ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 26 Jul 2023 9:11 am - Jerusalem Time

A federal judge invalidates restrictions imposed by the Biden administration on immigrant asylum seekers

A federal judge on Tuesday issued a ruling invalidating the asylum policy imposed by President Joe Biden's administration more than two months ago, rejecting the principle adopted by this administration to stem the flow of migrants across the southern border.


Judge John Tygar of the San Francisco Federal Court ruled that the policy of forcing immigrants to apply for asylum from their countries of origin or countries of transit in order to gain admission to the United States was "unlawful".


More than two months ago, the Biden administration imposed a policy that punishes immigrants who cross the border illegally by rejecting their asylum applications, while accepting applications for those who receive asylum appointments before entering US territory.


This judicial decision may force the US government to accept asylum requests from immigrants who have entered US territory, leading to a new wave of immigrants from Mexico after a decline in the past two months.


But Judge Tygar suspended his ruling for 14 days to give the Biden administration time to appeal it.


And the Ministry of Justice announced that it will appeal the verdict, which it deems contrary to its convictions, indicating that it will, in the meantime, seek to postpone the implementation of Tygar's decision for as long as possible.


The department said in a statement that the rules introduced by the Biden administration in May are "a legal exercise of the broad authority conferred upon it by immigration law."


The ruling in a case brought by immigrant advocacy groups came immediately after the Biden administration announced on May 16 new measures aimed at stemming the flow of about 200,000 migrants across the southern border each month.


The organizations said Biden's policy presumes that migrants are not eligible to seek asylum directly at the border.

PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 9:09 am - Jerusalem Time

An American organization opposes Israel's entry into the US Visa Waiver Program

Americans for Justice in Palestine (AJP Action) has called for Israel to be denied entry to the US Visa Waiver Program.


The organization said that Israel does not meet the eligibility criteria for the visa program as a result of its continued systematic discrimination against US citizens and Palestinians, and in light of the restrictions on travel of Palestinian Americans to Gaza.


The organization believes that the escalation of protests and conflicts in Israel and the increase in international scrutiny of the authoritarian policies of the occupation government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, requires a re-evaluation of the negotiating conditions for Israel's entry into the visa waiver program, and discrimination against American citizens should never be tolerated, especially in the context of a program based on Principles of mutual respect and equality.


The organization declared its solidarity with individuals who face such unfair treatment by the occupation authorities, its opposition to entering Israel into the visa waiver program, and delivering a message to the Biden administration that partial solutions to systemic discrimination in Israel are not sufficient, as the time has come for full accountability.

PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 8:52 am - Jerusalem Time

Palestinian man dies after Israeli forces delay ambulance at checkpoint

A Palestinian man died on Tuesday night after Israeli forces delayed an ambulance transferring him to a new hospital through a checkpoint in occupied Jerusalem.


According to the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli occupation forces at az-Za'ayyem checkpoint impeded the transfer of Munadel Ahmed Jabareen from Al Makassed's center in Abu Dis to the Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem for more than half an hour. Jabareen, already in a critical condition, died after he was unable to receive first aid. 


The governorate said that Jabareen suffered from a chronic heart conditions and had undergone several operations in the past. At the checkpoint,the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance could not persuade occupation soldiers to allow him to enter.


On their part, Israeli soldiers claimed that the trip was "not coordinated" with the authorities.


PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 8:36 am - Jerusalem Time

Iran, Hamas officials discuss Israel's internal crisis in meeting

An Iranian diplomat revealed on Wednesday that the Israel's rift over the judicial overhaul was discussed during a meeting between senior officials from Iran and Hamas.


Reuters quoted the diplomatic source as saying that the meeting was held last week and lasted for three hours, and was attended by a senior commander in the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, two Iranian security officials, and senior Hamas officials.


The group decided to refrain from taking action against Israel at the present time, an Iranian diplomat told Reuters. They agreed that direct conflict could play into the hands of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.


A Hamas leader refused to comment on the reports, but said that there are ongoing talks with Iran as to how to bolster the resistance.


