9 may 2014
An Israeli Military Court convicted on Thursday, May 8 2014, two Palestinian brothers of kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in the West Bank, in September of 2013.
One of them had already been in prison when the incident took place, but allegedly knew of the plan.
The Israeli Radio said that the court convicted Nidal Amer of “kidnapping, and killing the soldier”, and of living and working in Israel without a permit, in addition to another account of “obstructing the investigation”.
Nidal’s brother, Noureddeen, was also convicted in connection to the attack, although he was in prison when it took place, but the prosecution claimed he knew of his brother’s intention beforehand.
Two months after the attack, the Israeli Internal Security Service published a video caught by a surveillance camera showing the soldier, Tomer Hazan, crossing with Nidal into an area near Beit Amin village.
The video shows the two crossing through an opening in a fence installed by Israel near the “Samaria Highway”. Hazan was found dead in a well, south of Qalqilia.
During interrogation, Amer said that he wanted to hide the body of the soldier in an attempt to secure the release of his detained brother, who has been imprisoned by Israel since 2003.
Hazan and Amer worked together at an Israeli restaurant.
One of them had already been in prison when the incident took place, but allegedly knew of the plan.
The Israeli Radio said that the court convicted Nidal Amer of “kidnapping, and killing the soldier”, and of living and working in Israel without a permit, in addition to another account of “obstructing the investigation”.
Nidal’s brother, Noureddeen, was also convicted in connection to the attack, although he was in prison when it took place, but the prosecution claimed he knew of his brother’s intention beforehand.
Two months after the attack, the Israeli Internal Security Service published a video caught by a surveillance camera showing the soldier, Tomer Hazan, crossing with Nidal into an area near Beit Amin village.
The video shows the two crossing through an opening in a fence installed by Israel near the “Samaria Highway”. Hazan was found dead in a well, south of Qalqilia.
During interrogation, Amer said that he wanted to hide the body of the soldier in an attempt to secure the release of his detained brother, who has been imprisoned by Israel since 2003.
Hazan and Amer worked together at an Israeli restaurant.
21 apr 2014
This Friday, April 18, 2014 photo shows the Jewish settlement of Bat Ayin, north of the West Bank city of Hebron
Israeli and Palestinian minors accused of crimes in the West Bank are subject to two different sets of laws. Israeli settlers are prosecuted under Israeli civilian law, while Palestinians are thrust into the military justice system. Critics complain that the conviction rate in the military system is higher and the penalties stiffer. Here are some statistics about juvenile arrests between 2008 and 2013 from Israel's national police force:
TOTAL ARRESTS FOR ALL CRIMES:
Palestinians: 2,213
Israelis: 851
INDICTMENT RATE FOR ALL CRIMES:
Palestinians: 45 percent
Israelis: 34 percent
TOTAL ARRESTS FOR STONE THROWING:
Palestinians: 1,142
Israelis: 53
INDICTMENTS FOR STONE-THROWING:
Palestinians: 46 percent.
Israelis: Six cases, or 11 percent.
INDICTMENTS RESULTING IN CONVICTIONS:
Palestinians: 100 percent
Israelis: Four found guilty but not convicted. One was cleared. Fate of last case unknown
Israeli and Palestinian minors accused of crimes in the West Bank are subject to two different sets of laws. Israeli settlers are prosecuted under Israeli civilian law, while Palestinians are thrust into the military justice system. Critics complain that the conviction rate in the military system is higher and the penalties stiffer. Here are some statistics about juvenile arrests between 2008 and 2013 from Israel's national police force:
TOTAL ARRESTS FOR ALL CRIMES:
Palestinians: 2,213
Israelis: 851
INDICTMENT RATE FOR ALL CRIMES:
Palestinians: 45 percent
Israelis: 34 percent
TOTAL ARRESTS FOR STONE THROWING:
Palestinians: 1,142
Israelis: 53
INDICTMENTS FOR STONE-THROWING:
Palestinians: 46 percent.
Israelis: Six cases, or 11 percent.
INDICTMENTS RESULTING IN CONVICTIONS:
Palestinians: 100 percent
Israelis: Four found guilty but not convicted. One was cleared. Fate of last case unknown
15 apr 2014
Ahmad S, 17, was shot in the head with a rubber-coated metal bullet. It fractured his skull.
Text by Patrick O Strickland Images by Dylan Collins*
Ahmad S* was on his way to a wedding when he was shot in the head.
It was the afternoon of April 5, 2013 and Ahmad, then 16, was making his way through the streets in the Jalazoun refugee camp where he lives.
