5 july 2017
The Israeli High Court ruled Tuesday that three Jewish Israelis convicted of kidnapping, torturing and brutally murdering a Palestinian teenager by setting him on fire should not have their homes demolished.
The Court noted that “Jewish terrorism is different from Arab terrorism”, and the collective punishment measures used against the families of Palestinians who commit violence should not be used against Jewish Israelis who commit acts of political violence.
The three men – one adult and two minors – killed 16-year old Mohammed Abu Khdeir in June 2014. The teenager was kidnapped in the Shufat neighbourhood of occupied Jerusalem by Ben David of the illegal settlement Geva Binyamin and two assailants on 2 July 2014, Abu Khdeir was then beaten, forced to drink gasoline and burnt alive.
The autopsy found that gasoline was poured down Abu Khdeir’s throat and that there was soot in his lungs which shows that he was still breathing as his attackers burnt him alive. The autopsy also found that he was repeatedly beaten over the head with a sharp object, most likely a tire iron or a wrench.
Two days prior to Abu Khdeir’s abduction the group attempted to kidnap a 7-year-old boy Moussa Zaloum although he was able to escape with the help of his mother. The family reported the attempted kidnapping to Israeli police although they did not investigate the incident.
Three days after the attack, Muhammad’s cousin, 15-year-old American citizen Tariq Abu Khdeir was detained and brutally beaten by Israeli border police, an event caught on camera, before being released.
The Israeli government has a policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israelis – as well as demolishing their family members’ homes. The government claims that this acts as a ‘deterrent’ against future attacks, but there is no evidence to support that claim.
In addition, this use of punitive home demolitions is a type of collective punishment, which is illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.
Ben-David, the one person named in the murder of Abu Khdeir, is serving a life sentence for murder, and has to pay restitution to the family of the boy he killed, worth about $40,000.
The father of Mohammed Abu Khdeir says that he is angry about the Israeli court ruling, and will take the case to the International Court in the Hague.
The Court noted that “Jewish terrorism is different from Arab terrorism”, and the collective punishment measures used against the families of Palestinians who commit violence should not be used against Jewish Israelis who commit acts of political violence.
The three men – one adult and two minors – killed 16-year old Mohammed Abu Khdeir in June 2014. The teenager was kidnapped in the Shufat neighbourhood of occupied Jerusalem by Ben David of the illegal settlement Geva Binyamin and two assailants on 2 July 2014, Abu Khdeir was then beaten, forced to drink gasoline and burnt alive.
The autopsy found that gasoline was poured down Abu Khdeir’s throat and that there was soot in his lungs which shows that he was still breathing as his attackers burnt him alive. The autopsy also found that he was repeatedly beaten over the head with a sharp object, most likely a tire iron or a wrench.
Two days prior to Abu Khdeir’s abduction the group attempted to kidnap a 7-year-old boy Moussa Zaloum although he was able to escape with the help of his mother. The family reported the attempted kidnapping to Israeli police although they did not investigate the incident.
Three days after the attack, Muhammad’s cousin, 15-year-old American citizen Tariq Abu Khdeir was detained and brutally beaten by Israeli border police, an event caught on camera, before being released.
The Israeli government has a policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israelis – as well as demolishing their family members’ homes. The government claims that this acts as a ‘deterrent’ against future attacks, but there is no evidence to support that claim.
In addition, this use of punitive home demolitions is a type of collective punishment, which is illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.
Ben-David, the one person named in the murder of Abu Khdeir, is serving a life sentence for murder, and has to pay restitution to the family of the boy he killed, worth about $40,000.
The father of Mohammed Abu Khdeir says that he is angry about the Israeli court ruling, and will take the case to the International Court in the Hague.
4 july 2017
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday blocked a legislation that would prevent the division of Jerusalem, Israeli media reported, according to Al Ray.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Prime Minister’s office explained the reason as Netanyahu wanting the coalition to reach a consensus on what the bill would look like, rather than use a version put forward by Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party.
