30 apr 2014
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An Israeli soldier, who was suspended after being shown in a video clip cocking his gun and aiming at Palestinian teenagers, has received massive support online, media reported Wednesday.
Only hours after a Facebook page was created Tuesday in support of the elite Nahal infantry unit soldier identified only as David, it had clinched almost 60,000 likes. Breaking the Silence, a pacifist group of former Israeli soldiers, denounced that kind of support and said the "situation depicted in the video is far from unusual." A video posted on YouTube shows the young soldier raising his weapon after a verbal exchange with one of the teenagers, cocking it and aiming it at him. |
He then threatens to put a "bullet in the head" of a third man filming the event unless he stops.
Breaking the Silence said "the Nahal soldier's reaction is hardly extreme when compared with the day-to-day conduct of the IDF (Israeli army) in the (Palestinian) occupied territories".
Far-right Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett posted a statement of support for the soldier on his Facebook page, writing: "He was alone, surrounded by several violent and aggressive Arabs. He didn't shoot and defended himself and his surroundings adequately."
Hebron is a major site of tensions as a result of the presence of 500 Jewish settlers and thousands of Israeli soldiers, meaning that local Palestinian residents have to pass through checkpoints in order to move between neighborhoods in the Old City.
Some areas, like Shuhada Street, are almost completely shut to Palestinians while open to Jews, and thousands of Palestinians have left as a result of harassment and limitations imposed by Israeli authorities.
VIDEO: 15-year-old Palestinian Kidnapped by Israeli Forces
On Sunday, April 27, 2014, four Palestinian boys were detained in al-Khalil (Hebron), at checkpoint 55.
Three Youth Against Settlements (YAS) volunteers tried to document the incident after arriving on the scene.
During the filming, they were harassed by several settlers from nearby illegal settlements. This led to the YAS members being detained by Israeli forces for over one hour, according to a report by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Three of the boys were allowed to leave, while one was held back. One of the soldiers loaded his weapon with live ammo, threatening to shoot the 15-year old Palestinian, who still had no idea why he was being held.
The arrest was very violent, ISM reports, as the Palestinian boy was pushed and kicked several times.
Israeli police denied that the arrest was happening, after YAS activists called the District Coordination Officer (DCO) to inform them of the incident.
The boy was taken to a nearby police station, still unaware of the reasons for his "arrest"; his current situation is, at the time of this report, unknown.
Breaking the Silence said "the Nahal soldier's reaction is hardly extreme when compared with the day-to-day conduct of the IDF (Israeli army) in the (Palestinian) occupied territories".
Far-right Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett posted a statement of support for the soldier on his Facebook page, writing: "He was alone, surrounded by several violent and aggressive Arabs. He didn't shoot and defended himself and his surroundings adequately."
Hebron is a major site of tensions as a result of the presence of 500 Jewish settlers and thousands of Israeli soldiers, meaning that local Palestinian residents have to pass through checkpoints in order to move between neighborhoods in the Old City.
Some areas, like Shuhada Street, are almost completely shut to Palestinians while open to Jews, and thousands of Palestinians have left as a result of harassment and limitations imposed by Israeli authorities.
VIDEO: 15-year-old Palestinian Kidnapped by Israeli Forces
On Sunday, April 27, 2014, four Palestinian boys were detained in al-Khalil (Hebron), at checkpoint 55.
Three Youth Against Settlements (YAS) volunteers tried to document the incident after arriving on the scene.
During the filming, they were harassed by several settlers from nearby illegal settlements. This led to the YAS members being detained by Israeli forces for over one hour, according to a report by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Three of the boys were allowed to leave, while one was held back. One of the soldiers loaded his weapon with live ammo, threatening to shoot the 15-year old Palestinian, who still had no idea why he was being held.
The arrest was very violent, ISM reports, as the Palestinian boy was pushed and kicked several times.
Israeli police denied that the arrest was happening, after YAS activists called the District Coordination Officer (DCO) to inform them of the incident.
The boy was taken to a nearby police station, still unaware of the reasons for his "arrest"; his current situation is, at the time of this report, unknown.
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The Alternative Information Center reports that thousands of photos supporting the Israeli soldier, who is now currently being tried for aiming his weapon at the youth, were sent on Tuesday to the Israeli online media site 0404.
