12 jan 2012
Israeli settlers run over two Palestinian schoolgirls
Two Israeli women ran over two Palestinian schoolgirls in each of Al-Khalil and Nablus in separate incidents on Thursday morning, medical sources said.
An Israeli settler ran over the crippled child Hiba Hijazi in Al-Khalil and sped away, head of the surgery at the Red Crescent’s emergency ward Nasser Qabaja said.
He said that Hijazi’s foot was broken in the incident that hit her wheelchair when she was on her way to school near the Ibrahimi mosque.
In Nablus, another 17-year-old child, Angham Al-Faqih, was hit in another accident in Nablus while on her way to school near Hawara village.
Ghassan Daghlas, monitoring settlement activity in northern West Bank, said that the schoolgirl suffered moderate injuries and was rushed to hospital.
Israeli Settler Runs Over Child near Hebron
An Israeli settler commuter Thursday ran over a handicapped Palestinian child on the main road between al-Ibrahimi mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron’s old city and nearby Kiryat Arba settlement, according to witnesses.
Relatives of Heba Hijazi Ghaith, 12, told WAFA that a settler commuter ran over her while she was on her way to school.
Ghaith was transferred to Alia hospital in Hebron, where doctors said she sustained a broken leg but described her injuries as moderate.
Palestinian Teenager Injured by Jewish Settler’s Hit and Run
A Jewish settler driving on the main road to Nablus Thursday ran over a 17-year-old Palestinian student from Einabus, a village south of Nablus, causing her minor injuries, according to local sources.
They said that Angham Imran was on her way to school in nearby Hawwara and while she was crossing the main road, she was surprised by a car driven by an Israeli settler which ran her over and fled the scene.
Imran was transferred to hospital where her injuries were described as minor.
11 jan 2012
Mosque Attack in the West Bank
Israeli settlers run over two Palestinian schoolgirls
Two Israeli women ran over two Palestinian schoolgirls in each of Al-Khalil and Nablus in separate incidents on Thursday morning, medical sources said.
An Israeli settler ran over the crippled child Hiba Hijazi in Al-Khalil and sped away, head of the surgery at the Red Crescent’s emergency ward Nasser Qabaja said.
He said that Hijazi’s foot was broken in the incident that hit her wheelchair when she was on her way to school near the Ibrahimi mosque.
In Nablus, another 17-year-old child, Angham Al-Faqih, was hit in another accident in Nablus while on her way to school near Hawara village.
Ghassan Daghlas, monitoring settlement activity in northern West Bank, said that the schoolgirl suffered moderate injuries and was rushed to hospital.
Israeli Settler Runs Over Child near Hebron
An Israeli settler commuter Thursday ran over a handicapped Palestinian child on the main road between al-Ibrahimi mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron’s old city and nearby Kiryat Arba settlement, according to witnesses.
Relatives of Heba Hijazi Ghaith, 12, told WAFA that a settler commuter ran over her while she was on her way to school.
Ghaith was transferred to Alia hospital in Hebron, where doctors said she sustained a broken leg but described her injuries as moderate.
Palestinian Teenager Injured by Jewish Settler’s Hit and Run
A Jewish settler driving on the main road to Nablus Thursday ran over a 17-year-old Palestinian student from Einabus, a village south of Nablus, causing her minor injuries, according to local sources.
They said that Angham Imran was on her way to school in nearby Hawwara and while she was crossing the main road, she was surprised by a car driven by an Israeli settler which ran her over and fled the scene.
Imran was transferred to hospital where her injuries were described as minor.
11 jan 2012
Mosque Attack in the West Bank
Press Statement Victoria Nuland Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s most recent vandalizing of a mosque, as well as the burning of three cars, in the West Bank village of Deir Istiya. Hateful, dangerous, and provocative actions such as these are never justified.
We note that the Israeli Government has pledged to capture those responsible for these reprehensible attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We encourage law enforcement officials to do so expeditiously and we encourage local authorities to work together with the community to reduce tension and to defend religious freedom.
We again call for calm on the part of all parties and urge them to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of violence. Violence only serves to impede the search for peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on acceptance and respect.
Jewish settlers burn three cars, write racist slogans on mosque
Jewish settlers burnt three Palestinian cars in Deir Estiya village, north of Salfit, and wrote racist slogans on the village’s main mosque on Wednesday before speeding away, local sources said.
Inhabitants said that they chased away the settlers after they threw incendiary material on the three cars, adding that the settlers sped away in a red Opel.
They said that they later discovered the racist slurs on the mosque along with slogans as “Price Tag” written on its walls.
Settlers 'attack PA security commander'
Israeli settlers on Wednesday attacked cars carrying a senior Palestinian Authority security official and injured an officer in the northern West Bank, the security commander said.
Major General Ibrahim Hneihin told Ma'an that his vehicle and another car were driving on the road between Ramallah and Tulkarem near Shilo settlement when local settlers started shooting at them and pelted the cars with stones.
The security commander for the Tulkarem district said one of his entourage Suleiman Abed Rabbo was injured and taken to hospital.
Hneihin said he lodged an official complaint with Israeli liaison officials who arrived at the scene.
The UN humanitarian affairs unit said Tuesday that five Palestinian were killed and 1,000 injured by settlers or security forces in incidents related to the settlements during the year.
Two children were among those killed, and nearly a fifth of all injuries were suffered by under-18s, UN OCHA said.
AFEH: 70 Zionist attacks on holy shrines in 2011
The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s most recent vandalizing of a mosque, as well as the burning of three cars, in the West Bank village of Deir Istiya. Hateful, dangerous, and provocative actions such as these are never justified.
We note that the Israeli Government has pledged to capture those responsible for these reprehensible attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We encourage law enforcement officials to do so expeditiously and we encourage local authorities to work together with the community to reduce tension and to defend religious freedom.
We again call for calm on the part of all parties and urge them to avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of violence. Violence only serves to impede the search for peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on acceptance and respect.
Jewish settlers burn three cars, write racist slogans on mosque
Jewish settlers burnt three Palestinian cars in Deir Estiya village, north of Salfit, and wrote racist slogans on the village’s main mosque on Wednesday before speeding away, local sources said.
Inhabitants said that they chased away the settlers after they threw incendiary material on the three cars, adding that the settlers sped away in a red Opel.
They said that they later discovered the racist slurs on the mosque along with slogans as “Price Tag” written on its walls.
Settlers 'attack PA security commander'
Israeli settlers on Wednesday attacked cars carrying a senior Palestinian Authority security official and injured an officer in the northern West Bank, the security commander said.
Major General Ibrahim Hneihin told Ma'an that his vehicle and another car were driving on the road between Ramallah and Tulkarem near Shilo settlement when local settlers started shooting at them and pelted the cars with stones.
