19 apr 2015
Hazza’ as-Sa’dy
Palestinian security sources in the northern West Bank city of Nablus have reported, Sunday, that unknown assailants burned sections of the home of a former political prisoner, a Palestinian National Security officer.
The sources said a number of masked persons broke into, and torched, the home Hazza’ as-Sa’dy, in the Sa’diyya neighborhood, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin; the home was empty when the attack took place.
Palestinian firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene and contained the fire; the police and security services opened an official investigation into the attack.
It is worth mentioning that as-Sa’dy spent 28 years in different Israeli prisons, detention and interrogation centers; his family is from the Jenin refugee camp.
The former detainee was one of the detainees who were released by Israel two years ago as part of the US-mediated efforts “to resume direct political talks” between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
On December 31 2013, Israel released 26 veteran Palestinian detainees, as part of the third phase of freeing all detainees who have been held since before the first Oslo peace agreement of 1993.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, in mid-August 2013, 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank) and, in late October of the same year, it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
Tel Aviv then refused to release the fourth and final phase that would have ensured the release of all veteran detainees.
The Detainees In Numbers:
- 6,500 Palestinians still imprisoned by Israel, among them are;
1. 480 detainees sentenced to at least one life term.
2. 200 children.
3. 24 women, including four children.
4. 14 legislators and one government minister.
5. 30 detainees held before the Oslo Accord of 1993.
6. 16 detainees who have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, including Karim Younis and Maher Younis, who were kidnapped 33 years ago.
7. 85 former detainees, who were released under the Shalit Prisoner Swap Agreement, and were kidnapped again, afterwards; most of them served at least 20 years before the Shalit deal.
More on the issue: Prisoners Day Report on Palestinian Detainees, Their Sufferings and Their Plight.
Palestinian security sources in the northern West Bank city of Nablus have reported, Sunday, that unknown assailants burned sections of the home of a former political prisoner, a Palestinian National Security officer.
The sources said a number of masked persons broke into, and torched, the home Hazza’ as-Sa’dy, in the Sa’diyya neighborhood, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin; the home was empty when the attack took place.
Palestinian firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene and contained the fire; the police and security services opened an official investigation into the attack.
It is worth mentioning that as-Sa’dy spent 28 years in different Israeli prisons, detention and interrogation centers; his family is from the Jenin refugee camp.
The former detainee was one of the detainees who were released by Israel two years ago as part of the US-mediated efforts “to resume direct political talks” between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.
On December 31 2013, Israel released 26 veteran Palestinian detainees, as part of the third phase of freeing all detainees who have been held since before the first Oslo peace agreement of 1993.
During the first and second phases, Israel released, in mid-August 2013, 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank) and, in late October of the same year, it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and 5 from the West Bank).
Tel Aviv then refused to release the fourth and final phase that would have ensured the release of all veteran detainees.
The Detainees In Numbers:
- 6,500 Palestinians still imprisoned by Israel, among them are;
1. 480 detainees sentenced to at least one life term.
2. 200 children.
3. 24 women, including four children.
4. 14 legislators and one government minister.
5. 30 detainees held before the Oslo Accord of 1993.
6. 16 detainees who have been imprisoned for more than 25 years, including Karim Younis and Maher Younis, who were kidnapped 33 years ago.
7. 85 former detainees, who were released under the Shalit Prisoner Swap Agreement, and were kidnapped again, afterwards; most of them served at least 20 years before the Shalit deal.
More on the issue: Prisoners Day Report on Palestinian Detainees, Their Sufferings and Their Plight.
17 feb 2015
Yisrael Beytenu leader says if convicted terrorists are not executed 'we're inviting more and more terrorism'; notes fourth round of fighting with Hamas 'inevitable' and that Israel should already think how to prevent fifth.
The first bill to be proposed by Yisrael Beytenu in the 20th Knesset will seek to impose a death sentence for terrorists, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Tuesday morning at the INSS Conference.
Lieberman argued that if convicted terrorists are not executed, "we're inviting more and more terrorism." At the conference in Tel Aviv, the Yisrael Beytenu leader said that "the fight against terrorism is the biggest challenge the world faces in the 21st century. This is also Israel's biggest challenge. But there's a large gap between what Israel is preaching to and what is actually done here."