“There were clashes and soldiers were firing tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets,” he said.
“The soldier was about 10 meters away when he fired at me. I was hit in the head and the arm. I fainted and fell to the ground.”
The bullets fractured his skull and caused internal bleeding and Ahmad was rushed to hospital where surgeons worked on him for three hours.
A year later, Ahmad has lasting nerve damage in his right arm.
“I cannot grip a pencil or a fork with my right hand,” said Ahmad, now 17. “I had to drop out of school.”
Across the West Bank, the Israeli military regularly uses rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters, water cannons, sound grenades and other weapons other than live ammunition.
The army says it uses these “non-fatal riot dispersal methods” for crowd control purposes, but evidence collected by human rights groups suggests that soldiers regularly use these weapons excessively and improperly.
Rifat Kassis is director of Defense for Children International Palestine, a group that monitors children’s rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“The excessive and improper use of these so-called crowd control weapons have led to the injury and killing of many Palestinians, among them children,” he said.
An estimated 1,522 Palestinian children were injured by weapons other than live ammunition between January 2011 and December 2013, according to data collected by The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Non-lethal weapons can also kill. A January 2013 report [PDF] by B’Tselem found that 12 children, were killed by rubber-coated metal bullets between 2000 and December 2012.
Shot and beaten
Text by Patrick O Strickland Images by Dylan Collins*
Ahmad S* was on his way to a wedding when he was shot in the head.
It was the afternoon of April 5, 2013 and Ahmad, then 16, was making his way through the streets in the Jalazoun refugee camp where he lives.
“There were clashes and soldiers were firing tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets,” he said.
“The soldier was about 10 meters away when he fired at me. I was hit in the head and the arm. I fainted and fell to the ground.”
The bullets fractured his skull and caused internal bleeding and Ahmad was rushed to hospital where surgeons worked on him for three hours.
A year later, Ahmad has lasting nerve damage in his right arm.
“I cannot grip a pencil or a fork with my right hand,” said Ahmad, now 17. “I had to drop out of school.”
Across the West Bank, the Israeli military regularly uses rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters, water cannons, sound grenades and other weapons other than live ammunition.
The army says it uses these “non-fatal riot dispersal methods” for crowd control purposes, but evidence collected by human rights groups suggests that soldiers regularly use these weapons excessively and improperly.
Rifat Kassis is director of Defense for Children International Palestine, a group that monitors children’s rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“The excessive and improper use of these so-called crowd control weapons have led to the injury and killing of many Palestinians, among them children,” he said.
An estimated 1,522 Palestinian children were injured by weapons other than live ammunition between January 2011 and December 2013, according to data collected by The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Non-lethal weapons can also kill. A January 2013 report [PDF] by B’Tselem found that 12 children, were killed by rubber-coated metal bullets between 2000 and December 2012.
Shot and beaten
Yazan Z, 16, was shot in the leg at close range outside his high school in Jalazoun refugee camp
In October 2013, Yazan Z, a 16-year-old student was shot with a rubber-coated metal bullet while he was standing outside his school in the Jalazoun camp.
The illegal Israeli settlement of Bet El lies just 100 meters (330 feet) from the perimeter of the UN-administered high school and confrontations take place almost daily between Palestinian youth and Israeli troops.
Yazan had just met a friend outside school when he was approached by an Israeli soldier.
“(He) cursed my mother and my sister, so I responded and cursed him back,” Yazan said in an interview in Jalazoun camp.
Two more soldiers appeared from nearby olive groves and one of them shot Yazan from “about three meters away.”
“I fell and my friends tried to drag me away, but they fled when the soldiers fired at them.”
“It hurt very badly,” Yazan added. “Because he was so close, the bullet entered my thigh and lodged in the flesh … there was a lot of blood.”
Yazan was held for several hours after he was shot - during which time he claims the soldiers beat him - before finally being released without charge.
He was taken to hospital by a Palestinian ambulance and surgeons operated on him for five hours to remove the bullet. He was left unable to walk for three months.
Despite repeated inquiries about Yazan’s case, the Israeli military spokesperson declined to respond, saying only that all allegations of misconduct are investigated.
Six months later, Yazan has a limp and cannot walk for long periods of time without feeling severe pain.
“The doctor said that I will eventually get used to it, but it stills hurts all the time,” he said.
Not unique
In October 2013, Yazan Z, a 16-year-old student was shot with a rubber-coated metal bullet while he was standing outside his school in the Jalazoun camp.