Many of the photos show Israeli soldiers holding signs stating "I also support the soldier". A dedicated Facebook page in support of the offending soldier was also established, and it enjoys over 39,000 likes within two days. It is reported that over 3,000 such photos were received on Tuesday alone. The harassment and detention of Palestinian children is common in Hebron. On Wednesday 23rd of April, Israeli Border Police detained a 6-year-old boy. Two days later, on April 25, the Hebron Christian Peacemakers Team documented Israeli soldiers detaining another boy, 8 years of age. In both cases, the children were held for approximately 20 minutes without their parents present. Such confinement, especially with children, is often used by the army as a method of information extraction and blackmail against family members and other relations. More than 800,000 Palestinians, including children, have been kidnapped and imprisoned by Israel since the 1967 occupation of Gaza and the West Bank -- illegal under international law -- while at least 5,000 Palestinians are currently held by Israel. |
Update: 17 june 2015 Israel promotes soldier who beat Palestinian children
29 apr 2014
Israeli extremists vowed death to Palestinian Christians if they do not depart from 1948 occupied Palestine within a week’s time. Palestinian sources in Nazareth city, north of 1948 occupied Palestine, said on Tuesday that Jewish extremists delivered a threatening message targeting Palestinian Christians and ordering them to leave the country within the prescribed deadline.
The sources said that an Israeli extremist delivered the threatening letter at the home of a Christian bishop in Nazareth last night targeting the bishop and all other Christians.
The lady, who received the letter, said that it was addressed to Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Patriarchal Vicar General in the country, and read verbatim as follows: “You still have time to get out of the land of "Israel" before it is too late!”
“Adherents of the Christian religious faith, from top to bottom, have until 05 May 2014 to leave the country. The deadline is non-negotiable and every single hour of delay will cost you the lives of 100 Christians,” the letter scrawls. It singled out, however, the followers of the Protestant and Anglican churches.
Israeli police claimed they had arrested an extremist Jewish settler, in his 40s, from Safed and averred investigations are going on with the suspect, who was described as one among a group of settlers that sent the letter.
The sources said that an Israeli extremist delivered the threatening letter at the home of a Christian bishop in Nazareth last night targeting the bishop and all other Christians.
The lady, who received the letter, said that it was addressed to Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Patriarchal Vicar General in the country, and read verbatim as follows: “You still have time to get out of the land of "Israel" before it is too late!”
“Adherents of the Christian religious faith, from top to bottom, have until 05 May 2014 to leave the country. The deadline is non-negotiable and every single hour of delay will cost you the lives of 100 Christians,” the letter scrawls. It singled out, however, the followers of the Protestant and Anglican churches.
Israeli police claimed they had arrested an extremist Jewish settler, in his 40s, from Safed and averred investigations are going on with the suspect, who was described as one among a group of settlers that sent the letter.
27 apr 2014
A replica of the "Second Temple," erected by Jewish group Aish HaTorah near the Al-Aqsa compound
Israeli police detained two Jewish teenagers recently after they posted an inflammatory sign on a gate of the al-Aqsa mosque compound, Israeli police said.
A statement by Arabic-language Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that the suspects posted an inflammatory sign on one of the main gates of the al-Aqsa mosque compound urging Muslims to evacuate the Al-Aqsa mosque so that Jews can build a Jewish temple in its place.
Al-Samri added that the suspects would be referred to prosecution for legal procedures as a result of the act.
One of the suspects is 18 years old while the other is a minor, according to the statement.
When the two were arrested, police found more fliers similar in their content on their persons.
The Al-Aqsa compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the biblical First and Second Temples once stood.
The Second Temple is believed to have been destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, and some right-wing Jewish groups call for the destruction of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the erection of a "Third Temple" in its place.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Israeli police detained two Jewish teenagers recently after they posted an inflammatory sign on a gate of the al-Aqsa mosque compound, Israeli police said.
A statement by Arabic-language Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that the suspects posted an inflammatory sign on one of the main gates of the al-Aqsa mosque compound urging Muslims to evacuate the Al-Aqsa mosque so that Jews can build a Jewish temple in its place.