"Releasing terrorists, including those who committed the most horrendous of attacks such as the lynch in Ramallah, is the worst possible message to send in the war against terror. We have to show terrorists we're changing directions. That there are no more deals," he added. Lieberman repeated comments he previously made to Ynet, saying a third round of fighting in Gaza against Hamas is "inevitable."
"What's important is to already think how to prevent the fifth round of fighting. Every military operation must end with a decisive victory, otherwise we're eroding our capabilities and our deterrence. The fact we're heading to a military conflict against Hamas every two years doesn't allow Israel to make long-term plans, like a normal country, on policy and economic issues."
The first bill to be proposed by Yisrael Beytenu in the 20th Knesset will seek to impose a death sentence for terrorists, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Tuesday morning at the INSS Conference.
Lieberman argued that if convicted terrorists are not executed, "we're inviting more and more terrorism." At the conference in Tel Aviv, the Yisrael Beytenu leader said that "the fight against terrorism is the biggest challenge the world faces in the 21st century. This is also Israel's biggest challenge. But there's a large gap between what Israel is preaching to and what is actually done here."
"Releasing terrorists, including those who committed the most horrendous of attacks such as the lynch in Ramallah, is the worst possible message to send in the war against terror. We have to show terrorists we're changing directions. That there are no more deals," he added. Lieberman repeated comments he previously made to Ynet, saying a third round of fighting in Gaza against Hamas is "inevitable."
"What's important is to already think how to prevent the fifth round of fighting. Every military operation must end with a decisive victory, otherwise we're eroding our capabilities and our deterrence. The fact we're heading to a military conflict against Hamas every two years doesn't allow Israel to make long-term plans, like a normal country, on policy and economic issues."
17 aug 2014
Sabha Abu Srour with three veteran prisoners freed in 2013.
Sabha Abu Srour, the mother of veteran Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Abu Srour, died Saturday at 80 before she was able to see her son return to his home in Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, a Ma'an reporter said.
Abu Srour was buried Saturday afternoon at the cemetery near Rachel's Tomb. Her husband had died a few years earlier.
Mahmoud Abu Srour was detained by Israeli troops 24 years ago.
He is one of 26 veteran Palestinian prisoners, jailed before Oslo agreement of 1993, who remain in Israeli custody. It was agreed that Israel would release them as the fourth and final group of 104 pre-Oslo prisoners in a gesture to the Palestinian Authority in return for resuming peace talks.
However, negotiations failed to reach any agreement after nine months when Israel refused to release the fourth group of veteran prisoners and the PLO acceded to various international organizations and treaties.
Sabha Abu Srour, the mother of veteran Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Abu Srour, died Saturday at 80 before she was able to see her son return to his home in Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, a Ma'an reporter said.
Abu Srour was buried Saturday afternoon at the cemetery near Rachel's Tomb. Her husband had died a few years earlier.
Mahmoud Abu Srour was detained by Israeli troops 24 years ago.
He is one of 26 veteran Palestinian prisoners, jailed before Oslo agreement of 1993, who remain in Israeli custody. It was agreed that Israel would release them as the fourth and final group of 104 pre-Oslo prisoners in a gesture to the Palestinian Authority in return for resuming peace talks.
However, negotiations failed to reach any agreement after nine months when Israel refused to release the fourth group of veteran prisoners and the PLO acceded to various international organizations and treaties.
4 july 2014
640 arrested arrested since beginning of new Israeli raids
Violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers against the Palestinian community continued across the region, today, beginning with 20 reported kidnappings by occupying forces in the West Bank. At least 640 Palestinians have been arrested since the beginning of Israel's recently escalated arrest campaign.
Israeli forces, today, abducted around 20 Palestinians, including minors, in predawn raids across the West Bank and Jerusalem, according to reports by local, media and security sources.
In the Hebron district, seven people were taken by Israeli forces, including three children between the ages of 8 and 10, under a pretext of throwing stones at soldiers.
According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, the children were released later in the day, after the Palestinian Liaison Office intervened.
In the nearby village of Beit Ummar, 3 more Palestinians were kidnapped and another was taken at the ‘Atzion’ checkpoint, following a beating in the head by soldiers with their rifle butts.