The illegal Israeli settlement of Bet El lies just 100 meters (330 feet) from the perimeter of the UN-administered high school and confrontations take place almost daily between Palestinian youth and Israeli troops.
Yazan had just met a friend outside school when he was approached by an Israeli soldier.
“(He) cursed my mother and my sister, so I responded and cursed him back,” Yazan said in an interview in Jalazoun camp.
Two more soldiers appeared from nearby olive groves and one of them shot Yazan from “about three meters away.”
“I fell and my friends tried to drag me away, but they fled when the soldiers fired at them.”
“It hurt very badly,” Yazan added. “Because he was so close, the bullet entered my thigh and lodged in the flesh … there was a lot of blood.”
Yazan was held for several hours after he was shot - during which time he claims the soldiers beat him - before finally being released without charge.
He was taken to hospital by a Palestinian ambulance and surgeons operated on him for five hours to remove the bullet. He was left unable to walk for three months.
Despite repeated inquiries about Yazan’s case, the Israeli military spokesperson declined to respond, saying only that all allegations of misconduct are investigated.
Six months later, Yazan has a limp and cannot walk for long periods of time without feeling severe pain.
“The doctor said that I will eventually get used to it, but it stills hurts all the time,” he said.
Not unique
Mousab S, 6, now wears a glass eye after he was hit directly in the right eye with a rubber-coated metal bullet.
Ayman Ramahi, the director of the Palestinian Children’s Club in Jalazoun, said that around half of the camp’s population of 10,000 United Nations registered refugees is under-16.
Due to a lack of recreational areas in the overcrowded camp, children play at the only playground, which is near the Israeli military outpost for the settlement of Bet El.
“Nearly all of the kids who attend the children’s club have experienced some form of violence by the (Israeli) soldiers,” Ramahi said. “It’s very difficult to talk to these children about peace when they are being hurt all the time and their friends are being killed.”
The situation is not unique to Jalazoun. Across the West Bank, the proximity of Israeli military areas and settlements to Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps means children are often the victims of military violence.
Failing regulations
Ayman Ramahi, the director of the Palestinian Children’s Club in Jalazoun, said that around half of the camp’s population of 10,000 United Nations registered refugees is under-16.
Due to a lack of recreational areas in the overcrowded camp, children play at the only playground, which is near the Israeli military outpost for the settlement of Bet El.
“Nearly all of the kids who attend the children’s club have experienced some form of violence by the (Israeli) soldiers,” Ramahi said. “It’s very difficult to talk to these children about peace when they are being hurt all the time and their friends are being killed.”
The situation is not unique to Jalazoun. Across the West Bank, the proximity of Israeli military areas and settlements to Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps means children are often the victims of military violence.
Failing regulations
Majd, 17, was struck in the chest with a canister of rubber-coated metal bullets fired at close range
According to Israeli military regulations, a soldier who shoots rubber-coated metal bullets must be at least 50-60 meters (165-195 feet) away from their target.
Human rights group B’Tselem noted [PDF] that army rules require that rubber-coated metal bullets should only be fired at the legs of “inciters, key disrupters of order or individuals endangering the well-being of a soldier or another individual.”
Army rules are clear that these bullets “may not be fired at women or children.”
The Israeli military spokesperson defended the use of these weapons.
“Non-lethal weapons undergo extensive review before approval for use, including thorough assessments conducted by technical, medical and legal experts.
“Although not every instance of injury sustained during riot dispersal indicates a breach of the Rules of Engagement, on occasion when it is found to have done so, the appropriate actions are taken.”
Closed without indictment
According to Israeli military regulations, a soldier who shoots rubber-coated metal bullets must be at least 50-60 meters (165-195 feet) away from their target.
Human rights group B’Tselem noted [PDF] that army rules require that rubber-coated metal bullets should only be fired at the legs of “inciters, key disrupters of order or individuals endangering the well-being of a soldier or another individual.”
Army rules are clear that these bullets “may not be fired at women or children.”
The Israeli military spokesperson defended the use of these weapons.
“Non-lethal weapons undergo extensive review before approval for use, including thorough assessments conducted by technical, medical and legal experts.
“Although not every instance of injury sustained during riot dispersal indicates a breach of the Rules of Engagement, on occasion when it is found to have done so, the appropriate actions are taken.”
Closed without indictment
Abdelrazzeq Abu Sel, 16, from Aroub refugee camp was hit in the side of the head with a tear gas canister four months ago
Rifat Kassis, director of Defense for Children International Palestine, disputed the military spokesperson’s claims.