“In addition, there is a Jerusalem Affairs Minister, Ze’ev Elkin, who has the right to be involved in the legislation,” it added.
The bill, which was scheduled to be put to vote next Sunday, requires a vote of 80 members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) to approve the concession of any part of Jerusalem.
Head of Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett, according to the daily, said that the bill sets a very high bar for dividing Jerusalem.
“Twice in the last 15 years, we were a hair’s-breadth away from giving away the Temple Mount, Mount of Olives, City of David and three-quarters of the old city to the Palestinians, in the time of [former prime ministers Ehud] Barak and [Ehud] Olmert,” he said.
“Netanyahu blocked the legislative process, but we are determined to pass it in three readings, and I’m sure we can unite around the bill and Jerusalem,” he added.
Israel occupied the West Bank — including East Jerusalem — during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the Jewish state in a move never recognized by the international community.
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “occupied territories”, and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity on the land as illegal.
Palestinians accuse Israel of waging an aggressive campaign to “Judaize” the historic city with the aim of effacing its Arab and Islamic identity and driving out its Palestinian inhabitants.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Prime Minister’s office explained the reason as Netanyahu wanting the coalition to reach a consensus on what the bill would look like, rather than use a version put forward by Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, of the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party.
“In addition, there is a Jerusalem Affairs Minister, Ze’ev Elkin, who has the right to be involved in the legislation,” it added.
The bill, which was scheduled to be put to vote next Sunday, requires a vote of 80 members of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) to approve the concession of any part of Jerusalem.
Head of Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett, according to the daily, said that the bill sets a very high bar for dividing Jerusalem.
“Twice in the last 15 years, we were a hair’s-breadth away from giving away the Temple Mount, Mount of Olives, City of David and three-quarters of the old city to the Palestinians, in the time of [former prime ministers Ehud] Barak and [Ehud] Olmert,” he said.
“Netanyahu blocked the legislative process, but we are determined to pass it in three readings, and I’m sure we can unite around the bill and Jerusalem,” he added.
Israel occupied the West Bank — including East Jerusalem — during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the Jewish state in a move never recognized by the international community.
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “occupied territories”, and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity on the land as illegal.
Palestinians accuse Israel of waging an aggressive campaign to “Judaize” the historic city with the aim of effacing its Arab and Islamic identity and driving out its Palestinian inhabitants.
24 june 2017
The Palestinian national office for the defense of land and resistance of settlements condemned the approval of a new bill by the Israeli Knesset which has given preliminary approval to legislation that would let Israeli administrative courts hear disputes between the government and West Bank settlers.
The national office said, in its weekly report which was issued on Saturday, that the approval of this bill constitutes a dangerous transformation of the Israeli policy as it aims at advancing laws that in practice impose Israeli sovereignty on occupied Palestinian territories in 1967 including settlements. This will encourage settlers to rob more of the Palestinian lands, the statement highlighted.
The statement condemned the Israeli continuation of settlement construction which runs contrary to the international law and international legitimacy resolutions including UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
It also slammed the international community for being silent towards the Israeli violations of the international law, and held them responsible for the Israeli aggressive practices in the West Bank specifically in regards with settlement.
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics showed that there is a 70.4% increase in the number of the housing units being recently constructed in the illegal settlements in the West Bank, the statement pointed out.
The national office said, in its weekly report which was issued on Saturday, that the approval of this bill constitutes a dangerous transformation of the Israeli policy as it aims at advancing laws that in practice impose Israeli sovereignty on occupied Palestinian territories in 1967 including settlements. This will encourage settlers to rob more of the Palestinian lands, the statement highlighted.
The statement condemned the Israeli continuation of settlement construction which runs contrary to the international law and international legitimacy resolutions including UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
It also slammed the international community for being silent towards the Israeli violations of the international law, and held them responsible for the Israeli aggressive practices in the West Bank specifically in regards with settlement.
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics showed that there is a 70.4% increase in the number of the housing units being recently constructed in the illegal settlements in the West Bank, the statement pointed out.