Hezbollah is also following the developments, which have been discussed at the highest levels. An official in Lebanon said that the group believes that it can develop and can benefit from this situation in the future.







PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 8:30 am - Jerusalem Time

Israeli security sources believe next Jenin invasion is 'inevitable'

Israeli security establishment officials said on Wednesday  that a new military operation in the Jenin refugee camp is "inevitable," but that the scale will likely be smaller than the invasion at the start of this month. 


Quoting security sources, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that such an operation will last "a few hours," and will primarily aim to thwart the infrastructure of the armed cells.


The Israeli security establishment concedes that militants in the refugee camp have already began to restore their capacities, including gathering ammunition and producing explosive devices.


According to the newspaper, the Palestinian Authority's attempts to control the situation in Jenin and the refugee camp have not been enough, and Israel feels it cannot rely on them to quell the situation. The sources also emphasized that Israel is wary of undermining the PA further.


"Terrorism  cannot be thwarted in one operation," the source said, adding that incursions must occur "from time to time."

PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 8:21 am - Jerusalem Time

A young man was killed in a shooting crime inside the occupied

A Palestinian youth was killed, at dawn on Tuesday, as a result of a shooting crime that took place in the town of Tamra, inside the occupied territories.


According to the Hebrew website Ynet, Ashraf Akkawi, 35, a resident of the town, was seriously injured and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


The young man was sitting in the yard of his house when he was shot.


This brings the death toll to 135 since the beginning of the year, which is a record and much higher than the record of the whole of last year, which reached 111.



PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 8:16 am - Jerusalem Time

Gaza: the death of a child in mysterious circumstances

Last night, a child died in mysterious circumstances in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.


According to local sources, the 12-year-old child (M.Q) arrived at Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, in critical condition, and soon after, his death was announced.


PALESTINE

Wed 26 Jul 2023 8:09 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation launches a massive campaign of arrests in the West Bank

The Israeli occupation forces launched, at dawn and Wednesday morning, a massive campaign of arrests among citizens in separate areas of the West Bank.


According to local sources, these forces carried out large-scale incursions into areas of Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus, Tammun, Salfit, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorates, and other areas.


In Jenin, the occupation forces arrested Muhammad Yasser Abu Shadouf, his two brothers Qadri and Rayhan, Ahmed Sabah, and Firas Obeidi, all of them from the town of Burqin, while Muhammad Hamarsheh was arrested from the town of Ya`bad, and Khaled Al-Jabari from Al-Yamoun.


These towns witnessed shooting operations against the occupation forces.


In Tammun, the occupation forces arrested a group of citizens, including Sami Khaled Bani Odeh, Hani Bani Odeh, Mustafa Bani Odeh, Raiq Bisharat, Ayman Bisharat, Muhammad Bisharat, Harith Bani Odeh.


In Tulkarm, the young man, Zahi Hamad, was arrested after storming his family's house in the town of Sidon.


In Nablus, Moath Salameh was arrested after his house was raided.


In Salfit, the two young men, Malik Musa Rayan and Nael Bahaa Rayan, were arrested after storming their homes in the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan.


In the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate, the two brothers, Qassam and Muhammad Abed, were arrested after storming their homes in Al-Bireh, while the young Suhaib Rummana was arrested from the industrial area of ​​the same city.


In Hebron, the editor, Hazem Al-Sharawneh, was arrested after his house was raided in Dura, south of Hebron.


In Bethlehem, the boy Saif Darwish and the young man Ibrahim Alyan were arrested after their homes were raided in Aida camp, and the young man Amir Taqatqa and the editor Qusai Diriyeh were arrested after their homes were stormed in the town of Beit Fajjar.

ARAB AND WORLD

Tue 25 Jul 2023 10:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Extinguishing the majority of fires in Algeria and continuing 11

After destroying a large number of homes and shops, firefighters are still struggling Tuesday to put out the violent fires that struck northern and eastern Algeria, killing at least 34 people, including ten soldiers, since Sunday.


And a statement by the Ministry of Interior, Local Communities and Urban Planning said, "The civil protection interests succeeded in extinguishing most of the fires by 80 percent, after mobilizing without interruption throughout last night, strengthening field operations by land with human resources and equipment, and collaborating capabilities between the states."