In Jenin and its nearby refugee camp, soldiers invaded the area, abducting one local resident, age 29, after raiding his house and wrecking his furniture.
Soldiers turned several homes them into military outposts for hours in the camp, as well. The invasions led to violent confrontations with local residents, causing several cases of suffocation as soldiers fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades and live bullets.
In Qalqilya, three Palestinian residents, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, were kidnapped by soldiers who both stormed the city and the nearby village of Kafr Qaddum.
Many other homes were raided in the nearby village of Azzoun, where soldiers tampered with their contents. No further arrests were reported.
In Tulkarm refugee camp, Israeli forces took with them a local resident after invading his home in the late night hours.
Additionally, one Palestinian youngster was kidnapped after soldiers stormed his house in the village of Hazma, Jerusalem Governorate.
Meanwhile, army forces abducted five Palestinians, including four ex-detainees, in both Nablus and in the nearby al-Ein refugee camp, as well as the villages of Qaryout and Madama.
Futhermore, forces again stormed Awarta village, where they raided a house; no arrests were reported.
At least 640 Palestinians have been arrested since the beginning of the Israeli arrest campaign on June 12 following the disappearance of three settlers, who were later found just near where they reportedly went missing, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The number includes 59 prisoners who were released in a 2011 exchange deal, which included 11 pre-Oslo prisoners. According to the Ministry, this now brings the number of pre-Oslo prisoners in Israeli jails up to 41.
Their statement added that 11 Palestinian MPs were also arrested, bringing up the number of imprisoned parliamentarians to 22.
Around 170 of the Palestinians, who were arrested over last two weeks, are now held under Israel's Administrative Detention policy, in which prisoners are held without charge or trial, bringing up the number of administrative detainees to over 350, said the ministry.
The massive arrest campaign now brings up the number of Palestinian prisoners to over 5,800.
WAFA has provided its readers with a list of new detainees:
List of imprisoned Members of Parliament:
1) Marwan Barghouthi, first Member of Parliament to be abducted in 2002 and the most prominent Palestinian prisoner. He spent 19 years in Israeli jails, including the last 12 years.
2) Ahmed Sa’adat, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He was abducted from Jericho prison in 2006 in violation of an international agreement.
3) Ahmad Atoun, (Jerusalem), held for years in administrative detention and now Israel, the occupying Power, is contemplating presenting an accusation list against him
4) Mahmoud Ramahi, elected Secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006, administrative detention
5) Abdel-Jaber Foqaha, (Ramallah), administrative detention
6) Mohammad Jamal, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
7) Hatem Qufaisha, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
8) Nizar Ramadan, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
9) Mohammad Badr, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
10) Mohammad Abu Teir, (Jerusalem), administrative detention
11) Yasser Mansour, (Nablus), administrative detention
MPs arrested during the ongoing Israeli aggression:
1) Aziz Dweik, (Al-Khalil), elected Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006
2) Hassan Youssef, (Ramallah), administrative detention
3) Ahmad Totah, (Jerusalem), administrative detention
4) Abdelrahman Zeidan, (Tulkarem)
5) Ibrahim Abou Salem, (Jerusalem)
6) Housni El-Bourini, (Nablus)
7) Azzam Salhab, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
8) Ayman Daraghmeh, (Ramallah)
9) Ahmad Mubarak, (Ramallah), administrative detention
10) Anwar Zboun (Bethlehem), administrative detention
11) Khaled Tafesh (Bethlehem), administrative detention
12) Imad nofal (Qalqilya)
List of the prisoners released in the 2011 exchange deal who have been arrested in the last two weeks:
Violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers against the Palestinian community continued across the region, today, beginning with 20 reported kidnappings by occupying forces in the West Bank. At least 640 Palestinians have been arrested since the beginning of Israel's recently escalated arrest campaign.
Israeli forces, today, abducted around 20 Palestinians, including minors, in predawn raids across the West Bank and Jerusalem, according to reports by local, media and security sources.
In the Hebron district, seven people were taken by Israeli forces, including three children between the ages of 8 and 10, under a pretext of throwing stones at soldiers.
According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, the children were released later in the day, after the Palestinian Liaison Office intervened.
In the nearby village of Beit Ummar, 3 more Palestinians were kidnapped and another was taken at the ‘Atzion’ checkpoint, following a beating in the head by soldiers with their rifle butts.