16 june 2017
The Jewish Home party is advancing an amendment to Israeli Basic Law about Occupied Jerusalem to ensure that the city is never divided, Israel Hayom newspaper revealed on Friday.
Israel Hayom reported that Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett is pushing to amend the Israeli Basic Law to stipulate that Occupied Jerusalem cannot be divided unless such a move gains the support of 80 out of the 120 MKs.
According to the report, the amendment is set to go to a vote, within a couple of weeks, in the Knesset Law Committee, where Jewish Home believes that it will receive a majority of votes.
A senior Jewish Home official explained to Israel Hayom that the new amendment seeks to further protect the status of Jerusalem in any future diplomatic agreement by giving strength to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel occupied the western part of Jerusalem in 1948 and east Jerusalem in 1967. East Jerusalem, however, is considered as an occupied territory by the UN.
Israel Hayom reported that Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett is pushing to amend the Israeli Basic Law to stipulate that Occupied Jerusalem cannot be divided unless such a move gains the support of 80 out of the 120 MKs.
According to the report, the amendment is set to go to a vote, within a couple of weeks, in the Knesset Law Committee, where Jewish Home believes that it will receive a majority of votes.
A senior Jewish Home official explained to Israel Hayom that the new amendment seeks to further protect the status of Jerusalem in any future diplomatic agreement by giving strength to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel occupied the western part of Jerusalem in 1948 and east Jerusalem in 1967. East Jerusalem, however, is considered as an occupied territory by the UN.
13 june 2017
Israel Hayom Hebrew newspaper reported on Tuesday that the Knesset extended for another year the Israeli citizenship and entry law which bans issuing entry permits under family reunification application.
The chairman of Israel's Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, Avi Dichter, claimed, “In light of recent security escalation, many of Palestinian families who entered Israel after applying for family reunification were involved in security violations”.
The law extension order was endorsed by the majority of the Knesset as 57 MKs approved the extension and only 16 disapproved.
The chairman of Israel's Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, Avi Dichter, claimed, “In light of recent security escalation, many of Palestinian families who entered Israel after applying for family reunification were involved in security violations”.
The law extension order was endorsed by the majority of the Knesset as 57 MKs approved the extension and only 16 disapproved.
12 june 2017
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told top cabinet ministers on Sunday that he was considering legislation to limit appeals against settlement construction on private Palestinian lands.
The legislation could mean curtailing the ability of many left-wing advocacy groups to appeal on behalf of Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli media sources reported.
Netanyahu reportedly declared his intention at the weekly meeting of the party leaders in his six-party coalition. The ministers were said to discuss a bill by Likud MK Miki Zohar that seeks to limit standing before the High Court only to those directly affected by any particular state action.
Zohar’s bill to place limits on the very broad range of individuals and groups that are permitted to file High Court appeals on any particular matter was first brought to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in May, but ministers delayed voting on it due to opposition from some coalition members and Knesset and Justice Ministry legal officials.
Zohar’s bill is co-signed by coalition chairman MK David Bitan (Likud) and Jewish Home lawmakers Moti Yogev and Betzalel Smotrich (Jewish Home).
Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, also of the pro-settlements Jewish Home, have said they would support the bill, according to Walla.
Israel has recently approved the construction of 8,345 new housing units in total violation of international laws and resolutions.
The legislation could mean curtailing the ability of many left-wing advocacy groups to appeal on behalf of Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli media sources reported.
Netanyahu reportedly declared his intention at the weekly meeting of the party leaders in his six-party coalition. The ministers were said to discuss a bill by Likud MK Miki Zohar that seeks to limit standing before the High Court only to those directly affected by any particular state action.
Zohar’s bill to place limits on the very broad range of individuals and groups that are permitted to file High Court appeals on any particular matter was first brought to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in May, but ministers delayed voting on it due to opposition from some coalition members and Knesset and Justice Ministry legal officials.
Zohar’s bill is co-signed by coalition chairman MK David Bitan (Likud) and Jewish Home lawmakers Moti Yogev and Betzalel Smotrich (Jewish Home).
Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, also of the pro-settlements Jewish Home, have said they would support the bill, according to Walla.
Israel has recently approved the construction of 8,345 new housing units in total violation of international laws and resolutions.
11 june 2017
The Israeli cabinet approved, on Sunday, a bill proposal which aims to deduct the salaries of Palestinian detainees, former and current, from Palestinian Authority deposits.
The bill was proposed by Israeli MK Elazar Stern, from Yesh Atid, and signed by the Likud MKs David Bitan and Avi Dichter.
After discussing it, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved bill, which stipulates deducting the salaries from the monthly transfer of tax money Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation considers all Palestinians, who do not believe in Israel’s right to occupy the land of Palestine and seeking the return of Palestinians refugees to their homes, as terrorists. Based on this criterion, all the Palestinian prisoners are considered “terrorists”.
Stern claimed that the salaries paid to the former prisoners or the families of current prisoners are rewards for people who murder Jews.
“The current reality is that the Palestinian Authority not only rewards the murder of Jews, but also encourages it,” Stern said. “The more you murder, the more you get,” he claimed.
“For the Palestinians, it incites them to murder and for us it is an obstacle to peace because how can we make peace with someone who encourages murder? I am convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the committee headed by minister Shaked will support the legislation,” he said.
He added: “Netanyahu has commented on the issue more than once and he understands that this absurdity cannot continue.”
The bill was proposed by Israeli MK Elazar Stern, from Yesh Atid, and signed by the Likud MKs David Bitan and Avi Dichter.
After discussing it, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved bill, which stipulates deducting the salaries from the monthly transfer of tax money Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation considers all Palestinians, who do not believe in Israel’s right to occupy the land of Palestine and seeking the return of Palestinians refugees to their homes, as terrorists. Based on this criterion, all the Palestinian prisoners are considered “terrorists”.
Stern claimed that the salaries paid to the former prisoners or the families of current prisoners are rewards for people who murder Jews.
“The current reality is that the Palestinian Authority not only rewards the murder of Jews, but also encourages it,” Stern said. “The more you murder, the more you get,” he claimed.
“For the Palestinians, it incites them to murder and for us it is an obstacle to peace because how can we make peace with someone who encourages murder? I am convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the committee headed by minister Shaked will support the legislation,” he said.
He added: “Netanyahu has commented on the issue more than once and he understands that this absurdity cannot continue.”
16 may 2017
Antar Shalabi Mahmoud al-Aqraa
A court in the norther Israeli city of Kfar Saba, to the south of Haifa, sentenced a “volunteer” of the Israeli border force to seven months in prison for killing a Palestinian worker in 2013.
Israeli news website Ynet reported that the “volunteer,” David Arik Bibi Rubi, aged 43, agreed to a plea bargain with the prosecution, which will also include an additional four months of probation, following his release from prison.
Rubi shot and killed 23-year-old Antar Aqra, from the Nablus-area village of Qabalan, for not having an Israeli-issued work permit during “a joint police operation to identify and arrest illegal Palestinian workers,” according to Ynet.
Ynet further reported, according to Ma’an, that, after a group of 41 undocumented Palestinian workers had been detained, “Rubi was assigned to watch over them while forces continued their searches for additional suspects,” adding that Aqra then attempted to escape.
“According to the indictment, Rubi gave chase to Akra and ordered him to stop. Akra then ducked down — an act that, according to the defense, led Rubi to believe that the Palestinian had picked up a rock or another weapon with which to attack him. Rubi drew his weapon and shot Akra in the chest, killing him,” Ynet said.
The court charged Rubi with “negligence in service” and sentenced him to seven months in prison, and ordered him to pay parents 30,000 ($8,320) shekels to Aqra’s parents, and another 70,000 shekels ($19,416) in compensation to Aqra’s widow.