The Civil Protection said in the afternoon that 11 fires were still burning in seven states in the north and east of the country.


Every summer, northern and eastern Algeria witnesses forest fires and agricultural lands, a phenomenon that worsens from year to year due to the impact of climate change that leads to droughts and heat waves.


In neighboring Tunisia, serious fires broke out in Tabarka, a border in the northwest, on Monday, in an area devastated by fire the previous week.


An AFP team was able to monitor significant damage and follow the intervention of helicopters and water bombers.


In Toga, in the northeast of the country, where 16 people died, the fire was almost completely contained, although some foci continued to burn, according to an AFP correspondent.


Since Sunday, about 100 fires have broken out in more than 15 governorates in Algeria, especially in Bouira, Jijel and Bejaia, areas that have already been affected in the past two years by serious fires that have killed about 130 people.


The Ministry of Defense said that the ten soldiers who died as a result of the fires were surrounded by fire while they were being evacuated from Bani Ksila in the Bejaia region, accompanied by residents of nearby villages.


The fires also injured more than 80 people, including 25 soldiers, in the Bejaia region, according to the local "Suman" radio.


The situation called for the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from some villages, as the fires approached their homes. The fires also destroyed seaside resorts that are popular tourist destinations in the summer.


The affected villages, many of which are located in the mountainous Kabylia region, are surrounded by dense forests and have been exposed to a severe heat wave for weeks, which recorded 48 degrees Celsius on Monday.


The heat wave dried up vegetation and made it more vulnerable to fires, which were fanned by high winds.


"I have nowhere to go. The fire destroyed my house and my son's house completely," said a woman in her seventies, crying on an Amazigh TV channel, after she lost her daughter-in-law and her granddaughter, in Ait Ousaleh, near Bejaia.


Footage released by local media showed fields and land on fire, charred cars and burnt storefronts. Witnesses told how the flames suddenly broke out.


In August 2022, massive fires claimed 37 lives in El Tarf Province, in northeastern Algeria. But the summer of 2021 recorded the largest death toll in decades when more than 90 people died in the fires that devastated the north, especially the Kabylie region.


On Monday, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent his condolences to the families of the victims.


The authorities said that more than 8,000 civil protection personnel and 525 trucks of various sizes intervened to fight the fire, along with firefighting planes and helicopters that had been rented recently, in addition to a high-capacity launcher to throw water on the fires.


The Ministry of the Interior called on citizens to "avoid the affected areas and use the toll-free numbers available to report" the fires.


The Public Prosecutor in Bejaia ordered the opening of preliminary investigations to determine the causes of the fires and to identify the perpetrators.


To avoid repeating the scenario of 2021 and 2022, the authorities worked to mobilize their resources with the approach of summer.


At the end of April, President Tebboune ordered the purchase of six medium-sized water bombers and the submission of requests for proposals to startups to provide drones used to monitor forest cover.


Then, in May, the Ministry of the Interior announced the imminent acquisition of a water bomber plane, the leasing of six more planes from a South American company with its technical teams, and announcing the request for offers to purchase six medium-sized water bombers.


The authorities have also prepared helicopter landing sites in ten states.


Algeria also placed an order to Russia for the purchase of four water bombers, but their delivery was delayed due to "the repercussions of the crisis in Ukraine."

ARAB AND WORLD

Tue 25 Jul 2023 10:15 pm - Jerusalem Time

Al-Assad accuses Washington and the West of "fabricating a global political and economic crisis" to undermine Russia's standing

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused today (Tuesday) the United States of America and the West of "fabricating a global political and economic crisis" to undermine Russia's position and international presence, according to the Syrian official media.


The official Syrian News Agency (SANA) quoted President al-Assad as saying, during a meeting with the special envoy of Russian President Alexander Lavrentiev, that America and the West fabricated a global political and economic crisis, and caused a state of global instability with the aim of undermining Russia's standing and international presence, and they used Ukraine as a tool for this purpose.