In Jenin and its nearby refugee camp, soldiers invaded the area, abducting one local resident, age 29, after raiding his house and wrecking his furniture.
Soldiers turned several homes them into military outposts for hours in the camp, as well. The invasions led to violent confrontations with local residents, causing several cases of suffocation as soldiers fired tear gas canisters, stun grenades and live bullets.
In Qalqilya, three Palestinian residents, including a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, were kidnapped by soldiers who both stormed the city and the nearby village of Kafr Qaddum.
Many other homes were raided in the nearby village of Azzoun, where soldiers tampered with their contents. No further arrests were reported.
In Tulkarm refugee camp, Israeli forces took with them a local resident after invading his home in the late night hours.
Additionally, one Palestinian youngster was kidnapped after soldiers stormed his house in the village of Hazma, Jerusalem Governorate.
Meanwhile, army forces abducted five Palestinians, including four ex-detainees, in both Nablus and in the nearby al-Ein refugee camp, as well as the villages of Qaryout and Madama.
Futhermore, forces again stormed Awarta village, where they raided a house; no arrests were reported.
At least 640 Palestinians have been arrested since the beginning of the Israeli arrest campaign on June 12 following the disappearance of three settlers, who were later found just near where they reportedly went missing, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The number includes 59 prisoners who were released in a 2011 exchange deal, which included 11 pre-Oslo prisoners. According to the Ministry, this now brings the number of pre-Oslo prisoners in Israeli jails up to 41.
Their statement added that 11 Palestinian MPs were also arrested, bringing up the number of imprisoned parliamentarians to 22.
Around 170 of the Palestinians, who were arrested over last two weeks, are now held under Israel's Administrative Detention policy, in which prisoners are held without charge or trial, bringing up the number of administrative detainees to over 350, said the ministry.
The massive arrest campaign now brings up the number of Palestinian prisoners to over 5,800.
WAFA has provided its readers with a list of new detainees:
List of imprisoned Members of Parliament:
1) Marwan Barghouthi, first Member of Parliament to be abducted in 2002 and the most prominent Palestinian prisoner. He spent 19 years in Israeli jails, including the last 12 years.
2) Ahmed Sa’adat, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He was abducted from Jericho prison in 2006 in violation of an international agreement.
3) Ahmad Atoun, (Jerusalem), held for years in administrative detention and now Israel, the occupying Power, is contemplating presenting an accusation list against him
4) Mahmoud Ramahi, elected Secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006, administrative detention
5) Abdel-Jaber Foqaha, (Ramallah), administrative detention
6) Mohammad Jamal, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
7) Hatem Qufaisha, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
8) Nizar Ramadan, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
9) Mohammad Badr, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
10) Mohammad Abu Teir, (Jerusalem), administrative detention
11) Yasser Mansour, (Nablus), administrative detention
MPs arrested during the ongoing Israeli aggression:
1) Aziz Dweik, (Al-Khalil), elected Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006
2) Hassan Youssef, (Ramallah), administrative detention
3) Ahmad Totah, (Jerusalem), administrative detention
4) Abdelrahman Zeidan, (Tulkarem)
5) Ibrahim Abou Salem, (Jerusalem)
6) Housni El-Bourini, (Nablus)
7) Azzam Salhab, (Al-Khalil), administrative detention
8) Ayman Daraghmeh, (Ramallah)
9) Ahmad Mubarak, (Ramallah), administrative detention
10) Anwar Zboun (Bethlehem), administrative detention
11) Khaled Tafesh (Bethlehem), administrative detention
12) Imad nofal (Qalqilya)
List of the prisoners released in the 2011 exchange deal who have been arrested in the last two weeks:
|
Re-arrested pre-Oslo prisoners:
1. Nael Barghouthi 2. Nidal Zaloum 3. Abd El-Men’em Othman To’meh 4. Majdi Atieh Suleiman ‘Ajouli 5. Ayed Khalil 6. Samer El-Mahroum 7. Alaa El-Bazyan 8. Adnan Maragha 9. Ibrahim Mesh’aal 10. Nasser Abedrabbo 11. Othman Musleh |
Others:
12. Safwan Al-‘Ewaiwi 13. Rabee’ Barghouthi 14. Suleiman Abu Eid 15. Ibrahim Shalash 16. Ibrahim Al-Masri 17. Zuheir Sakafi 18. Ahmad Al-‘awawdeh 19. Bassam Na’im Al-Natsheh 20. Mahmoud Al-Swaiti 21. Mu’amar Al-Ja’bari 22. Khaled Makhamra |
23. Abbas Shabaneh
24. Rasmi Maharik 25. Nayef Shawamreh 26. Na’eem Masalmeh 27. Mu’az Abu Rmouz 28. Amer Moqbel 29. Ashraf Al-Wawi 30. Muhamad Barakat 31. Moayad Jalad 32. Ya’koub Al-Kilani 33. Aref Fakhouri 34. Waheeb Abu Al-Rob 35. Muhamad Saleh El-Rishek |
36. Mu’amar Ghawadra
37. Imad Mussa 38. Abdelrahman Salah 39. Ashraf Abu El-Rob 40. Wael Jalboush 41. Nidal Abdelhaq 42. Taha Al-Shakhsheer 43. Zaher Khatatbeh 44. Hamza Abu Arkoub 45. Mahdi El-Assi 46. Shadi Zayed 47. Ibrahim Salim 48. Jamal Abu Saleh |
49. Isama’il Hijazi
50. Rajab Tahan 51. Samer Issawi 52. Khader Radee 53. Imad Fatouni 54. Muhamad Issa Awad 55. Suleiman Abu Seif 56. Amjad Abdelkarim Khaldi 57. Ahmad Hamad 58. Khaled Ghizan 59. Bushra Al-Taweel 60. Nizar Taqatqa |
Attacks by Israeli settlers continued today as Arab students attenfing the College of Safed, in the Upper Galilee were subjected to threats by Jewish fellow students belonging to right-wing parties and religious groups in the college.
Arab MK, Massoud Ghanayim, reported that he had received letters from Arab students in demand of his intervention in stopping the attacks against them, explaining that they were exposed to attempts of assault following the kidnapping and killing of the three settlers, WAFA reports.
Ghanayim then sent urgent messages to the Israeli Defense Minister and the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Faculty of Safed, requesting security and protection for Arab students.
Just today, an Israeli settler got out of his car and opened fire, with a pistol, at one Ali Abu-Samra, age 30, near ar-Ram town, northeast of Hebron. Ali was injured in the foot by the shot.
The settler reportedly fled the scene, following the incident.
In Jerusalem, A 46-year-old Palestinian, from the town of Halhoul, where the 3 missing settlers were uncovered, reported that he was nearly kidnapped by three Israelis, early this morning.
Ammar Abu Asbeh, 46, told WAFA that a car carrying three Israelis pulled in front of him while he was at Shaftai Israel St in Jerusalem, asking him for his identity card.
Upon his refusal, they pushed him into car and fled the scene, but he was later able to open the door and escape. He was currently at an Israeli police station, at the time of the report.
Arab MK, Massoud Ghanayim, reported that he had received letters from Arab students in demand of his intervention in stopping the attacks against them, explaining that they were exposed to attempts of assault following the kidnapping and killing of the three settlers, WAFA reports.
Ghanayim then sent urgent messages to the Israeli Defense Minister and the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Faculty of Safed, requesting security and protection for Arab students.
Just today, an Israeli settler got out of his car and opened fire, with a pistol, at one Ali Abu-Samra, age 30, near ar-Ram town, northeast of Hebron. Ali was injured in the foot by the shot.
The settler reportedly fled the scene, following the incident.
In Jerusalem, A 46-year-old Palestinian, from the town of Halhoul, where the 3 missing settlers were uncovered, reported that he was nearly kidnapped by three Israelis, early this morning.
Ammar Abu Asbeh, 46, told WAFA that a car carrying three Israelis pulled in front of him while he was at Shaftai Israel St in Jerusalem, asking him for his identity card.
Upon his refusal, they pushed him into car and fled the scene, but he was later able to open the door and escape. He was currently at an Israeli police station, at the time of the report.
20 june 2014
Five Palestinians were injured and around 30 detained in Bethlehem's Duheisha refugee camp early Friday morning after clashes broke out when hundreds of Israeli soldiers stormed the area in a military raid early Friday.