The security commander for the Tulkarem district said one of his entourage Suleiman Abed Rabbo was injured and taken to hospital.
Hneihin said he lodged an official complaint with Israeli liaison officials who arrived at the scene.
The UN humanitarian affairs unit said Tuesday that five Palestinian were killed and 1,000 injured by settlers or security forces in incidents related to the settlements during the year.
Two children were among those killed, and nearly a fifth of all injuries were suffered by under-18s, UN OCHA said.
AFEH: 70 Zionist attacks on holy shrines in 2011
The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage (AFEH) has said that 70 Zionist attacks on Islamic and Christian holy shrines in Palestine were recorded in 2011.
AFEH said in its annual report published on Tuesday that the Zionist attacks included burning eight mosques and attempting to torch one and desecrating and destroying 120 Islamic graves in Mamanullah cemetery in occupied Jerusalem.
It said that the Zionist attacks also include storming and closing mosques and court orders for their demolition or closure.
The Zionist establishment, whether the government, courts, army, or settlers, took part in the attacks, the report said, adding that attacks on the Aqsa mosque were not included and would be published in a separate report.
It registered burning of eight mosques, attempting to torch one, razing three others, desecrating 13 mosques, attacking three Christian holy shrines, and nine violations of the sanctity of graveyards topped by Mamanullah cemetery.
AFEH urged all concerned Palestinian, Arab and, Islamic parties to protect the holy shrines and stand up to the Zionist crimes.
10 jan 2012
Medics: Toddler hit by settler car
AFEH said in its annual report published on Tuesday that the Zionist attacks included burning eight mosques and attempting to torch one and desecrating and destroying 120 Islamic graves in Mamanullah cemetery in occupied Jerusalem.
It said that the Zionist attacks also include storming and closing mosques and court orders for their demolition or closure.
The Zionist establishment, whether the government, courts, army, or settlers, took part in the attacks, the report said, adding that attacks on the Aqsa mosque were not included and would be published in a separate report.
It registered burning of eight mosques, attempting to torch one, razing three others, desecrating 13 mosques, attacking three Christian holy shrines, and nine violations of the sanctity of graveyards topped by Mamanullah cemetery.
AFEH urged all concerned Palestinian, Arab and, Islamic parties to protect the holy shrines and stand up to the Zionist crimes.
10 jan 2012
Medics: Toddler hit by settler car
A Palestinian toddler was injured Tuesday after she was hit by a car driven by an Israeli settler east of Hebron, medics said.
Three-year-old Sarah Jabari was taken to the Ahli Hospital in Hebron, Red Crescent medic Nasser Qabajeh told Ma'an.
She was hit on a road near Kiryat Arba settlement, he added.
Human shields to bar Jews from holding banned festival in Egypt
Egyptian political parities and groups decided to prevent the Jews coming from occupied Palestine and Europe from celebrating the birth of Abu Has Hasira festival, which was banned by a local court decision in 2001.
Despite the legal ban, the festival continued to take place every year on the anniversary of the birth of rabbi Abu Hasira, whose alleged mausoleum is claimed to be located in the village of Damtu outside Damanhour.
The groups said they would form human shields to prevent any Zionist pilgrims from visiting Abu Hasira's tomb, saying that such a visit is refused by the Egyptian people, and unacceptable legally and politically.
Bloggers against Abu Hasira, the Nasserist Trend, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party, the April 6 Youth Movement and the Mohamed Al-Baradei campaign signed the group statement against the festival.
Extremist Jews Storm Area South of Jenin
A group of extremist Jewish settlers Tuesday stormed al Hafira area south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, under a full protection of the Israeli army, according to security sources.
They said that dozens of settlers stormed the area, causing damage and photographed the area amid chanting of racist slogans.
Jewish settlers attack Palestinian citizens south of Jenin
Jewish settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation forces, attacked several areas south of Jenin on Tuesday and wreaked havoc on them.
Local sources said that the settlers assaulted Palestinian civilians in Hafira area, south of Jenin, and insulted them.
They added that the settlers mounted a hill and took photos of surrounding regions.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers fired teargas and rubber bullets in confrontations with young men in Yabad village, south of Jenin, which has been witnessing repeated IOF storming over the past few days.
In Al-Khalil, IOF dropped paratroopers to the east of Bani Naim village on Tuesday night.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the soldiers fired flare bombs, stun grenades, and opened indiscriminate machinegun fire during the operation.
9 jan 2012
Settlers Attack House, Burn Car East of Hebron
Dozens of Jewish settlers attacked early Monday a Palestinian house and burnt a car in al-Baqa'a area, east of Hebron in the southern West Bank, according to witnesses.
Atta Jaber, a resident in the area, told WAFA that dozens of settlers attacked the house of Jodi Abdul Jawad, throwing stones at it, and set fire to his car, completely burning it.
He added that the settlers were divided into two groups; one set Abdul Jawad’s car on fire and the other attacked the house with stones to prevent Abdul Jawad from coming out to defend his property.
Baqa’a residents are regularly subjected to attacks and harassment by settlers from Kiryat Arba and Kharsina. Their property is also threatened with seizure by the Israeli authorities, which aim through the settlers’ attacks to force the farmers and residents to leave their land.
Jewish settlers launch night attack on Palestinian village in Al-Khalil
Jewish settlers at dawn Monday savagely attacked Palestinian property, including a car, in Al-Baqa'h area east of Al-Khalil city, while Israeli soldiers carried out raids and erected barriers throughout the city.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC reporter that late at night, a group of settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement went on the rampage through Baqa'h area damaging property and torching one car belonging to a Palestinian citizen.
The settlers fled back to their settlement after Palestinian citizens chased them and firefighters came to extinguish the burning car.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces set up barriers at the southern entrance to Al-Khalil city and some of them were deployed at the northern entrance and checked IDs of passing Palestinians.
They also stormed homes in Addaheriya, Yatta and Idna town in Al-Khalil.
Israeli forces dismantle outpost in north West Bank
Israeli forces took down four trailers at an illegal settlement outpost in the northern West Bank on early Monday, with Palestinian officials warning of potential revenge acts against locals.
Troops removed the structures at Givat Gal Yoseph outpost near the government-sanctioned Shilo settlement, which lies on the main passageway between Ramallah and Nablus, settler-affiliated website Arutz Sheva reported.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers gathered at the Beit El military base near Ramallah late Sunday to protest the take-down, witnesses told Ma'an.
Ghassan Doughlas, the PA official monitoring settlements in the northern West Bank, urged Palestinians to take care on the Ramallah-Nablus highway, warning of revenge acts.
Extremist settlers have launched a campaign of "price tag" attacks, targeting Palestinians and their property in retaliation for perceived anti-settler actions by the Israeli government.