He continued, "The effects of this crisis are deepening in their countries (America and the West) in terms of living, social and economic life."


Al-Assad affirmed, "Russia's steadfastness in its stances towards the West and America is one of the most important factors heralding the birth of a multipolar world, which all countries and peoples that adhere to international law and defend their sovereignty, independence of decision, and national interests aspire to."


During the meeting, they discussed the file of the return of Syrian refugees and the steps taken in this field, in addition to ideas and proposals that are being discussed at the Arab and international levels to solve this file, according to the agency.


Lavrentiev conveyed to President al-Assad the greetings of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressing Russia's continued support for Syria to enhance the security and stability of the Syrian people, as well as cooperation between the two countries to secure a decent return for Syrian refugees.


The Russian official stressed that Russia and Syria adhere to the humanitarian dimension of the Syrian refugee file, and categorically reject all attempts to politicize it.


The agency stated that the meeting also dealt with "Turkish intransigence in the issue of withdrawal from Syrian territory, and cross-border humanitarian aid for Syrian civilians living in areas controlled by terrorist organizations, in accordance with the rules of sovereignty and international humanitarian law."


Lavrentiev arrived in Syria earlier today for talks with Syrian officials.
Russia is Syria's main international ally in the bloody conflict that has been taking place in the country since March 2011.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 9:56 pm - Jerusalem Time

A young man died of his wounds in a shooting crime inside the occupied territories

Hussein Abbas (25 years), died on Tuesday evening, of his wounds, in a shooting crime in the town of Kafr Kanna in the occupied Lower Galilee.


According to the Israeli Arabic-speaking Makan Radio, Abbas was shot last Saturday, as a result of being shot, and his condition was described as critical.


He was in the hospital until his death was announced this evening.

ARAB AND WORLD

Tue 25 Jul 2023 9:53 pm - Jerusalem Time

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrives in North Korea

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in North Korea on Tuesday to attend celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice in the inter-Korean war, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.


"The Russian military delegation, headed by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General Sergei Shoigu, has arrived in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," specifically in Pyongyang, adding that North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam was receiving his counterpart at the airport.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 6:49 pm - Jerusalem Time

Palestinian President Abbas meets Erdogan in Turkey

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.


Abbas briefed the Turkish president about the ongoing Israeli attacks against Palestinians, the acceleration of settlement expansion in the West Bank, and the desecration of Islamic and Christian sites, and the foreclosure of a political solution to the conflict. He also thanked Erdogan for his support of Palestinians, including backing the Palestinian cause in international forums and providing aid to the Palestinian people.


In turn, the Turkish president affirmed the right of the Palestinian people to freedom and the establishment of state on their own soil. 


They also discussed the bilateral ties between the countries, as well as other international issues of common concern.


President Erdogan had received President Mahmoud Abbas with an official ceremony in the Turkish capital, Ankara, that included a gun salute.


Following the meeting between the two leaders, a broader meeting with be held with the rest of the delegation, including  Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Muhammad Mustafa, head of the General Intelligence Service Major General Majid Faraj, Chief Justice of Palestine, Advisor to the President for Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habash, Advisor to the Diplomatic President Majdi Al-Khalidi, and Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Faed Mustafa.


PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 6:19 pm - Jerusalem Time

Major U.S. academic association votes to boycott Israel

The American Anthropological Association (AAA) voted to boycott Israeli academia over its complicity with human rights abuses against Palestinians on Monday, in a major victory for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. 


The motion slammed Israeli "apartheid" and was passed by a majority of 71% of the votes.


The decision prevents any member of the association from dealing with Israeli academic institutions, or participating in its conferences or using its facilities. It does not, however, extend to bans on individual academics.




PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 6:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

Israeli FM accuses Jordan of impeding Jewish tourism to Kingdom

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen accused Jordan of impeding the travel of Israelis to the Kingdom on Tuesday by confiscating religious Jewish apparel. 


Slamming the "unacceptable" measures, he said that Jordan had prevented Israelis from bringing items related to Jewish faith, such as religious books, teffilin and kippot.


He said that his ministry is working with the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv, as well as with the relevant authorities in Amman, to resolve the issue. 