“None of the Israeli soldiers (who violated regulations) have been held to account for the unlawful use of these weapons.”
Kassis added that the military’s failure to adequately investigate alleged violations regarding the use of weapons other than live ammunition is part of a broader pattern of Israeli impunity.
From 192 complaints lodged against Israeli soldiers between September 2000 and December 2011, less than four percent resulted in an indictment, according to the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.
Yazan explained that most of Jalazoun’s residents, including him, have “no trust” in Israel’s ability to deliver justice through investigations.
“I didn’t even consider filing a complaint,” he said. “It would be pointless … Israel’s laws are only respected when it helps them.”
This article was originally published in Huffington Post: Unsuspecting victims of Israel's 'non-lethal' weapons
*Dylan Collins and Patrick O Strickland are freelance contributors to Defense for Children International Palestine.
Rifat Kassis, director of Defense for Children International Palestine, disputed the military spokesperson’s claims.
“None of the Israeli soldiers (who violated regulations) have been held to account for the unlawful use of these weapons.”
Kassis added that the military’s failure to adequately investigate alleged violations regarding the use of weapons other than live ammunition is part of a broader pattern of Israeli impunity.
From 192 complaints lodged against Israeli soldiers between September 2000 and December 2011, less than four percent resulted in an indictment, according to the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.
Yazan explained that most of Jalazoun’s residents, including him, have “no trust” in Israel’s ability to deliver justice through investigations.
“I didn’t even consider filing a complaint,” he said. “It would be pointless … Israel’s laws are only respected when it helps them.”
This article was originally published in Huffington Post: Unsuspecting victims of Israel's 'non-lethal' weapons
*Dylan Collins and Patrick O Strickland are freelance contributors to Defense for Children International Palestine.
14 apr 2014
Israeli war minister Moshe Ya’alon gave permission to three Israeli families to break into the so-called Rugby building in al-Khalil city, as the court and the head of the Israeli Civil Administration have already ruled. Israel radio said that the building was evacuated for more than five years after the Supreme Court rejected the objection made by two Palestinian native citizens who said they are the house’s owners.
The Court ruled that the new Jewish purchasers are the building’s “legitimate owners” and that the settlement council in the West Bank welcomed the decision and wished for more professional and rapid actions in similar future situations.
Yariv Oppenheimer, current Secretary-General of Peace Now Movement said, “The allowance of settlers into the building is a pretext to bring negotiations to a halt,” charging that Ya’alon had “bowed to extremist right-wingers.”
The Court ruled that the new Jewish purchasers are the building’s “legitimate owners” and that the settlement council in the West Bank welcomed the decision and wished for more professional and rapid actions in similar future situations.
Yariv Oppenheimer, current Secretary-General of Peace Now Movement said, “The allowance of settlers into the building is a pretext to bring negotiations to a halt,” charging that Ya’alon had “bowed to extremist right-wingers.”
11 apr 2014
Bethlehem's second annual marathon was underway early Friday, with some 3,500 participants from Palestine and around the world participating.
Bethlehem governor Abdel Fatah Hamayel and Mayor Vera Baboun welcomed the runners in Manger Square.
Police blocked off routes throughout the city, and Red Crescent medics supervised runners' progress.
Last year about 500 runners took part in different legs of the race.
On Tuesday, the Israeli High Court of Justice turned down an appeal by the human rights group Gisha on behalf of Gaza runner Nadir al-Masri who was denied entry to the West Bank to compete in the marathon.
Al-Masri, 34, was also denied entry to the West Bank in 2013 to compete.
Bethlehem governor Abdel Fatah Hamayel and Mayor Vera Baboun welcomed the runners in Manger Square.
Police blocked off routes throughout the city, and Red Crescent medics supervised runners' progress.
Last year about 500 runners took part in different legs of the race.
On Tuesday, the Israeli High Court of Justice turned down an appeal by the human rights group Gisha on behalf of Gaza runner Nadir al-Masri who was denied entry to the West Bank to compete in the marathon.
Al-Masri, 34, was also denied entry to the West Bank in 2013 to compete.
10 apr 2014
The Hebrew radio said that an Israeli magistrates' court in Beersheba condemned two sisters of Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya after they confessed to leaving the occupied territories for the Gaza Strip without Israeli travel permits. The radio added that a new court hearing would be held soon to state the verdict that would be issued against Haneyya's sisters who had been held in custody in late 2012 after their return from Gaza and then released on bail.
