestine and the establishment of two states, an "Arab" and a "Jewish" state and placed Jerusalem under international protection, meaning that it must be kept as is and none of its population or geographic features can be changed. According to the division map, Jerusalem extended from Bethlehem in the south, to Kofr Akab, near Ramallah in the north, and from Abu Dis in the east to Ein Karem in the west.
However, Israel's leaders forcefully imposed, contrary to the stipulations of the UN resolution, the borders of its state on 78 per cent of Mandatory Palestine, including what became the so-called "West Jerusalem". When he was criticised for going beyond the borders set by the division map, Ben-Gurion said, "Israel's borders end where its last soldier stands".
After the occupation of the rest of Palestine in 1967, the Knesset issued a decision to annex what had been known as "East Jerusalem", although the seizure decision did not include enforcing all Israeli laws upon it, as it continued to be called "Jerusalem Military District" until 1981, when the Knesset signed the Camp David Peace Accords with Egypt, but did not consider the Palestinian Jerusalemites as citizens, but "residents" instead.
This was done in order to implement the plan to Judaise Jerusalem and make it the eternal capital of the State of Israel. It was also an attempt to expel as many of its inhabitants as possible, especially its national political and community leaders, such Abdel Hamid Al-Sayeh, Rawhi Al-Khatib, Bahjat Abu Gharbieh, Dr Subhi Ghosheh, writer Mahmoud Shukair, Ahmed Khalifa, Archbishop Hilarion Capucci and many others.
We must not forget the Israeli decision to move the Jordanian Court of Cassation headquarters from Jerusalem to Ramallah and put the Israeli District Court in its place which led to the strike of an overwhelming majority of lawyers and judges in the West Bank, including Jerusalemite lawyers and judges, who refused to plead before any West Bank or Jerusalem court, or work there until the strike was ended after the Oslo Accords and the emergence of the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the agreement, in 1994.
Regardless of the case, the sensitivity towards the religious and cultural significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque remained present, posing a mine which all successive Israeli governments avoided pushing too far for fear of igniting a fire that would explode and extend past the borders of Palestine and would be difficult to control and contain. This explains the agreement of the many Israeli governments to Jordan remaining the custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding holy sites.
This was emphasised in the "Wadi Araba Peace Treaty" signed between Jordan and Israel in 1994. Despite the fact that the Israeli leaders had the upper hand and many strong points, despite their distinguished and unmatched political arrogance and ideological firmness and despite their imposition of settlements and Judaisation, they realise that going too far in attacking Al-Aqsa Mosque was the direct reason for the outbreak of many of the Palestinian uprisings, both those that took place before the establishment of their state in the 1920s, most notably the "Al-Buraq Revolution" in 1929 and those that took place after the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, most notably the "Tunnel Intifada" In 1996 due to the excavation under the Mosque and the "Al-Aqsa Intifada" in 2000 because of Sharon's provocative visit to the mosque courtyards.
However, the events occurring today in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, including Israel's attempts to pass legislations, unleash the extremist Jewish settlers and their representatives in the government and Knesset to violate the Holy Mosque and the political refusal to negotiate the issue of Jerusalem, all reflect hidden intentions and a new-old desire to seize the Holy mosque. They are encouraged by the Arab powers' preoccupation with their internal affairs and concerns, which has increased the internal Palestinian divide and allowed Israeli misguidance to lead popular Arab uprisings by means of inciting groups that are selling Jerusalem and stabbing it in the heart. Such groups disguise themselves under the name of Jerusalem and commit all sorts of strife and sectarian and denomination wars in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.
They have reversed the standards of resistance and Jihad, as Palestine and its heart, Jerusalem, no longer have a place in their thoughts and agendas, despite the fact that many hide under names associates with Jerusalem and the Holy Land etc.
It is true that the attempts to pass legislation to divide the Haram Al-Sharif, both in terms of space and time, and ending the Jordanian custodianship over the area have not been translated into law yet, but it is also true that merely daring to do so is a prelude to gradually entering this idea into the minds of the Palestinians, Arabs, and the international community. Making the repeated ground and political violations of the Haram Al-Sharif a normal issue makes it possible to repeat what happened in the case of Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
The habit of Israeli leaders to gradually allow the world to get used to their plans has become a feature and main characteristic of their daily policies. It is worth recalling how Golda Meir breathed a sigh of relief, despite her political concern, after the Arab reaction towards the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969 was much calmer than she had expected. Meir drew the policy of continued violation of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and all the holy sites while being reassured by the weakness of the Arab's response.
We have discovered that there is a market for Jewish citizens located under Al-Aqsa which has taken away custom from the city's old markets.
The subjection of Al-Aqsa Mosque to unprecedented political and ground violations are all part of the escalating and ongoing Judaisation process of Jerusalem. Apart from generalisations, there is now a process of methodical purging of the city by easing Palestinian construction in areas of Jerusalem outside the Separation Wall in order to attract a new generation of Jerusalemites. This has made the city of Kafr Akab, a district of Jerusalem adjacent to Ramallah and which is located outside the Separation Wall, a densely populated residential city, full of Jerusalemites who are sick of the complications and difficulties of obtaining a building permit to build a house in the city.
The danger of this issue lies in the fact that merely declaring that the borders of Jerusalem are dictated by the Wall will deprive all Jerusalemites of their right of life or access to the city with just a stroke of a pen. Hence, the result is ridding the city of tens of thousands of Jerusalemites, as well as the decision of the Israeli Ministry of the Interior to dictate the validity of a Jerusalem ID, setting it at ten years, which would be the first time it has done so since 1967. There is also the decision of the Ministry of Education to apply the Israeli educational curriculum to all schools in Jerusalem after it had allowed schools to teach the Jordanian and then the Palestinian curriculum, after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.
This article is a translation of the Arabic text published by Al Quds newspaper on 3 March, 2014
Link: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/middle-east/10101-so-that-al-aqsa-does-not-end-up-like-al-ibrahimi.
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