Al-Samri added that the suspects would be referred to prosecution for legal procedures as a result of the act.
One of the suspects is 18 years old while the other is a minor, according to the statement.
When the two were arrested, police found more fliers similar in their content on their persons.
The Al-Aqsa compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the biblical First and Second Temples once stood.
The Second Temple is believed to have been destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, and some right-wing Jewish groups call for the destruction of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the erection of a "Third Temple" in its place.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
24 apr 2014
Ilan Shmuel in court
Attorney says client admits 'some allegations'; victims may include family members
A driver for the Prime Minister's Office was arrested in Jerusalem, three weeks ago, on suspicion of serially raping young girls between the ages of 8 and 12, it emerged Thursday.
Ilan Shmuel, 52, from Moshav Zekharia, near Beit Shemesh, has had 12 complaints made against him, the police said. He is suspected of raping members of his own family over a period of many years, Israeli daily Ynet has reported.
A gag order had been placed on the name of the suspect Wednesday, Ynet went on to say, but police asked Thursday for his name to published, in the hope of encouraging any additional victims to come forward. Police also said Shmuel had admitted some but not all of the charges against him.
"The serious allegations are being investigated by police as we speak," Levy said, adding that Shmuel denies "the majority of the offenses, admits to some of the allegations and regrets them."
Attorney says client admits 'some allegations'; victims may include family members
A driver for the Prime Minister's Office was arrested in Jerusalem, three weeks ago, on suspicion of serially raping young girls between the ages of 8 and 12, it emerged Thursday.
Ilan Shmuel, 52, from Moshav Zekharia, near Beit Shemesh, has had 12 complaints made against him, the police said. He is suspected of raping members of his own family over a period of many years, Israeli daily Ynet has reported.
A gag order had been placed on the name of the suspect Wednesday, Ynet went on to say, but police asked Thursday for his name to published, in the hope of encouraging any additional victims to come forward. Police also said Shmuel had admitted some but not all of the charges against him.
"The serious allegations are being investigated by police as we speak," Levy said, adding that Shmuel denies "the majority of the offenses, admits to some of the allegations and regrets them."
23 apr 2014
A group of settlers from the "Price Tag" group on Wednesday desecrated a Muslim cemetery near the al-Aqsa Mosque and wrote "price tag "on its walls.
Israeli Police claimed that three Israeli teenage girls were arrested and detained at al-Qashla interrogation center in the Old City of Jerusalem to be brought in front of a judge at the Jerusalem Magistrate's court later.
Israeli Police claimed that three Israeli teenage girls were arrested and detained at al-Qashla interrogation center in the Old City of Jerusalem to be brought in front of a judge at the Jerusalem Magistrate's court later.
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
11 apr 2014
Orthodox Jews arrested in Israel anti-conscription protest
Israeli police arrested five ultra-Orthodox Jews who threw stones at them during a Jerusalem protest Thursday against a new law making men in their community subject to compulsory national service.
"Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in (the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of) Mea Sharim, stopped traffic and threw stones and bottles at police," Micky Rosenfeld said, adding that five of them were arrested.
The demonstration came a month after parliament adopted a law that will compel ultra-Orthodox Jews to either serve in the military or perform civilian service.
Last year, the cabinet agreed to end a practice under which tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men were exempted from military service if they were in full-time study at a yeshiva (Jewish seminary).
The new law, which will take effect in 2017, stipulates that ultra-Orthodox men must either join the army or perform civilian service.
In broader Israeli society, military service is compulsory for both sexes, with men serving three years and women two.
The new law sets out sanctions against draft dodgers -- including imprisonment. That has enraged the ultra-Orthodox leadership, who say it would be tantamount to jailing people for practicing their faith.
In March, more than 300,000 ultra-Orthodox took to the streets of Jerusalem in a mass prayer vigil to protest against the impending legislation.
The new law is seen by many Israelis as amending the historic injustice of an exemption handed to the ultra-Orthodox in 1948, when Israel was created. At that time they were a small segment of society.
Because of high birth rates, the community has since swelled to make up roughly 10 percent of the country's population of just over eight million, and continues to be the fastest-growing sector in Israel.
And many full-time yeshiva students live off government stipends, which are provided for several years after the age of 18.