Settler attacks in the West Bank against Palestinians increased by more than 50 percent in 2011, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Likud-led coalition government has sought to calm violent confrontation with radical settlers after an Israeli high court ruled against a number of outposts in August, calling for a delay to the court order.
The international community regards all settlements built on occupied land to be illegal, while the Israel government distinguishes between the more than 100 state-sponsored settlements and dozens of unauthorized outposts.
8 jan 2012
Settlers 'attack 2 children' in Hebron
Israeli settlers in Hebron attacked two Palestinian children in the West Bank city on Sunday, their family said.
The group threatened Muhammad Abu Eisha, 12, and his brother Ibrahim, 11, with a knife before striking the children in the Tel Rumeida area, their father, also named Muhammad, told Ma'an.
Israeli soldiers did not apprehend the group, he said.
Hebron is split into Palestinian Authority and Israeli military controlled zones. Around 800 Jewish settlers live among 30,000 Palestinians in the parts of the ancient city that are under Israeli control, including Tel Rumeida.
The settlers are trying to intimidate the remaining Palestinians in order to push them from their homes and take over the entire area, Muhammad Abu Eisha said.
12 Settlers To Banned From West Bank
The Israeli Army and the Police decided to remove twelve fanatic Israeli settlers from the West Bank to Israel due to their escalating attacks against the Palestinians and against the Israeli army, the Maan News Agency, reported. The “deportation” period varies between 3 and 9 months; five settlers stand accused of gathering sensitive military info.
On Wednesday at night, the Israeli army handed deportation orders to twelve fanatic settlers from the illegal West Bank settlements of Yitzhar, Elon Moreh, Mahot Gilad, Ramat Migron, and Easter, Maan added.
Head of the Settlements File in the northern part of the West Bank, Ghassan Douglas, told Maan that the Israeli decision does not resolve the issue at hand but is only meant to tell the army that the state acts against those who attack the army.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that the Prosecutor’s Office in Jerusalem filed a severe indictment targeting five fanatic settlers who stand accused of monitoring the movements of the Israeli army in the West Bank, and of possession of classified military materials.
The settlers are also believed to be behind an attack against an Israeli military base in the West Bank.
In a report published by Haaretz last week, the agency said that the army was weighing the possibility of filing charges against right-wing settlers for planning to monitor the Israeli military and obstructing its actions.
The five extremist settlers are believed to have tried to form an intelligence gathering facility with the intent to disrupt Israeli military operations aimed at the removal of illegal outposts in the West Bank.
The extremist settlers even managed to obtain sensitive intelligence reports, and classified themselves as “watchers”, “surveyors”, and “scouts”, Haaretz said.
The orders were approved several days ago by the commander of the Central Command of the Israeli military in cooperation with the Israeli Shabak (Internal Security) after the recent wave of violence carried out by the settlers against the army and the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Douglas stated that he doubts that Israel will actually enforce the deportation orders, especially since no mechanisms have been determined to prevent the settlers from just driving back to their settlements, especially since the settlers recently started guarding their own settlements, and also manned two roadblocks installed by the army in the northern part of the West Bank.
The Palestinian official further stated that the Israeli military is involved in some of the attack against the Palestinians, and also provided them with protection similar to what happened five months ago when fanatic armed settlers burnt Palestinian vehicles in the Nablus district, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Douglas said that if Israel was serious in stopping the settler attacks against the Palestinians, the army “will not be relocating the 12 settlers to five-star hotels in Israel”, adding that Israel is prosecuting Palestinians children as adults, imprisoning them and imposing high fines on their families under the claim that they hurled stones at the army, while at the same time, Israel is just temporarily relocating a few armed settlers who conducted more serious violations, and crimes.
In 2011, Israeli settlers killed three Palestinians, shot and injured more than 353 in the occupied territories. The settlers also attacked, damaged, and in many cases burnt, 23 mosques, and uprooted more than 15.000 Palestinian trees, including 10.000 Olive trees
Extremist settlers did not only conduct their assaults in the West Bank, but also attacked areas in Lod and Ramla in the 1948 territories, and burnt a mosque in a village in the Galilee, in addition to a historic mosques in occupied Jerusalem. The settlers also attacked and vandalized several churches.
Fanatic settlers also issued death threats to Israeli peace groups and activists, and attacked vehicles and property that belong to Peace Now activists in the country as part of the so-called Price Tag campaign.
The settlers blame the Palestinians and Israeli leftist groups, for any evacuation of illegal settlement outposts in the occupied territories.
7 jan 2012
PA: Settlers, soldiers attack villagers near Nablus
Armed Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers on Saturday attacked villagers in Nablus in the northern West Bank, Palestinian Authority officials said.
PA settlement affairs official Ghassan Doughlas told Ma'an that residents of the illegal Bracha settlement raided Burin village, threw rocks and glass bottles at locals and attacked homes.
Israeli military jeeps arrived in the village and soldiers beat up several Palestinians, including Bilal al-Dmeiry and Khalid Bashir, Doughlas said.
Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinians who were protesting the settler raid, witnesses told Ma'an.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said the army used riot dispersal means to break up clashes between Israelis and Palestinians who were throwing rocks at each other.
She added that three Palestinians and an Israeli were injured in the clashes.
6 jan 2012
Haredi rioters stone buses
Three-year-old Sarah Jabari was taken to the Ahli Hospital in Hebron, Red Crescent medic Nasser Qabajeh told Ma'an.
She was hit on a road near Kiryat Arba settlement, he added.
Human shields to bar Jews from holding banned festival in Egypt
Egyptian political parities and groups decided to prevent the Jews coming from occupied Palestine and Europe from celebrating the birth of Abu Has Hasira festival, which was banned by a local court decision in 2001.
Despite the legal ban, the festival continued to take place every year on the anniversary of the birth of rabbi Abu Hasira, whose alleged mausoleum is claimed to be located in the village of Damtu outside Damanhour.
The groups said they would form human shields to prevent any Zionist pilgrims from visiting Abu Hasira's tomb, saying that such a visit is refused by the Egyptian people, and unacceptable legally and politically.
Bloggers against Abu Hasira, the Nasserist Trend, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party, the April 6 Youth Movement and the Mohamed Al-Baradei campaign signed the group statement against the festival.
Extremist Jews Storm Area South of Jenin
A group of extremist Jewish settlers Tuesday stormed al Hafira area south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, under a full protection of the Israeli army, according to security sources.
They said that dozens of settlers stormed the area, causing damage and photographed the area amid chanting of racist slogans.
Jewish settlers attack Palestinian citizens south of Jenin
Jewish settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation forces, attacked several areas south of Jenin on Tuesday and wreaked havoc on them.
Local sources said that the settlers assaulted Palestinian civilians in Hafira area, south of Jenin, and insulted them.