An Israeli border police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
A report released by Human Rights Watch noted that Israel’s widely-condemned shoot-to-kill policy has received widespread support among Israeli citizens, citing a 2016 poll by the Israel Democracy Institute which found that 47 percent of Jewish Israelis supported the sentiment that “any Palestinian who carries out a terror attack against Jews should be killed on the spot, even if he has been captured and clearly does not pose a threat.”
According to rights group Yesh Din, of the 186 criminal investigations opened by the Israeli army into suspected offenses against Palestinians in 2015, just four yielded indictments.
A court in the norther Israeli city of Kfar Saba, to the south of Haifa, sentenced a “volunteer” of the Israeli border force to seven months in prison for killing a Palestinian worker in 2013.
Israeli news website Ynet reported that the “volunteer,” David Arik Bibi Rubi, aged 43, agreed to a plea bargain with the prosecution, which will also include an additional four months of probation, following his release from prison.
Rubi shot and killed 23-year-old Antar Aqra, from the Nablus-area village of Qabalan, for not having an Israeli-issued work permit during “a joint police operation to identify and arrest illegal Palestinian workers,” according to Ynet.
Ynet further reported, according to Ma’an, that, after a group of 41 undocumented Palestinian workers had been detained, “Rubi was assigned to watch over them while forces continued their searches for additional suspects,” adding that Aqra then attempted to escape.
“According to the indictment, Rubi gave chase to Akra and ordered him to stop. Akra then ducked down — an act that, according to the defense, led Rubi to believe that the Palestinian had picked up a rock or another weapon with which to attack him. Rubi drew his weapon and shot Akra in the chest, killing him,” Ynet said.
The court charged Rubi with “negligence in service” and sentenced him to seven months in prison, and ordered him to pay parents 30,000 ($8,320) shekels to Aqra’s parents, and another 70,000 shekels ($19,416) in compensation to Aqra’s widow.
An Israeli border police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
A report released by Human Rights Watch noted that Israel’s widely-condemned shoot-to-kill policy has received widespread support among Israeli citizens, citing a 2016 poll by the Israel Democracy Institute which found that 47 percent of Jewish Israelis supported the sentiment that “any Palestinian who carries out a terror attack against Jews should be killed on the spot, even if he has been captured and clearly does not pose a threat.”
According to rights group Yesh Din, of the 186 criminal investigations opened by the Israeli army into suspected offenses against Palestinians in 2015, just four yielded indictments.
13 may 2017
The Knesset ministerial legislation committee is to convene on Sunday to discuss the approval of a new Likud bill calling for preventing Israeli leftist organizations from filing legal complaints or petitions with the high court of justice on behalf of Palestinian citizens.
According to Hebrew news websites, the new bill may cause severe differences among the government coalition partners, especially since Israel’s minister of finance Moshe Kahlon, head of the Kulanu Party, tends to reject it.
The bill proposes making an amendment to basic legislation in order to ban left-wing organizations in Israel from going to the high court of justice to defend rights taken from Palestinians, especially with regard to lands seized by Israel and Jewish settlers.
The bill, which was submitted by right-wing Likud MK Miki Zohar, needs to be approved by the ministerial committee for legislation at the Knesset before it is tabled for vote in the plenum hall. The bill is voted into a law after passing three readings.
According to Hebrew news websites, the new bill may cause severe differences among the government coalition partners, especially since Israel’s minister of finance Moshe Kahlon, head of the Kulanu Party, tends to reject it.
The bill proposes making an amendment to basic legislation in order to ban left-wing organizations in Israel from going to the high court of justice to defend rights taken from Palestinians, especially with regard to lands seized by Israel and Jewish settlers.
The bill, which was submitted by right-wing Likud MK Miki Zohar, needs to be approved by the ministerial committee for legislation at the Knesset before it is tabled for vote in the plenum hall. The bill is voted into a law after passing three readings.
11 may 2017
The Knesset approved initially on Wednesday the so-called nationality law or the Jewish state law proposed by right-wing MK Avi Dichter, from Likud party.
The law passed its initial reading by a majority of 48 to 41 and will be transferred to the Knesset constitution and law committee to be drafted for vote in its first reading.
