- 15 juli 2011
Israeli gas canisters fired at villagers set fire to land
JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters at residents in the town of Qatana, near Jerusalem, on Thursday, causing fires which spread through olive and fig groves, reports say.
The fire also damaged vineyards and the electricity grid in the area, a spokesman from the town's police department Ashraf Shamasneh said, noting that the Israeli army did not contact the fire department at any point.
Palestinian firefighters were unable to reach all areas affected by the fire, and several homes in the town were damaged.
Local witnesses said that Israeli forces deliberately set fire to properties, some even using their own lighters, as soldiers had threatened to burn property if they were harassed by residents, reports say.
The town has long been subject to harassment from soldiers, locals say.
This attack is the second within days in which gas canisters were fired on the residents' homes and agricultural lands.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405392 24 sep 2012, 10:08 , Respect -
Maria 16 juli 2011
Violent confrontations reported in Iraq Burin
NABLUS, (PIC)-- Violent confrontations were reported on Saturday in the village of Iraq Burin near Nablus between Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and villagers after the troops sealed off the entire village.
Local sources said that the clashes erupted after the IOF soldiers closed the village before all outsiders and declared it a closed military zone.
The IOF soldiers were trying to block entry of foreign solidarity activists wishing to take part in the weekly village march against confiscation of their land and erection of the racist, separation wall.
The sources said that the soldiers fired bullets and teargas canisters at the citizens and their homes, causing breathing difficulty among women and children.
http://fwd4.me/06nM 24 sep 2012, 10:08 , Respect -
Maria 17 juli 2011
Airflotilla belgian activist who managed to enter in Palestine has been arrested, no news from him!!!
(2:15) Passage à tabac du citoyen Belge AbdelHafid par les soldats Israéliens
Abdelhafid member of the mission Welcome to Palestine was beaten by Israeli soldiers for no good reason at a peaceful march. He was arrested.
Mobilize for his immediate release!
24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 18 juli 2011
Police question youths at Jerusalem summer camp
JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli police stormed a summer camp for children in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied east Jerusalem on Monday and interrogated campers, a Fatah official said.
Munir Al-Jaghoub, spokesman for Fatah recruitment, says the camp is run by the Sheikh Jarrah Women's Forum. About 50 children aged 12-17 joined the camp, called “Sheikh Jarrah will remain steadfast,” he added.
Also Monday, an Israeli court fined a family in the Bustan area of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan more than $10,000 for building a house without a permit, the official Palestinian news agency said.
Wafa said the court also gave the owner, Widad Tawil, a mother of eight, until October to obtain a building permit from the Israeli municipality; otherwise, the house will be demolished.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=406204 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 18 juli 2011
Israel HR group raps Tel Aviv’s cruelty
An Israeli human rights group has criticized the Tel Aviv regime forces for their unjust treatment of arrested Palestinian children.
The Israeli non-governmental human rights organization, B’Tselem, said in a report that out of 835 Palestinian minors indicted for hurling stones, only one was acquitted, Ynet reported on Monday.
The B’Tselem’s Monday report included severe criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian minors that are brought to trial.
The Israeli military apprehends Palestinian children and youths on a frequent basis, imprisoning them in Israeli jails.
Indictments against 835 Palestinian minors for rock throwing were filed between 2005 and 2010, according to B’Tselem.
Some 93 percent of the Palestinian children convicted of hurling stones, including 19 kids under the age of 14, were sentenced to prison terms.
B’Tselem has also called for the provisions of martial law to match the provisions of juvenile law without delay
Israeli violence remains an almost daily occurrence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Tel Aviv regime launched an all-out military offensive on the Gaza Strip three days before the turn of 2009. The ensuing three-week war killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, most of whom were civilians including many women and children.
http://networkedblogs.com/kxTID 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 18 juli 2011
B'Tselem: 93% of Palestinian Youths Arrested for Stone Throwing Get Jail Time
Jerusalem - PNN - Israeli human rights group B'Tselem released a report on Monday saying 93 percent of Palestinians under 17 arrested from 2005 to 2010 for throwing stones were given jail sentences.
At least 835 Palestinian minors were arrested and tried for stone throwing during this time, said B'Tselem, all but one were convicted.
B'Tselem interviewed 50 minors for the report who described their arrests, interrogations, sentencing and prison terms.
Many of the youths B'Tselem talked to said they were beaten, kept awake, held for long periods of time before interrogation, not allowed to use the toilet or eat and kept from speaking to their families and lawyers.