They added that the settlers mounted a hill and took photos of surrounding regions.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers fired teargas and rubber bullets in confrontations with young men in Yabad village, south of Jenin, which has been witnessing repeated IOF storming over the past few days.
In Al-Khalil, IOF dropped paratroopers to the east of Bani Naim village on Tuesday night.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that the soldiers fired flare bombs, stun grenades, and opened indiscriminate machinegun fire during the operation.
9 jan 2012
Settlers Attack House, Burn Car East of Hebron
Dozens of Jewish settlers attacked early Monday a Palestinian house and burnt a car in al-Baqa'a area, east of Hebron in the southern West Bank, according to witnesses.
Atta Jaber, a resident in the area, told WAFA that dozens of settlers attacked the house of Jodi Abdul Jawad, throwing stones at it, and set fire to his car, completely burning it.
He added that the settlers were divided into two groups; one set Abdul Jawad’s car on fire and the other attacked the house with stones to prevent Abdul Jawad from coming out to defend his property.
Baqa’a residents are regularly subjected to attacks and harassment by settlers from Kiryat Arba and Kharsina. Their property is also threatened with seizure by the Israeli authorities, which aim through the settlers’ attacks to force the farmers and residents to leave their land.
Jewish settlers launch night attack on Palestinian village in Al-Khalil
Jewish settlers at dawn Monday savagely attacked Palestinian property, including a car, in Al-Baqa'h area east of Al-Khalil city, while Israeli soldiers carried out raids and erected barriers throughout the city.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC reporter that late at night, a group of settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement went on the rampage through Baqa'h area damaging property and torching one car belonging to a Palestinian citizen.
The settlers fled back to their settlement after Palestinian citizens chased them and firefighters came to extinguish the burning car.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces set up barriers at the southern entrance to Al-Khalil city and some of them were deployed at the northern entrance and checked IDs of passing Palestinians.
They also stormed homes in Addaheriya, Yatta and Idna town in Al-Khalil.
Israeli forces dismantle outpost in north West Bank
Israeli forces took down four trailers at an illegal settlement outpost in the northern West Bank on early Monday, with Palestinian officials warning of potential revenge acts against locals.
Troops removed the structures at Givat Gal Yoseph outpost near the government-sanctioned Shilo settlement, which lies on the main passageway between Ramallah and Nablus, settler-affiliated website Arutz Sheva reported.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers gathered at the Beit El military base near Ramallah late Sunday to protest the take-down, witnesses told Ma'an.
Ghassan Doughlas, the PA official monitoring settlements in the northern West Bank, urged Palestinians to take care on the Ramallah-Nablus highway, warning of revenge acts.
Extremist settlers have launched a campaign of "price tag" attacks, targeting Palestinians and their property in retaliation for perceived anti-settler actions by the Israeli government.
Settler attacks in the West Bank against Palestinians increased by more than 50 percent in 2011, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Likud-led coalition government has sought to calm violent confrontation with radical settlers after an Israeli high court ruled against a number of outposts in August, calling for a delay to the court order.
The international community regards all settlements built on occupied land to be illegal, while the Israel government distinguishes between the more than 100 state-sponsored settlements and dozens of unauthorized outposts.
8 jan 2012
Settlers 'attack 2 children' in Hebron
Israeli settlers in Hebron attacked two Palestinian children in the West Bank city on Sunday, their family said.
The group threatened Muhammad Abu Eisha, 12, and his brother Ibrahim, 11, with a knife before striking the children in the Tel Rumeida area, their father, also named Muhammad, told Ma'an.
Israeli soldiers did not apprehend the group, he said.
Hebron is split into Palestinian Authority and Israeli military controlled zones. Around 800 Jewish settlers live among 30,000 Palestinians in the parts of the ancient city that are under Israeli control, including Tel Rumeida.
The settlers are trying to intimidate the remaining Palestinians in order to push them from their homes and take over the entire area, Muhammad Abu Eisha said.
12 Settlers To Banned From West Bank
The Israeli Army and the Police decided to remove twelve fanatic Israeli settlers from the West Bank to Israel due to their escalating attacks against the Palestinians and against the Israeli army, the Maan News Agency, reported. The “deportation” period varies between 3 and 9 months; five settlers stand accused of gathering sensitive military info.
On Wednesday at night, the Israeli army handed deportation orders to twelve fanatic settlers from the illegal West Bank settlements of Yitzhar, Elon Moreh, Mahot Gilad, Ramat Migron, and Easter, Maan added.
Head of the Settlements File in the northern part of the West Bank, Ghassan Douglas, told Maan that the Israeli decision does not resolve the issue at hand but is only meant to tell the army that the state acts against those who attack the army.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that the Prosecutor’s Office in Jerusalem filed a severe indictment targeting five fanatic settlers who stand accused of monitoring the movements of the Israeli army in the West Bank, and of possession of classified military materials.
The settlers are also believed to be behind an attack against an Israeli military base in the West Bank.
In a report published by Haaretz last week, the agency said that the army was weighing the possibility of filing charges against right-wing settlers for planning to monitor the Israeli military and obstructing its actions.
The five extremist settlers are believed to have tried to form an intelligence gathering facility with the intent to disrupt Israeli military operations aimed at the removal of illegal outposts in the West Bank.
The extremist settlers even managed to obtain sensitive intelligence reports, and classified themselves as “watchers”, “surveyors”, and “scouts”, Haaretz said.
The orders were approved several days ago by the commander of the Central Command of the Israeli military in cooperation with the Israeli Shabak (Internal Security) after the recent wave of violence carried out by the settlers against the army and the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Douglas stated that he doubts that Israel will actually enforce the deportation orders, especially since no mechanisms have been determined to prevent the settlers from just driving back to their settlements, especially since the settlers recently started guarding their own settlements, and also manned two roadblocks installed by the army in the northern part of the West Bank.
The Palestinian official further stated that the Israeli military is involved in some of the attack against the Palestinians, and also provided them with protection similar to what happened five months ago when fanatic armed settlers burnt Palestinian vehicles in the Nablus district, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Douglas said that if Israel was serious in stopping the settler attacks against the Palestinians, the army “will not be relocating the 12 settlers to five-star hotels in Israel”, adding that Israel is prosecuting Palestinians children as adults, imprisoning them and imposing high fines on their families under the claim that they hurled stones at the army, while at the same time, Israel is just temporarily relocating a few armed settlers who conducted more serious violations, and crimes.
In 2011, Israeli settlers killed three Palestinians, shot and injured more than 353 in the occupied territories. The settlers also attacked, damaged, and in many cases burnt, 23 mosques, and uprooted more than 15.000 Palestinian trees, including 10.000 Olive trees
Extremist settlers did not only conduct their assaults in the West Bank, but also attacked areas in Lod and Ramla in the 1948 territories, and burnt a mosque in a village in the Galilee, in addition to a historic mosques in occupied Jerusalem. The settlers also attacked and vandalized several churches.