The law legislates Israel's status as the national home of the Jewish people, emphasizes that Hebrew is the official language of the state and states that (Occupied) Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
During a heated Knesset session, Knesset members from the Joint Arab List were removed from the plenum. MK Jamal Zahalka angrily tore up the law and was removed from the plenum after calling Dichter a "fascist and racist."
The law passed its initial reading by a majority of 48 to 41 and will be transferred to the Knesset constitution and law committee to be drafted for vote in its first reading.
The law legislates Israel's status as the national home of the Jewish people, emphasizes that Hebrew is the official language of the state and states that (Occupied) Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
During a heated Knesset session, Knesset members from the Joint Arab List were removed from the plenum. MK Jamal Zahalka angrily tore up the law and was removed from the plenum after calling Dichter a "fascist and racist."
25 apr 2017
Members of the cult in Guatemala
An Israeli family court judge rules that Lev Tahor, currently located in the Guatemalan jungle, is a cult with children who are at-risk, including for being married as young as 15 to partners 20 years their elder.
An Israel court ruled Tuesday that the extremist ultra-Orthodox community Lev Tahor ("A Pure Heart"), which lives in a jungle in Guatemala and has many Israeli members, is a cult.
"It is sufficient for my ruling to consider the conduct of the community towards its children, in order to determine that this is an abusive cult that severely harms the bodies and souls of the children of the community," wrote Judge Rivka Makayes, vice president of the Family Court contained within the Central District Magistrate's Court. Makayes ruled in the petition filed by the attorney general and relatives of minors who are in the cult.
The judge further wrote, "The evidence presented to me, both in direct testimony and in indirect testimony, led me to the conclusion that the Lev Tahor community treats the children of the community, inter alia, with severe physical punishment, with underage marriage (from the age of 14 for boys and 15 for girls), with spouses who sometimes have age differences of up to 20 years.
"In addition, there is a punitive policy towards members of the community that includes the separation of children from their parents—even in infancy—and the transfer of children to be raised in another family; preventing formal education and isolation from the outside world and all external sources of information; intimidation and threats; exiling minors from the community who are disobedient to the community's authority and its leaders and emissaries alone are able to get by in the world; allegations of unique clothing; frequent migration from place to place, leaving overnight without any preparation, all in accordance with the decisions of the head of the community.
"Finally, it was proven that when the minors leave the community, they suffer from severe psychiatric problems for many years."
In Israel, it is estimated that the sect has between 50 and 60 families, including among them between 150 and 200 children. The cult wanders around the world and made headlines after a Quebec juvenile court ruled that some children should be removed from their parents' custody. The sect then moved to another province in Canada and then to Guatemala, where it settled in an isolated place in the jungle.
The attorney general asked the court to declare the children of ultra-Orthodox who want to join the sect as at-risk. A court order preventing the children's being removed from Israel, but their parents disappeared with them before the legal proceedings were finalized, and they apparently live today in the jungle.
Therefore, the ruling was given today in the presence of one party only. Despite this, the judge explained that the court's decision is important in helping to prevent other families from joining the cult and to use the full resources of the state to try to return the children of the community.
An Israeli family court judge rules that Lev Tahor, currently located in the Guatemalan jungle, is a cult with children who are at-risk, including for being married as young as 15 to partners 20 years their elder.
An Israel court ruled Tuesday that the extremist ultra-Orthodox community Lev Tahor ("A Pure Heart"), which lives in a jungle in Guatemala and has many Israeli members, is a cult.
"It is sufficient for my ruling to consider the conduct of the community towards its children, in order to determine that this is an abusive cult that severely harms the bodies and souls of the children of the community," wrote Judge Rivka Makayes, vice president of the Family Court contained within the Central District Magistrate's Court. Makayes ruled in the petition filed by the attorney general and relatives of minors who are in the cult.
The judge further wrote, "The evidence presented to me, both in direct testimony and in indirect testimony, led me to the conclusion that the Lev Tahor community treats the children of the community, inter alia, with severe physical punishment, with underage marriage (from the age of 14 for boys and 15 for girls), with spouses who sometimes have age differences of up to 20 years.