Israeli police arrested five ultra-Orthodox Jews who threw stones at them during a Jerusalem protest Thursday against a new law making men in their community subject to compulsory national service.
"Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in (the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of) Mea Sharim, stopped traffic and threw stones and bottles at police," Micky Rosenfeld said, adding that five of them were arrested.
The demonstration came a month after parliament adopted a law that will compel ultra-Orthodox Jews to either serve in the military or perform civilian service.
Last year, the cabinet agreed to end a practice under which tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men were exempted from military service if they were in full-time study at a yeshiva (Jewish seminary).
The new law, which will take effect in 2017, stipulates that ultra-Orthodox men must either join the army or perform civilian service.
In broader Israeli society, military service is compulsory for both sexes, with men serving three years and women two.
The new law sets out sanctions against draft dodgers -- including imprisonment. That has enraged the ultra-Orthodox leadership, who say it would be tantamount to jailing people for practicing their faith.
In March, more than 300,000 ultra-Orthodox took to the streets of Jerusalem in a mass prayer vigil to protest against the impending legislation.
The new law is seen by many Israelis as amending the historic injustice of an exemption handed to the ultra-Orthodox in 1948, when Israel was created. At that time they were a small segment of society.
Because of high birth rates, the community has since swelled to make up roughly 10 percent of the country's population of just over eight million, and continues to be the fastest-growing sector in Israel.
And many full-time yeshiva students live off government stipends, which are provided for several years after the age of 18.
One of the seven Israeli West Bank settlers from Yitzhar is brought in handcuffs to the Jerusalem Magistrates court on April 10, 2014 after they were arrested on suspicion of demolishing a military base in an extremist settlement in the West Bank
Israeli police said Thursday they arrested five people suspected of demolishing a military base in an extremist settlement in the West Bank, the latest attack against security forces by hardliners.
The males, aged 16-29, were arrested for involvement in Tuesday's vandalism in the northern West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Another three suspects were in custody, two for the same attack and a third for throwing stones at soldiers patrolling the settlement, Rosenfeld said.
On Sunday, the tires of a vehicle belonging to a military commander visiting Yitzhar were slashed.
The following night, stone-throwing settlers injured six border guards as soldiers helped demolish a wildcat settlement outpost nearby.
That prompted Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to warn that any further violence against security personnel would be dealt with severely.
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged a "strong response to these... acts of hooliganism."
Former chiefs of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service said the attacks should be dealt with severely.
"The things that are happening in Yitzhar truly are Jewish terrorism," Avraham Shalom, director from 1980 to 1986, told Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper.
Avi Dichter, Shin Bet head from 2000 to 2005, said "they didn't kill the soldiers and they didn't take them hostage, but they did precisely what terrorists do: they took the law into their own hands ... and hurt people in order to coerce the state into acquiescing to their demands."
Meanwhile, the army said Thursday it would not allow a march to the site of an evacuated settlement that had been planned for next week.
"Following an assessment of (army's) ability to allocate the required forces necessary to provide security, the decision was made not to approve the march to Homesh," a statement said.
But settlers accused the army of punishing Yitzhar residents for the actions of a few wayward individuals.
"The army told us it was cancelling Homesh following the Yitzhar incidents," a spokeswoman for the Samaria regional council, which covers northern West Bank settlements including Yitzhar, told AFP.
"It is inconceivable that the Samaria council and the entire settler populace has to pay a price over the deeds of a few outlaws, who should be arrested by police."
The northern West Bank settlement of Homesh was built on land confiscated from Palestinians in 1978, and cleared of settlers in 2005. The military said in September the land was due to be returned to its Palestinian owners in the village of Burka.
Israeli police said Thursday they arrested five people suspected of demolishing a military base in an extremist settlement in the West Bank, the latest attack against security forces by hardliners.
The males, aged 16-29, were arrested for involvement in Tuesday's vandalism in the northern West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Another three suspects were in custody, two for the same attack and a third for throwing stones at soldiers patrolling the settlement, Rosenfeld said.
On Sunday, the tires of a vehicle belonging to a military commander visiting Yitzhar were slashed.
The following night, stone-throwing settlers injured six border guards as soldiers helped demolish a wildcat settlement outpost nearby.