Fanatic settlers also issued death threats to Israeli peace groups and activists, and attacked vehicles and property that belong to Peace Now activists in the country as part of the so-called Price Tag campaign.
The settlers blame the Palestinians and Israeli leftist groups, for any evacuation of illegal settlement outposts in the occupied territories.
7 jan 2012
PA: Settlers, soldiers attack villagers near Nablus
Armed Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers on Saturday attacked villagers in Nablus in the northern West Bank, Palestinian Authority officials said.
PA settlement affairs official Ghassan Doughlas told Ma'an that residents of the illegal Bracha settlement raided Burin village, threw rocks and glass bottles at locals and attacked homes.
Israeli military jeeps arrived in the village and soldiers beat up several Palestinians, including Bilal al-Dmeiry and Khalid Bashir, Doughlas said.
Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinians who were protesting the settler raid, witnesses told Ma'an.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said the army used riot dispersal means to break up clashes between Israelis and Palestinians who were throwing rocks at each other.
She added that three Palestinians and an Israeli were injured in the clashes.
6 jan 2012
Haredi rioters stone buses
Stones hurled at non-segregated buses; elsewhere, haredi detained for cursing woman.
The incident began after haredim hurled stones at buses that do not offer segregation between males and females.
A police force called to the scene dispersed the rioters and detained two suspects.
Meanwhile, a haredi man was detained in Jerusalem after cursing at a secular woman walking in the ultra-Orthodox Meah Shearim neighborhood. The man referred to the woman as a "whore" and a "shiksa."
The incident began after haredim hurled stones at buses that do not offer segregation between males and females.
A police force called to the scene dispersed the rioters and detained two suspects.
Meanwhile, a haredi man was detained in Jerusalem after cursing at a secular woman walking in the ultra-Orthodox Meah Shearim neighborhood. The man referred to the woman as a "whore" and a "shiksa."
A police officer sustained light shoulder wounds during the arrest.
A Jerusalem police force on an undercover patrol in the area witnessed the incident and detained the suspect. During the arrest, a stone was hurled at a police cruiser at the site and damaged it. The suspect was taken in for interrogation.
Last week, an indictment was filed against Jerusalem resident Shlomo Fuchs, 44, an ultra-Orthodox man who hurled sexist slurs at a female soldier on a bus in the capital. Police officials said Fuchs' behavior was unruly, and that he sexually harassed the soldier, Doron Matalon, by humiliating her and making sexual remarks. Fuchs later told Ynet that the female soldier acted provocatively and had intervened in an argument between him and another woman who stood near the "men-only" section of the bus.
Related: Woman who ignited battle against degradation of women on public transport and who refused to sit at back of the bus tells inter-ministerial committee that she has been receiving death threats
5 jan 2012
Hundreds of Jewish settlers storm Salfit village
Hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed the village of Kefel Haris at a late night hour on Wednesday and stayed till dawn Thursday under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, local sources said.
Hebrew media reported that 1400 settlers mounting tens of buses arrived in the village under tight IOF security measures then offered Talmudic rituals near an Islamic shrine before leaving in the morning.
Mamun Buzaya, a spokesman for the village’s municipality, said that IOF units stormed the village at night Wednesday, imposed a curfew, occupied rooftops of buildings, and established military barriers.
He said that settlers an hour later arrived in the buses and roamed the village streets while shouting and reveling, adding that they were in thousands.
Buzaya said that the settlers claim they were visiting Jewish religious shrines in the village, adding that they stormed the village 46 times during 2011 for the same alleged purpose.
Villagers told the PIC reporter that the settlers attacked civilian cars and property and threw garbage at their homes.
Hundreds of Israelis visit religious site in Palestinian village
Israeli forces escorted hundreds of Israelis to a religious site in a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank early Thursday.
Soldiers deployed along the streets and barricaded the entrances to Kifl Haris, near Salfit, to check villagers' identity cards, locals told Ma'an.
Dozens of armored buses transferred the Israelis into the village at 12.30 a.m., where they shouted slogans against Arabs, resident Amjad Abu Yacoub said.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said "1,400 Israelis entered Joshus Binun tomb in the village, there were no disturbances."
Israel gives restraining orders to 12 West Bank settlers
Israel has barred a dozen Jewish settlers from the occupied West Bank for a period of up to a year, a step Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to take to rein in violence against Palestinians, officials and Israeli media reports said.
A statement issued on Thursday by Israel's military said police "delivered administrative restraining orders" to 12 people described as "Jewish extremists" from the territory.
It said these men were suspected of involvement in violence targeting Palestinians and Israeli forces, and described the orders issued as a "preventative measure to remove the threat by the activists in the area."
One of the men has been barred from the territory for a year, the rest for periods of three to nine months, a military spokeswoman said, and declined to provide further details.
Israeli media reports said the settlers named in the orders lived at four Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank: Yitzhar, Havat Gilad, Elon Moreh, and Ramat Migron.
Netanyahu had said a month ago, in response to a string of arson attacks blamed on the so-called "Price Tag" group, that a list of administrative measures was being considered to prevent further violence.
Israeli police have in the past arrested suspects in these attacks but none have been charged.
Israel has built more than 100 settlements in the territory, and settlers have additionally built dozens of outposts not authorized by the Israeli government.
The international community regards all settlements built on occupied land to be illegal, while the Israel government distinguishes between state-sponsored settlement and unauthorized outposts.
The Likud-led coalition government has sought to calm violent confrontation with radical settlers after an Israeli high court ruled against a number of outposts in August.
Citing the 'price tag' policy of revenge against settlement restrictions, extreme settlers clashed with troops and vandalized military bases in the West Bank, and rampaged through four mosques in December, covering them in racist slogans and burning interiors.
Settler attacks in the West Bank against Palestinians have increased by more than 50 percent this year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In December, Hebrew press said the Israeli government had asked the Supreme Court for a delay in evacuating the outposts in order to resolve the issue "peacefully".
4 jan 2012
Extremist Jews Set Fire to Two Cars in Jerusalem
Extremist Jews Wednesday set fire to two Palestinian-owned cars in Beit Safafa, an East Jerusalem neighborhood, in a suspected “price tag” attack, reported local sources.
Residents said the assailants wrote graffiti in the area, including slogans such as “price tag” and “revenge,” which are associated with Jewish settlers’ attacks on Palestinian villages in the West Bank.
3 jan 2012
Israeli Teens Enjoy Arresting Palestinians
A Jerusalem police force on an undercover patrol in the area witnessed the incident and detained the suspect. During the arrest, a stone was hurled at a police cruiser at the site and damaged it. The suspect was taken in for interrogation.