"In addition, there is a punitive policy towards members of the community that includes the separation of children from their parents—even in infancy—and the transfer of children to be raised in another family; preventing formal education and isolation from the outside world and all external sources of information; intimidation and threats; exiling minors from the community who are disobedient to the community's authority and its leaders and emissaries alone are able to get by in the world; allegations of unique clothing; frequent migration from place to place, leaving overnight without any preparation, all in accordance with the decisions of the head of the community.
"Finally, it was proven that when the minors leave the community, they suffer from severe psychiatric problems for many years."
In Israel, it is estimated that the sect has between 50 and 60 families, including among them between 150 and 200 children. The cult wanders around the world and made headlines after a Quebec juvenile court ruled that some children should be removed from their parents' custody. The sect then moved to another province in Canada and then to Guatemala, where it settled in an isolated place in the jungle.
The attorney general asked the court to declare the children of ultra-Orthodox who want to join the sect as at-risk. A court order preventing the children's being removed from Israel, but their parents disappeared with them before the legal proceedings were finalized, and they apparently live today in the jungle.
Therefore, the ruling was given today in the presence of one party only. Despite this, the judge explained that the court's decision is important in helping to prevent other families from joining the cult and to use the full resources of the state to try to return the children of the community.
24 apr 2017
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An Israeli policeman who cold-bloodedly killed a Palestinian child was acquitted on all charges by the Israeli Justice Ministry’s Police Investigations Department, the Israeli radio reported on Monday.
The Israeli policeman was charged with opening fire at two Palestinian minors—14-year-old Hadil Awad and her cousin Nourhan Awad, 15—one year and a half ago. The shooting attack claimed the life of Hadil and left her cousin wounded. The Israeli Investigations Department cleared the soldier of all the charges on claims that not enough evidence was on hand to indict him. |
In a live footage taken from the shooting scene, Hadil appears to be struggling for survival as she tried to defend herself against a horde of Israeli settlers using a scissor. An Israeli cop fatally shoot her on allegations that she attempted to carry out a stabbing attack.
20 apr 2017
Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman recently called for a policy of non-negotiation with Palestinian hunger strikers, following the steps of former British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher’s policy in dealing with Irish Catholic hunger strikers in 1981.
Avigdor Lieberman suggested to take the approach of Thatcher, who publicly refused to accede to the demands of IRA hunger strikers in 1981, 10 of whom died.
More than 1,000 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons launched a massive open-ended hunger strike on Monday, issuing a list of demands ranging from better medical services to telephone access.
Some 6,500 Palestinians are currently jailed by Israeli authorities. Of those, 62 are women and 300 are minors.
Some 500 are held under administrative detention, which allows for imprisonment without charge.
Palestinian prisoners have mounted repeated hunger strikes, but rarely on such a large scale.
Barghouti’s call for the strike has given it added credibility, with the 57-year-old serving five life sentences over his role in the second Palestinian intifada.
Born in Moldova, Avigdor Lieberman is one of the only foreign ministers in the world who does not live in territory officially recognized as his own country.
Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
Avigdor Lieberman suggested to take the approach of Thatcher, who publicly refused to accede to the demands of IRA hunger strikers in 1981, 10 of whom died.
More than 1,000 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons launched a massive open-ended hunger strike on Monday, issuing a list of demands ranging from better medical services to telephone access.
Some 6,500 Palestinians are currently jailed by Israeli authorities. Of those, 62 are women and 300 are minors.
Some 500 are held under administrative detention, which allows for imprisonment without charge.
Palestinian prisoners have mounted repeated hunger strikes, but rarely on such a large scale.
Barghouti’s call for the strike has given it added credibility, with the 57-year-old serving five life sentences over his role in the second Palestinian intifada.
Born in Moldova, Avigdor Lieberman is one of the only foreign ministers in the world who does not live in territory officially recognized as his own country.
Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