Local sources said that approximately 1,000 Israeli soldiers encircled the camp and the nearby area of Al-Salam southwest of Bethlehem overnight Friday as part of a massive search operation being carried out for three Israeli youths who went missing last week.
During the raid, Israeli snipers deployed atop nearby buildings, while plainclothes special forces deployed in nearby streets including in the nearby al-Jebel area.
Medical sources said that Malek Mustafa al-Sharif, 22, was wounded by rubber-coated steel bullets during the clashes.
In addition, an Israeli military patrol vehicle ran over four youths from the camp, including Musa al-Khamour, 22, Hassan Mujahid Abu Joudah, and Marcel Mahmoud Zaghout, 19, who was arrested after he was struck in the head by the vehicle. The fourth injured individual was not identified.
Local sources said that approximately 1,000 Israeli soldiers encircled the camp and the nearby area of Al-Salam southwest of Bethlehem overnight Friday as part of a massive search operation being carried out for three Israeli youths who went missing last week.
During the raid, Israeli snipers deployed atop nearby buildings, while plainclothes special forces deployed in nearby streets including in the nearby al-Jebel area.
Medical sources said that Malek Mustafa al-Sharif, 22, was wounded by rubber-coated steel bullets during the clashes.
In addition, an Israeli military patrol vehicle ran over four youths from the camp, including Musa al-Khamour, 22, Hassan Mujahid Abu Joudah, and Marcel Mahmoud Zaghout, 19, who was arrested after he was struck in the head by the vehicle. The fourth injured individual was not identified.
Aisa Abed Rabbo
Israeli forces detained 30 Palestinians during the raid including Bethlehem Mufti Sheikh Abd al-Majid Atallah and freed prisoner Aisa Abed Rabbo, who was released in October as part of a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in which 104 Palestinian prisoners detained prior to the 1994 Oslo Accords would be let go in exchange for the restart of peace talks.
The detainees were assembled and held in the courtyard of the nearby Palestine Ahliya University during the raid.
A number of detainees were held and then released shortly, including Khaled al-Seifi and Aisa Abed Rabbo.
In addition to the detainees, Israeli soldiers handed Muhammad Abd al-Karim Ayyad and Muhammad Amarnah orders to meet with Israeli intelligence at the Gush Etzion settlement near Bethlehem.
Additionally, Israeli forces stormed the nearby villages of Al-Louz and Artas during the raids, conducting house-to-house searches and combing farmland and open areas nearby.
Local sources in Artas estimated that 300 soldiers were present in the village during the raids.
Earlier on Friday morning, Israeli forces closed the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint near Bethlehem as well.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the raid, saying that they were a part of "searches for illegal weaponry."
The spokesman added that during the raid there was "rock throwing and hand grenades by instigators," and Israeli forces responded with "rubber bullets and live fire," identifying "three hits."
He added that 25 suspects were detained overnight in the whole region.
Israeli forces detained 30 Palestinians during the raid including Bethlehem Mufti Sheikh Abd al-Majid Atallah and freed prisoner Aisa Abed Rabbo, who was released in October as part of a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in which 104 Palestinian prisoners detained prior to the 1994 Oslo Accords would be let go in exchange for the restart of peace talks.
The detainees were assembled and held in the courtyard of the nearby Palestine Ahliya University during the raid.
A number of detainees were held and then released shortly, including Khaled al-Seifi and Aisa Abed Rabbo.
In addition to the detainees, Israeli soldiers handed Muhammad Abd al-Karim Ayyad and Muhammad Amarnah orders to meet with Israeli intelligence at the Gush Etzion settlement near Bethlehem.
Additionally, Israeli forces stormed the nearby villages of Al-Louz and Artas during the raids, conducting house-to-house searches and combing farmland and open areas nearby.
Local sources in Artas estimated that 300 soldiers were present in the village during the raids.
Earlier on Friday morning, Israeli forces closed the Beit Jala DCO checkpoint near Bethlehem as well.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the raid, saying that they were a part of "searches for illegal weaponry."
The spokesman added that during the raid there was "rock throwing and hand grenades by instigators," and Israeli forces responded with "rubber bullets and live fire," identifying "three hits."
He added that 25 suspects were detained overnight in the whole region.