Last week, an indictment was filed against Jerusalem resident Shlomo Fuchs, 44, an ultra-Orthodox man who hurled sexist slurs at a female soldier on a bus in the capital. Police officials said Fuchs' behavior was unruly, and that he sexually harassed the soldier, Doron Matalon, by humiliating her and making sexual remarks. Fuchs later told Ynet that the female soldier acted provocatively and had intervened in an argument between him and another woman who stood near the "men-only" section of the bus.
Related: Woman who ignited battle against degradation of women on public transport and who refused to sit at back of the bus tells inter-ministerial committee that she has been receiving death threats
5 jan 2012
Hundreds of Jewish settlers storm Salfit village
Hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed the village of Kefel Haris at a late night hour on Wednesday and stayed till dawn Thursday under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, local sources said.
Hebrew media reported that 1400 settlers mounting tens of buses arrived in the village under tight IOF security measures then offered Talmudic rituals near an Islamic shrine before leaving in the morning.
Mamun Buzaya, a spokesman for the village’s municipality, said that IOF units stormed the village at night Wednesday, imposed a curfew, occupied rooftops of buildings, and established military barriers.
He said that settlers an hour later arrived in the buses and roamed the village streets while shouting and reveling, adding that they were in thousands.
Buzaya said that the settlers claim they were visiting Jewish religious shrines in the village, adding that they stormed the village 46 times during 2011 for the same alleged purpose.
Villagers told the PIC reporter that the settlers attacked civilian cars and property and threw garbage at their homes.
Hundreds of Israelis visit religious site in Palestinian village
Israeli forces escorted hundreds of Israelis to a religious site in a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank early Thursday.
Soldiers deployed along the streets and barricaded the entrances to Kifl Haris, near Salfit, to check villagers' identity cards, locals told Ma'an.
Dozens of armored buses transferred the Israelis into the village at 12.30 a.m., where they shouted slogans against Arabs, resident Amjad Abu Yacoub said.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said "1,400 Israelis entered Joshus Binun tomb in the village, there were no disturbances."
Israel gives restraining orders to 12 West Bank settlers
Israel has barred a dozen Jewish settlers from the occupied West Bank for a period of up to a year, a step Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to take to rein in violence against Palestinians, officials and Israeli media reports said.
A statement issued on Thursday by Israel's military said police "delivered administrative restraining orders" to 12 people described as "Jewish extremists" from the territory.
It said these men were suspected of involvement in violence targeting Palestinians and Israeli forces, and described the orders issued as a "preventative measure to remove the threat by the activists in the area."
One of the men has been barred from the territory for a year, the rest for periods of three to nine months, a military spokeswoman said, and declined to provide further details.
Israeli media reports said the settlers named in the orders lived at four Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank: Yitzhar, Havat Gilad, Elon Moreh, and Ramat Migron.
Netanyahu had said a month ago, in response to a string of arson attacks blamed on the so-called "Price Tag" group, that a list of administrative measures was being considered to prevent further violence.
Israeli police have in the past arrested suspects in these attacks but none have been charged.
Israel has built more than 100 settlements in the territory, and settlers have additionally built dozens of outposts not authorized by the Israeli government.
The international community regards all settlements built on occupied land to be illegal, while the Israel government distinguishes between state-sponsored settlement and unauthorized outposts.
The Likud-led coalition government has sought to calm violent confrontation with radical settlers after an Israeli high court ruled against a number of outposts in August.
Citing the 'price tag' policy of revenge against settlement restrictions, extreme settlers clashed with troops and vandalized military bases in the West Bank, and rampaged through four mosques in December, covering them in racist slogans and burning interiors.
Settler attacks in the West Bank against Palestinians have increased by more than 50 percent this year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In December, Hebrew press said the Israeli government had asked the Supreme Court for a delay in evacuating the outposts in order to resolve the issue "peacefully".
4 jan 2012
Extremist Jews Set Fire to Two Cars in Jerusalem
Extremist Jews Wednesday set fire to two Palestinian-owned cars in Beit Safafa, an East Jerusalem neighborhood, in a suspected “price tag” attack, reported local sources.
Residents said the assailants wrote graffiti in the area, including slogans such as “price tag” and “revenge,” which are associated with Jewish settlers’ attacks on Palestinian villages in the West Bank.
3 jan 2012
Israeli Teens Enjoy Arresting Palestinians
Israeli teenagers trained to search for and arrest Palestinian workers in Israel said they enjoy arresting Palestinian, according to a report published Tuesday in the Israeli daily Haaretz.
“I like catching Palestinian workers,” the paper quoted a high school senior from Modi’in, south of Tel Aviv. “Generally we look for them because they scare children,” he said.
The teens are part of a Border Police program to train school students in catching Palestinians who work in Israel without a permit.
“We went to a construction site and found a few of them there,” said another teen volunteer in reference to the Palestinian workers. “We saw them hiding and we caught them,” he said.
The program upset some educators who said the teenagers were being taught militaristic principles.
2 jan 2013
Armed Israeli teenagers detain illegal Palestinian workers
The Israeli daily Haaretz reports that several dozens of Israeli teenagers have been trained and armed with M-16s in order to help Israeli Border Police, known as Magav, catch undocumented Palestinian laborers crossing into Israel.
The children and young adults, who range in age from 16 to 18, are local high school students. According to Haaretz, the "Noar Magav", or Border Police Youth, program is financed by the Modiin Regional Council. The program also receives state funds via the Israeli Ministry of Public Security. The Israeli Ministry of Education says it is not involved in the project.
Speaking to Haaretz, the teenagers expressed their enthusiasm for the program, which sees them policing military checkpoints. They also detain Palestinians laborers who lack Israeli-issued work permits.
One described the project as "fun"; another called it "a form of pleasure."
Haaretz's article comes just days after the International Middle East Media Center reported that the Israeli army is also using Israeli settlers to help patrol checkpoints in the West Bank. Taken together, the two suggest that the level of cooperation between the army and Israeli civilans--including who live in the occupied West Bank, in contravention of international law-- could be on the rise.
Israeli force trains teens to catch Palestinian workers
Israeli border police are training teenagers to use weapons and catch Palestinians working illegally in Israel and Jewish settlements, Israeli media said on Monday.
The weapons and police-duties training funded by the Public Security Minister of Israel has prepped some 30 16-18-year-olds in Israeli border region Modiin and will be rolled out to new groups, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
Youth volunteers catch Palestinian workers, stand at checkpoints and help guard the neighboring settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the report.
Haaretz reported that Israel's education ministry was not aware of the project and would investigate it.