Jerusalem Post newspaper, in turn, said that this court found Sabah and Laila Haneyya guilty of traveling to Gaza through Egypt to visit their brother without official permission.
The two sisters moved about 30 years ago to the occupied desert town of Tel Sheva, where their husbands, who hold Israeli IDs, live.
The two sisters had previously requested permission in 2006 and 2009 to cross into Gaza for the visit and the Israeli occupation authority had denied their request.
Jerusalem Post newspaper, in turn, said that this court found Sabah and Laila Haneyya guilty of traveling to Gaza through Egypt to visit their brother without official permission.
The two sisters moved about 30 years ago to the occupied desert town of Tel Sheva, where their husbands, who hold Israeli IDs, live.
The two sisters had previously requested permission in 2006 and 2009 to cross into Gaza for the visit and the Israeli occupation authority had denied their request.
8 apr 2014
An Israeli court has accepted a petition to freeze administrative demolition orders of three houses belong to the Assaf family in Dahmash village in Lod Valley regional council in central Israel.
The petition was submitted by a lawyer representing the owners and the Arab Center for Alternative Planning.
Israeli police informed the families their houses would be demolished in days without a prior warning. However, the orders were not executed thanks to a magistrate court decision to freeze the orders until further notice.
Dahmash is the only Arab village within the Lod Valley regional council. The villagers have been fighting for their village to be recognized in order for them to live safely. However, the regional council has demolished many houses under inappropriate pretexts, according to locals.
Moreover, the regional council attempted to annex the village to Lod, but a committee to study borders, appointed by the ministry of interior, considered the locals’ arguments and declined the annexation request. The village remained within the region.
The committee recommended that an Israeli central court reexamine the village’s structural plan and reconsider the population’s request to recognize Dahmash as an independent village within the borders of Lod Valley regional council.
Lawyer Qais Nasser says that “instead of taking into account the committee’s recommendations, the regional committee orders to demolish three houses. The house owners build them without a construction license because the Israeli authorities did not provide them with the correct structure plans. In addition, the authorities rejected the plans that the locals provided them with.”
The court is expected to set a hearing to listen to the opposing arguments.
The petition was submitted by a lawyer representing the owners and the Arab Center for Alternative Planning.
Israeli police informed the families their houses would be demolished in days without a prior warning. However, the orders were not executed thanks to a magistrate court decision to freeze the orders until further notice.
Dahmash is the only Arab village within the Lod Valley regional council. The villagers have been fighting for their village to be recognized in order for them to live safely. However, the regional council has demolished many houses under inappropriate pretexts, according to locals.
Moreover, the regional council attempted to annex the village to Lod, but a committee to study borders, appointed by the ministry of interior, considered the locals’ arguments and declined the annexation request. The village remained within the region.
The committee recommended that an Israeli central court reexamine the village’s structural plan and reconsider the population’s request to recognize Dahmash as an independent village within the borders of Lod Valley regional council.
Lawyer Qais Nasser says that “instead of taking into account the committee’s recommendations, the regional committee orders to demolish three houses. The house owners build them without a construction license because the Israeli authorities did not provide them with the correct structure plans. In addition, the authorities rejected the plans that the locals provided them with.”
The court is expected to set a hearing to listen to the opposing arguments.
The Bethlehem marathon will host hundreds of runners from around the world in the ancient West Bank city next Friday, with one omission: The Palestinian Authority's top runner, who happens to reside in the Gaza Strip.
Nader al-Masri, 34, with 14 years of running under his belt, was one of only four athletes to represent the Palestinian Authority in the 2008 Beijing Olympics . The next year, he took part in a competition in Bahrain. But this time, Israel is refusing to let him out of the Hamas-controlled enclave and into the West Bank.
Al-Masri is set to petition the Supreme Court on Thursday, demanding the state reverse its decision and let him participate in the competition.
"I don’t have any security background or anything. I'm an athlete, I represent my country, go out, come back, and that's it," al-Masri told Army Radio. "I'm 34. I only have two, three more years before I retire," he added.
Gisha, a human rights group which will file the petition on al-Masri's behalf, say Israel's denial of his request was issued on a whim, without justification, and claim the state abused its power.
The state says it made its decision based on the fact that al-Masri does not fall under any criteria granting exit from the Gaza Strip, Army Radio reported.
Source: HAARETZ
Nader al-Masri, 34, with 14 years of running under his belt, was one of only four athletes to represent the Palestinian Authority in the 2008 Beijing Olympics . The next year, he took part in a competition in Bahrain. But this time, Israel is refusing to let him out of the Hamas-controlled enclave and into the West Bank.