11 may 2014
Palestinians celebrate a prisoner release
Israeli government ministers voted on Sunday to advance a new bill designed to limit the release of Palestinian prisoners, media reported.
According to the Israeli news site Ynet, the bill would ban the release of "convicted killers sentenced to life terms in prison" and would allow courts to decide whether the president is allowed to pardon "murderers" on a case-by-case basis.
Pardoning or reducing the sentence of prisoners is one of the few powers granted to the Israeli president.
The bill would not only apply to Palestinian "security prisoners" but to Israeli criminals as well, the Ynet report said.
There are 5,265 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, according to prisoner rights group Addameer's April 2014 report.
Thirty of those prisoners were detained before the 1993 Oslo Accords, many for militant actions against Israelis and the Israeli army during the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation.
The release of Palestinian prisoners has played a major role in Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. In March, Israel failed to release as agreed a fourth round of Palestinian veteran prisoners jailed before the accords, a move that contributed to the collapse of the latest round of talks.
President Mahmoud Abbas has included the release of the prisoners as a condition for a return to peace talks.
Israeli government ministers voted on Sunday to advance a new bill designed to limit the release of Palestinian prisoners, media reported.
According to the Israeli news site Ynet, the bill would ban the release of "convicted killers sentenced to life terms in prison" and would allow courts to decide whether the president is allowed to pardon "murderers" on a case-by-case basis.
Pardoning or reducing the sentence of prisoners is one of the few powers granted to the Israeli president.
The bill would not only apply to Palestinian "security prisoners" but to Israeli criminals as well, the Ynet report said.
There are 5,265 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails, according to prisoner rights group Addameer's April 2014 report.
Thirty of those prisoners were detained before the 1993 Oslo Accords, many for militant actions against Israelis and the Israeli army during the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation.
The release of Palestinian prisoners has played a major role in Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. In March, Israel failed to release as agreed a fourth round of Palestinian veteran prisoners jailed before the accords, a move that contributed to the collapse of the latest round of talks.
President Mahmoud Abbas has included the release of the prisoners as a condition for a return to peace talks.
Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennet demanded killing Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons commenting on a bill to prevent the early release of Palestinian prisoners. He claimed in an interview on Sunday morning, “ a large part of the “terrorist” released in the previous deals have returned to the circle of “terrorism” and killed us again.”
“ We should kill them inside prisons,” He added.
The law which is submitted by the Knesset members from different parties will be discussed by the ministerial committee for legislation.
It requires imposing restriction on the authority of the Israeli president to approve the early release of Palestinian prisoners.
The law also seeks to include the phrase “complete life sentence imprisonment” in the decision of the court that issues life sentences to insure the impossibility of releasing Palestinians before the end of the term.
“ We should kill them inside prisons,” He added.
The law which is submitted by the Knesset members from different parties will be discussed by the ministerial committee for legislation.
It requires imposing restriction on the authority of the Israeli president to approve the early release of Palestinian prisoners.
The law also seeks to include the phrase “complete life sentence imprisonment” in the decision of the court that issues life sentences to insure the impossibility of releasing Palestinians before the end of the term.
14 apr 2014
A three-hour meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held without the presence of US envoy Martin Indyk on Sunday ended without clear signs of progress.
PLO sources said Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni demanded that the Palestinians withdraw their applications for international treaties because the Israelis considered it a unilateral step.
The demand was rejected by the Palestinians who also refused to freeze the application -- “refusing to even consider it,” said one source -- and adding that there was no turning back.
The Palestinian team, led by Saeb Erekat and Majed Farraj, demanded a complete freeze of settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as an initial condition before discussing other issues.
The Palestinian team also demanded the release of a fourth group of veteran prisoners, without the option of exiling them.
PLO sources said Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni demanded that the Palestinians withdraw their applications for international treaties because the Israelis considered it a unilateral step.
The demand was rejected by the Palestinians who also refused to freeze the application -- “refusing to even consider it,” said one source -- and adding that there was no turning back.
The Palestinian team, led by Saeb Erekat and Majed Farraj, demanded a complete freeze of settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as an initial condition before discussing other issues.
The Palestinian team also demanded the release of a fourth group of veteran prisoners, without the option of exiling them.