The Israeli military court does not allow minors to return home while they await their hearings so many of the youths confessed to the charges instead of waiting in jail for the court process to unwind, said B'Tselem.
The youths were jailed for periods of time ranging from several days to 20 months, said B'Tselem. Nineteen minors under the age of 14 were given prison sentences. Under Israeli law, it is illegal to imprison people under 14, but the military court operates under a different set of guidelines.
B'Tselem called on Israel to bring the standards for prosecuting Palestinian youths up to Israeli and international standards saying, "All the officials engaged in handling Palestinian minors ... are well aware of the reality described in the report ... Israel has the obligation to ensure the rights of Palestinian minors under its responsibility."
http://fwd4.me/06u7 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 19 juli 2011
Teenagers kidnapped by Israeli police in Wadi Hilweh
Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) -- Israeli forces kidnapped two children in Wadi Hilweh district of Silwan yesterday afternoon. Two police cars were sighted approaching Mohammed Qaq and Hamza Samreen, both aged 15, at high speed, then making the arrests.
Details of the arrests remain unknown. A third boy, Hamza Siyam, 17, was also arrested for a brief period before being released.
http://silwanic.net/?p=18571 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 20 juli 2011
Video: IDF officer aims rifle at Palestinian civilian's head
(1:15) IDF coward points loaded weapon into face of an innocent Palestinian
IDF launches probe over YouTube video; army officials say incident appears to be grave.
A video posted on YouTube Wednesday shows an IDF officer cocking his weapon and aiming it at the head of a Palestinian civilian during military operations in a West Bank village.
While the video does not show whether the officer's weapon was loaded, IDF officials admitted that on the face of it the incident appears to be grave, adding that a Military Police investigation has been launched.
The video, filmed last month, shows the Israeli officer yelling at Rabi Abu Maria and aiming a rifle at his head twice. The incident followed after Abu Maria's cousin was detained by IDF troops.
The arrest took place on June 18th and soldiers did not face resistance from local residents. Following the arrest, the suspect's relatives surrounded the soldiers and asked them for the reason of detainment. The officer shown in the video ordered them to leave, before aiming his weapon at Abu Maria.
Abu Maria recounted the incident in a conversation with Ynet: "I'm a taxi driver and I was next to a gas station. I saw my cousin who works at the station being detained, and I told the troops I only wish to say goodbye to him. The officer got upset at me and aimed his weapon at my head, saying 'why do you care, go away.'"
The Palestinian man told Ynet that since the incident he has been having trouble returning to the site and is no longer able to drive his cab. "I don't understand why they did it to me. I'm just a person who wishes to live, with a wife and four children. My wife is also scared after a weapon was aimed at her husband, and the children aren't doing too well either."
'Other officers not like that'
Abu Maria stressed that the incident he encountered was an exception.
"There are plenty of officers who talk to us with respect and in a proper manner. I don't know why this officer behaves this way," he said.
Another local resident, Issa al-Salib, said that relatives of the detained man asked the soldiers questions but did not interrupt in their work. He too stressed that the officer's conduct was anomalous and does not characterize the behavior of other soldiers in the area.
"We've been having arguments with the soldiers, but they don't end like that," he said. "He's not normal, there's something wrong with him. He's overcome by hatred. This soldier's behavior is known as particularly provocative, and ever since he arrived in the area two months ago we suffer greatly."
On Friday, local residents are planning to hold a protest at the entrance to their village following the soldier's conduct. "The army can't give such person arms and authority at such a sensitive location," al-Salib said.
Responding to the incident, the IDF Spokesman's Office issued the following statement: "On the face of it, it appears to be a grave incident. This incident was brought to the attention of commanders, and at the same time it was decided to launch a Military police investigation into it."
http://fwd4.me/079c 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 22 juli 2011
Israel shoots into store in Nabi Saleh: Existence is Resistanc
(1:23) Israel shoots into store in Nabi Saleh: Existence is Resistance
Harrabic was getting some food for the team on tour when the Israeli Military start shooting into the store in Nabi Saleh, Palestine.
24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 22 juli 2011
Israeli Troops Attacked Weekly Non-Violent Protests; Three injured, Seven Arrested
Ramallah – PNN – Three injured and seven arrested, as Israeli troops attacked anti-wall protests organized in a number of West Bank communities on Friday.
Protests took place in the villages of al-Nabi Salleh, Bil’in, and Nil’in in the central West Bank, as well as al-Ma’ssara and Beit Omer in the south.