Al-Masri is set to petition the Supreme Court on Thursday, demanding the state reverse its decision and let him participate in the competition.
"I don’t have any security background or anything. I'm an athlete, I represent my country, go out, come back, and that's it," al-Masri told Army Radio. "I'm 34. I only have two, three more years before I retire," he added.
Gisha, a human rights group which will file the petition on al-Masri's behalf, say Israel's denial of his request was issued on a whim, without justification, and claim the state abused its power.
The state says it made its decision based on the fact that al-Masri does not fall under any criteria granting exit from the Gaza Strip, Army Radio reported.
Source: HAARETZ
3 apr 2014
A Palestinian Olympian from the Gaza Strip said Thursday he had asked Israel's Supreme Court to overturn a ban on him passing through Israel to join a marathon in the occupied West Bank.
Nader al-Masri, who was prevented from participating in the first Bethlehem marathon in 2013, again sought permission to transit the Erez crossing from Gaza to Israel this year and was again refused, he said.
“I applied for a permit to go to Bethlehem through the Erez crossing to take part in the marathon taking place on April 11, but unfortunately I was informed last Friday that Israel rejected my application," he said.
Gisha, an Israeli watchdog that works to facilitate Palestinian freedom of movement, said it took up Masri's case.
"Our petition to the Supreme Court ... was served this morning," it said.
The spokesman for the Israeli defense ministry unit responsible for coordinating civilian affairs with the Palestinians could not immediately be reached for comment, but Gisha published the unit's written response to its application on Masri's behalf.
"At the present time, in view of the current diplomatic-security situation, the entry of residents of the Gaza Strip to Israel is not allowed except in exceptional humanitarian cases, with emphasis on urgent medical cases," it said.
Gisha says Israeli rules do allow Gazans to attend West Bank "special events sponsored by the (Western-backed) Palestinian Authority."
In this case, it said, "the Olympic Committee of the Palestinian Authority invited Masri to take part."
Masri, who finished last in his 5,000 meters heat at the 2008 Beijing Games, said that joining runners from the West Bank was deeply important to him.
"This marathon is important to me, it will be the first time I can take part in the Palestinian marathon and meet friends I only talk to on the phone," he said.
"I have crossed Erez numerous times. I am a Palestinian athlete and I have won several awards. I have nothing to do with politics and I do not know why Israel denied me a permit."
Nader al-Masri, who was prevented from participating in the first Bethlehem marathon in 2013, again sought permission to transit the Erez crossing from Gaza to Israel this year and was again refused, he said.
“I applied for a permit to go to Bethlehem through the Erez crossing to take part in the marathon taking place on April 11, but unfortunately I was informed last Friday that Israel rejected my application," he said.
Gisha, an Israeli watchdog that works to facilitate Palestinian freedom of movement, said it took up Masri's case.
"Our petition to the Supreme Court ... was served this morning," it said.
The spokesman for the Israeli defense ministry unit responsible for coordinating civilian affairs with the Palestinians could not immediately be reached for comment, but Gisha published the unit's written response to its application on Masri's behalf.
"At the present time, in view of the current diplomatic-security situation, the entry of residents of the Gaza Strip to Israel is not allowed except in exceptional humanitarian cases, with emphasis on urgent medical cases," it said.
Gisha says Israeli rules do allow Gazans to attend West Bank "special events sponsored by the (Western-backed) Palestinian Authority."
In this case, it said, "the Olympic Committee of the Palestinian Authority invited Masri to take part."
Masri, who finished last in his 5,000 meters heat at the 2008 Beijing Games, said that joining runners from the West Bank was deeply important to him.
"This marathon is important to me, it will be the first time I can take part in the Palestinian marathon and meet friends I only talk to on the phone," he said.
"I have crossed Erez numerous times. I am a Palestinian athlete and I have won several awards. I have nothing to do with politics and I do not know why Israel denied me a permit."
26 mar 2014
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Israeli Military bulldozers demolished Wednesday early morning a Palestinian civilian block in the occupied Jerusalem. ALRAY correspondent reported that Israeli bulldozers escorted by Israeli occupation forces raided al-Tour village to the east of Jerusalem , cordoned off and destroyed a two-storey house , mosque and a clinic.
The house belonged to Ghadir Abu Ghalia in which more than 14 people live. Israeli occupation authorities issued an administrative order to demolish the house, despite of the court hearing to review the decision on the first of next May. The owner of the house shocked by the order. |