That prompted Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to warn that any further violence against security personnel would be dealt with severely.
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged a "strong response to these... acts of hooliganism."
Former chiefs of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service said the attacks should be dealt with severely.
"The things that are happening in Yitzhar truly are Jewish terrorism," Avraham Shalom, director from 1980 to 1986, told Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper.
Avi Dichter, Shin Bet head from 2000 to 2005, said "they didn't kill the soldiers and they didn't take them hostage, but they did precisely what terrorists do: they took the law into their own hands ... and hurt people in order to coerce the state into acquiescing to their demands."
Meanwhile, the army said Thursday it would not allow a march to the site of an evacuated settlement that had been planned for next week.
"Following an assessment of (army's) ability to allocate the required forces necessary to provide security, the decision was made not to approve the march to Homesh," a statement said.
But settlers accused the army of punishing Yitzhar residents for the actions of a few wayward individuals.
"The army told us it was cancelling Homesh following the Yitzhar incidents," a spokeswoman for the Samaria regional council, which covers northern West Bank settlements including Yitzhar, told AFP.
"It is inconceivable that the Samaria council and the entire settler populace has to pay a price over the deeds of a few outlaws, who should be arrested by police."
The northern West Bank settlement of Homesh was built on land confiscated from Palestinians in 1978, and cleared of settlers in 2005. The military said in September the land was due to be returned to its Palestinian owners in the village of Burka.
1 apr 2014
Israeli police in Jerusalem detained a Jewish man last week on suspicion of raping a Palestinian woman in Jerusalem, a police spokesperson said.
Luba al-Samri, Israeli police spokesperson for Arabic media, said in a statement that a 40-year-old man was detained last Thursday.
The victim told police that she met the suspect in the Armon HaNetziv neighborhood in southern Jerusalem after responding to an advert about renting an apartment.
Upon arrival at a bakery in the neighborhood, the man led her to a stockroom where he raped her.
The suspect forced the woman to record on videotape that they were having consensual sex.
The woman immediately went to a hospital following the assault and reported the attack to Israeli police.
Police said that the man is suspected of having committed several similar attacks in the past.
Luba al-Samri, Israeli police spokesperson for Arabic media, said in a statement that a 40-year-old man was detained last Thursday.
The victim told police that she met the suspect in the Armon HaNetziv neighborhood in southern Jerusalem after responding to an advert about renting an apartment.
Upon arrival at a bakery in the neighborhood, the man led her to a stockroom where he raped her.
The suspect forced the woman to record on videotape that they were having consensual sex.
The woman immediately went to a hospital following the assault and reported the attack to Israeli police.
Police said that the man is suspected of having committed several similar attacks in the past.
24 mar 2014
Silvan Shalom named as minister accused of committing sexual offences
Senior minister accused of sexual offenses
Silvan Shalom named as minister accused of committing sexual offences
Senior minister accused of sexual offenses
23 mar 2014
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A right-wing Jewish Israeli on Sunday took photos of the Al-Aqsa Mosque using a small drone with cameras that he flew from the cemetery near the Golden Gate.
Eyewitnesses told Ma'an that the man focused the drone's camera on the Dome of the Rock. They added that they saw the man directing his drone and cameras remotely, from just outside the Old City near the Al-Aqsa compound. After the guards of Al-Aqsa noticed the drone, they called Israeli police who arrived and detained the settler. |
Director of the Jerusalem office of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment Sheikh Azzam al-Kahtib called upon Israeli police to immediately investigate the incident as such behavior, he said, poses real threats to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Some right-wing Jewish groups call for the destruction of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the construction of a Jewish temple there, and recent calls for the extension of Israel sovereignty over the compound -- which is maintained by an Islamic trust under Jordanian oversight -- have inflamed tensions.
The Al-Aqsa compound sits just above the Western Wall plaza and houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque, and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Some right-wing Jewish groups call for the destruction of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the construction of a Jewish temple there, and recent calls for the extension of Israel sovereignty over the compound -- which is maintained by an Islamic trust under Jordanian oversight -- have inflamed tensions.
The Al-Aqsa compound sits just above the Western Wall plaza and houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque, and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