At the village of Beit Omer, troops used rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas to attack protests injuring at least three and arresting two. The protest in Beit Omer started after the midday prayers and villagers were joined by international and Israeli supporters demanding the end of settlement construction and the wall on local farmers lands.
In the nearby al-Ma’sara village soldiers attacked protestors before leaving and did not allow them to reach their lands where Israel is building the wall. Soldiers then fired tear gas at protesters forcing them back into the village.
In central West Bank on Friday, Israeli troops attacked the weekly anti-wall protest in the village of Nil’in, where the residents and their Israeli and international supporters were holding midday prayers on lands near the Israeli wall, protestors then marched up to the wall. Troops fired tear gas at protesters causing many to suffer from tear gas inhalation. Activists managed to raise Palestinian flags before troops forced them back.
Nearby, in the village Bil’in, a group of Italian supporters joined the villages and marched up to the land the army gave back to the people. When they reached the new section of the wall, soldiers fired tear gas at them, many were treated for tear gas inhalation. Soldiers also fired live rounds but no injuries were reported. Some trees also caught fire when troops fired tear gas bombs near to them.
Last month Israel removed the old wall built on villager’s property after six years of weekly protests by the people of Bil’in. The rerouting of the wall gave back the farmers half of the land taken by the military.
Also in central West Bank, In al-Nabi Salleh, villagers and their Israeli and international supporters marched to local farm lands Israel took to build a new settlement. Troops attacked protesters with tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Soldiers then arrested three Palestinians and one Israeli and clashed with local youth while attacking people homes with tear gas, many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
http://fwd4.me/07K9 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 22 juli 2011
Soldiers try to remove protest tent in Nabi Saleh
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- There were tense scenes in the the village of Nabi Saleh on Thursday as Israeli soldiers attempted to remove a protest tent erected by young people from the Popular Resistance movement.
Israeli soldiers entered the village, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, from different sides in an attempt to reach the tent but were confronted by young men.
Israeli soldiers responded by firing gas canisters and stun grenades at residents, a Ma'an correspondent said.
“Dozens of Israeli soldiers had tried to raid the village but the young men who were in the tent confronted the soldiers and prevented them from proceeding to the center of the village," locals told Ma'an.
Nabi Saleh is the scene of weekly protests calling for an end to the confiscation of village lands by illegal Israeli settlements.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=407429 24 sep 2012, 10:09 , Respect -
Maria 24 sep 2012, 10:10 , Respect -
Maria 24 sep 2012, 10:10 , Respect -
Maria 27 juli 2011
Army gas canisters cause fire in Palestinian village
JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters in the village of Qatana, northwest of Jerusalem, on Wednesday, causing fires which damaged fields in the village.
Qatana village spokesman Ashraf Shamasneh said that Israeli soldiers arrived in an area of the village nearby the separation wall and fired gas canisters at a home.
Fires erupted, causing damage to citrus trees and agricultural lands.
Some women and children from the village attempted to extinguish the blaze but soldiers pointed their guns at them and fired gas canisters in their direction, Shamasneh said.
This is the fourth consecutive week that soldiers have caused fires in Qatana, Shamasneh noted.
Two weeks ago Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters in the village setting fire to large areas of olive trees and fig groves.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=408984 24 sep 2012, 10:10 , Respect -
Maria 27 juli 2011
WATCH: Palestinian youth abducted in Silwan
(1:35) ?????????? ?? ????? - ??? ???????
While Israelis are busy pitching tents across the country, in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, life under occupation goes on as usual, far away from the media’s eyes. In the shocking footage below, taken with a surveillance camera last Friday, July 22, Palestinian teens playing soccer in the street are suddenly abducted by Israeli soldiers in an undercover vehicle and hauled away. Whether guilty of stone throwing or not, this is not the way to go about conducting justice in a country’s capital.
As Sloveninan philosopher Slavoj Zizek has expressed many times, when there are no big headlines in the news about confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians, one should assume the mundane atrocities of daily occupation are taking place, in what is a very asymmetrical conflict.
It is not surprising that the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement and other anti-occupation figures have therefore demanded that several Israeli musicians scheduled to perform in the City of David in a concert sponsored by the Ministry of Culture refuse to do so. The City of David is a self-described “archaeological park” located in the heart of Silwan and operated by Elad, an organization with an agenda of moving Jews into this densely-populated Palestinian neighborhood.
Video h/t Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement
http://972mag.com/watch-palestinian-youth-abducted-in-silwan/