1 jan 2012
Settlers "help" Israeli soldiers man roadblocks
Armed Israeli settlers, in civilian clothes, were recently seen helping Israeli soldiers search Palestinian vehicles and checking ID numbers of Palestinians at a number of military roadblocks leading to the Ramallah district, in the central West Bank.
Maan News Agency reported that dozens of settlers in civilian clothes, carrying automatic rifles, stood next to the Israeli soldiers at the Bet El Roadblock, north east of Ramallah, searching Palestinian vehicles and examining the passengers' ID cards.
Israel settlers usually conduct “patrols” on several roads in the occupied West Bank, but are always accompanied by Israeli soldiers.
This is the first time that some of the settlers actually participate in tasks that are the sole responsibility of the army.
This comes amidst Israeli reports of the threats some extremist settler groups are posing not only on the Palestinian population, but also on Israeli soldiers.
Settlers attacked Israeli soldiers, wounding one, upon hearing about the planned evacuation of illegal outposts.
Settlers also defaced offices and vehicles that belong to Israeli Peace Now movement.
It is worth mentioning that [recent months have seen] settlers step up their attacks against the Palestinian population, their property--including the torching of several mosques and churches in the occupied West Bank and in the 1948 territories. Approximately three weeks ago, the settlers attacked an Israeli military base.
Reprinted from the IMEMC with permission.
Settlers ‘Help’ Soldiers Man Roadblocks
Armed Israeli settlers, in civilian clothes, were seen helping Israeli soldiers in searching Palestinian vehicles and checking ID numbers of Palestinians at a number of military roadblocks leading to the Ramallah district, in the central West Bank.
The Maan News Agency reported that dozens of settlers in civilian clothes, carrying automatic rifles, stood next to the Israeli soldiers at the Bet El Roadblock, north east of Ramallah, and even searched Palestinian vehicles and examined the ID cards of the passengers.
Israel settlers usually conduct “patrols” on several roads in the occupied West Bank, but are always accompanied by Israeli soldiers.
This is the first time that some of the settlers actually participate in tasks that are the sole responsibility of the army.
This is happening amidst Israeli reports of the threats some extremist settler groups are posing not only on the Palestinian population, but also on Israeli soldiers.
Settlers even attacked and wounded several Israeli soldiers during the evacuation of some random illegal outposts that were dismantled by the army in the West Bank.
Settlers also defaced offices and vehicles that belong to Israeli Peace Now movement.
It is worth mentioning that the settlers also stepped-up their attacks against the Palestinian population, and their property and even torched several mosques and churches in the occupied West Bank and in the 1948 territories. Approximately three weeks ago, the settlers even attacked an Israeli military base.
Related:
Right-wing Attack on Military Base Linked to Israeli Yeshiva Students
Settlers Break Into Israeli Military Base, Sabotage Property
Settler Torch a Mosque Near Ramallah
Settlers Break Into Israeli Military Base, Sabotage Property
Israeli Settlers Try To Torch Historic Mosque In Jerusalem, Spray-paint Anti-Muslim Graffiti
“I like catching Palestinian workers,” the paper quoted a high school senior from Modi’in, south of Tel Aviv. “Generally we look for them because they scare children,” he said.
The teens are part of a Border Police program to train school students in catching Palestinians who work in Israel without a permit.
“We went to a construction site and found a few of them there,” said another teen volunteer in reference to the Palestinian workers. “We saw them hiding and we caught them,” he said.
The program upset some educators who said the teenagers were being taught militaristic principles.
2 jan 2013
Armed Israeli teenagers detain illegal Palestinian workers
The Israeli daily Haaretz reports that several dozens of Israeli teenagers have been trained and armed with M-16s in order to help Israeli Border Police, known as Magav, catch undocumented Palestinian laborers crossing into Israel.
The children and young adults, who range in age from 16 to 18, are local high school students. According to Haaretz, the "Noar Magav", or Border Police Youth, program is financed by the Modiin Regional Council. The program also receives state funds via the Israeli Ministry of Public Security. The Israeli Ministry of Education says it is not involved in the project.
Speaking to Haaretz, the teenagers expressed their enthusiasm for the program, which sees them policing military checkpoints. They also detain Palestinians laborers who lack Israeli-issued work permits.
One described the project as "fun"; another called it "a form of pleasure."
Haaretz's article comes just days after the International Middle East Media Center reported that the Israeli army is also using Israeli settlers to help patrol checkpoints in the West Bank. Taken together, the two suggest that the level of cooperation between the army and Israeli civilans--including who live in the occupied West Bank, in contravention of international law-- could be on the rise.
Israeli force trains teens to catch Palestinian workers
Israeli border police are training teenagers to use weapons and catch Palestinians working illegally in Israel and Jewish settlements, Israeli media said on Monday.
The weapons and police-duties training funded by the Public Security Minister of Israel has prepped some 30 16-18-year-olds in Israeli border region Modiin and will be rolled out to new groups, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
Youth volunteers catch Palestinian workers, stand at checkpoints and help guard the neighboring settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the report.
Haaretz reported that Israel's education ministry was not aware of the project and would investigate it.
1 jan 2012
Settlers "help" Israeli soldiers man roadblocks
Armed Israeli settlers, in civilian clothes, were recently seen helping Israeli soldiers search Palestinian vehicles and checking ID numbers of Palestinians at a number of military roadblocks leading to the Ramallah district, in the central West Bank.
Maan News Agency reported that dozens of settlers in civilian clothes, carrying automatic rifles, stood next to the Israeli soldiers at the Bet El Roadblock, north east of Ramallah, searching Palestinian vehicles and examining the passengers' ID cards.
Israel settlers usually conduct “patrols” on several roads in the occupied West Bank, but are always accompanied by Israeli soldiers.
This is the first time that some of the settlers actually participate in tasks that are the sole responsibility of the army.
This comes amidst Israeli reports of the threats some extremist settler groups are posing not only on the Palestinian population, but also on Israeli soldiers.
Settlers attacked Israeli soldiers, wounding one, upon hearing about the planned evacuation of illegal outposts.
Settlers also defaced offices and vehicles that belong to Israeli Peace Now movement.
It is worth mentioning that [recent months have seen] settlers step up their attacks against the Palestinian population, their property--including the torching of several mosques and churches in the occupied West Bank and in the 1948 territories. Approximately three weeks ago, the settlers attacked an Israeli military base.
Reprinted from the IMEMC with permission.
Settlers ‘Help’ Soldiers Man Roadblocks
Armed Israeli settlers, in civilian clothes, were seen helping Israeli soldiers in searching Palestinian vehicles and checking ID numbers of Palestinians at a number of military roadblocks leading to the Ramallah district, in the central West Bank.
The Maan News Agency reported that dozens of settlers in civilian clothes, carrying automatic rifles, stood next to the Israeli soldiers at the Bet El Roadblock, north east of Ramallah, and even searched Palestinian vehicles and examined the ID cards of the passengers.
Israel settlers usually conduct “patrols” on several roads in the occupied West Bank, but are always accompanied by Israeli soldiers.
This is the first time that some of the settlers actually participate in tasks that are the sole responsibility of the army.
This is happening amidst Israeli reports of the threats some extremist settler groups are posing not only on the Palestinian population, but also on Israeli soldiers.
Settlers even attacked and wounded several Israeli soldiers during the evacuation of some random illegal outposts that were dismantled by the army in the West Bank.
Settlers also defaced offices and vehicles that belong to Israeli Peace Now movement.
It is worth mentioning that the settlers also stepped-up their attacks against the Palestinian population, and their property and even torched several mosques and churches in the occupied West Bank and in the 1948 territories. Approximately three weeks ago, the settlers even attacked an Israeli military base.
Related:
Right-wing Attack on Military Base Linked to Israeli Yeshiva Students
Settlers Break Into Israeli Military Base, Sabotage Property
Settler Torch a Mosque Near Ramallah
Settlers Break Into Israeli Military Base, Sabotage Property
Israeli Settlers Try To Torch Historic Mosque In Jerusalem, Spray-paint Anti-Muslim Graffiti
IN PHOTOS: Israeli teenagers train with lethal weapons
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Israeli children and young adults who volunteer in the government-funded Border Police Youth program take aim.
Yesterday, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that several dozen teenage volunteers have been trained and armed with lethal weapons, including M-16s, and are aiding the Israeli Border Police (Magav). Known as Noar Magav (Border Police Youth), the children and young adults [PDF] patrol checkpoints and detain Palestinian workers who are attempting to enter Israel without a permit. These photos offer a compelling look at the militarization of Israel's youth. All photos from Slide/Noar Magav; h/t to Ruth Hiller, co-founded of New Profile, a movement that aims to demilitarize Israeli society. |
Holocaust garb causes outrage in Israel faith row
By Jeffrey Heller
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators caused outrage on Sunday by dressing children as Holocaust victims to protest against what they see as persecution of devout Jews seeking gender separation in Israel.
A boy wearing a cloth cap and the sidecurls of an Orthodox Jew was the centrepiece of the Jerusalem protest late on Saturday.
His hands were raised in surrender and a yellow Star of David inscribed with "Jude", Jew, in German, was sewn on his jacket. The image mimicked a memorable photo of a terrified Jewish boy during a roundup in the Nazi-occupied Warsaw Ghetto in World War Two.
"Nazis, Nazis," some of the protesters shouted at police.
Other children and young men were dressed in replicas of striped concentration camp uniforms at the protest attended by hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews in traditional black garb.
"Prisoner uniforms and yellow patches with the word "Jew" written on them in German are shocking and appalling," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a statement.
"The use of yellow patches and small children raising their hands in surrender crosses a red line which the ultra-Orthodox leadership, who are largely responsible people, must not accept," he said.
Emotional debate
By Jeffrey Heller
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators caused outrage on Sunday by dressing children as Holocaust victims to protest against what they see as persecution of devout Jews seeking gender separation in Israel.
A boy wearing a cloth cap and the sidecurls of an Orthodox Jew was the centrepiece of the Jerusalem protest late on Saturday.
His hands were raised in surrender and a yellow Star of David inscribed with "Jude", Jew, in German, was sewn on his jacket. The image mimicked a memorable photo of a terrified Jewish boy during a roundup in the Nazi-occupied Warsaw Ghetto in World War Two.
"Nazis, Nazis," some of the protesters shouted at police.
Other children and young men were dressed in replicas of striped concentration camp uniforms at the protest attended by hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews in traditional black garb.
"Prisoner uniforms and yellow patches with the word "Jew" written on them in German are shocking and appalling," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a statement.
"The use of yellow patches and small children raising their hands in surrender crosses a red line which the ultra-Orthodox leadership, who are largely responsible people, must not accept," he said.
Emotional debate
Israeli burka
Israel is in the grip of an emotional debate over attempts by Jewish zealots to impose and enforce gender separation in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods and other public places.
Much of the controversy has stemmed from ultra-Orthodox men trying to force women to sit in the back of public buses in deference to religious beliefs against any mixing of the sexes in public.
President Shimon Peres has described the debate as a battle for the soul of Israel The issue jumped to the top of the public agenda in Israel nearly two weeks ago when an eight-year-old girl complained on television that ultra-Orthodox men spat at her on the way to school, accusing her of dressing immodestly.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has political alliances with ultra-Orthodox parties but is facing mounting public anger over such incidents, has vowed to crack down on zealots who harass women.
Posters at the protest accused the "Zionist entity" of carrying out "an unprecedented attack on the 'Haredi' community", referring to ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Some groups within the ultra-Orthodox community do not recognise Israel, saying such a state can only be established with the coming of the Messiah.
"You will not be able to impose on us sinful (Western) culture. We will remain faithful to the laws of Holy Torah," read one protest sign at Saturday's demonstration.
Speakers at the protest singled out an activist, jailed for vandalising a computer store he deemed heretical in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood, as a victim of what they called government persecution.
Avner Shalev, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel's national memorial to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis, said the protesters' use of Holocaust imagery was a "profound insult" to survivors.
"This is totally unacceptable and degrades Jewish values," Shalev said on Israel Radio.
Israel is in the grip of an emotional debate over attempts by Jewish zealots to impose and enforce gender separation in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods and other public places.
Much of the controversy has stemmed from ultra-Orthodox men trying to force women to sit in the back of public buses in deference to religious beliefs against any mixing of the sexes in public.
President Shimon Peres has described the debate as a battle for the soul of Israel The issue jumped to the top of the public agenda in Israel nearly two weeks ago when an eight-year-old girl complained on television that ultra-Orthodox men spat at her on the way to school, accusing her of dressing immodestly.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has political alliances with ultra-Orthodox parties but is facing mounting public anger over such incidents, has vowed to crack down on zealots who harass women.
Posters at the protest accused the "Zionist entity" of carrying out "an unprecedented attack on the 'Haredi' community", referring to ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Some groups within the ultra-Orthodox community do not recognise Israel, saying such a state can only be established with the coming of the Messiah.
"You will not be able to impose on us sinful (Western) culture. We will remain faithful to the laws of Holy Torah," read one protest sign at Saturday's demonstration.
Speakers at the protest singled out an activist, jailed for vandalising a computer store he deemed heretical in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood, as a victim of what they called government persecution.
Avner Shalev, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel's national memorial to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis, said the protesters' use of Holocaust imagery was a "profound insult" to survivors.
"This is totally unacceptable and degrades Jewish values," Shalev said on Israel Radio.
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