Cohen said the crisis must be solved quickly with "thousands" of Israelis wishing to visit Jordan each year. He also emphasized the importance of peaceful relations between Jordan and Israel.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 3:18 pm - Jerusalem Time

Shtayyeh: We want the Cairo meeting to succeed, and we will work to achieve its outputs

Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said today, Tuesday, "President Mahmoud Abbas, and we with him, want success for the Cairo meeting, and we are working towards that, and we are committed to achieving its outputs."


This came during his meeting with the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the State of Palestine, Ihab Suleiman, where they discussed with him the political and field developments in the Palestinian arena, in light of the continued aggression of the occupation against the Palestinian people.


Shtayyeh stressed the role of the brotherly Arab Republic of Egypt in supporting the rights and interests of the Palestinian people, especially efforts to achieve national unity, through Cairo hosting the meeting of the general secretaries of the Palestinian factions to reach a comprehensive national vision and strengthen the Palestinian ranks.


The meeting dealt with following up the results of the visit of the Prime Minister and a ministerial delegation to Cairo, especially the deepening of trade relations and the development of relations with the private sector, in addition to the opening of Azhar institutes in Palestine, and the visit of a delegation of Egyptian businessmen to Palestine to view investment opportunities.


For his part, Ambassador Suleiman affirmed Egypt's readiness to provide all forms of support and aid to the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people, to help them achieve their legitimate rights, in accordance with international resolutions and international law.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 1:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

From "Al-Qassam" .. "Hamas" mourns the martyrs of Nablus

Today, Tuesday, the "Hamas" movement mourned the three martyrs of Nablus, who were killed by the Israeli occupation bullets in Nablus.


Hamas described its three martyrs as "Qassamin" Saad Maher al-Kharraz (43 years), Montaser Bahjat Salameh (33 years), Noureddine Tayseer al-Arda (32 years).


"Hamas" called on our people to mobilize to repel the occupation's aggression, and to prepare to confront the settlement march in Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 12:49 pm - Jerusalem Time

Israel arrests Palestinian minister Shaaban in Salfit raid

Israeli occupation forces arrested the head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Minister Moayad Shaaban, in the village of Deir Istiya, west of Salfit.


According to local sources, Israeli forces arrested Minister Shaaban while he was participating in the march against the appropriation of the town's lands. 


At the march, Israeli occupation soldiers fired tear gas canisters at the participants, assaulted the press crews, and prevented them from covering the incident.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 12:35 pm - Jerusalem Time

Sources to Al-Quds: Abbas, Haniyeh to meet in Turkey

Palestinian sources confirmed on Tuesday that a meeting will likely be held between President Mahmoud Abbas and the leader of the Hamas movement Ismail Haniyeh in Turkey.


Sources close to the Palestinian presidency told Al-Quds that President Abbas agreed to a request from the Hamas leadership to hold the meeting, and the agreement was mediated by several other parties.


Abbas is currently on a three-day visit to Ankara, where he will meet with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. Hamas' leadership splits its time between Turkey, Qatar and Lebanon. 


According to the sources, the request from the Hamas leadership was mediated by several parties and was approved by President Abbas.


The sources indicated that the meeting will be attended by Haniyeh, his deputy Saleh Al-Arouri, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook and Husam Badran, members of the Hamas political bureau.


If the meeting goes ahead, the meeting will discuss topics in preparation for the general secretaries meeting in Cairo at the end of this month.


PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 11:09 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation causes 3 children to lose their eyes since the beginning of this year

Since the beginning of this year, Defense for Children International has documented three Palestinian children who were deliberately targeted by the occupation, who caused them to lose their eyes.


In a statement, the World Movement referred to the case of the child Khaled Malalha (5 years) from Bazariya village in Nablus governorate, who lost sight in his left eye as a result of being shot by the occupation.


An eyewitness told the World Movement that the occupation soldiers fired bullets at the vehicle in which the child Malha was traveling with his father on the 23rd of last June, while they were at the village crossroads, where clashes were taking place at around 6:00 pm that day.


The eyewitness added that the distance between the occupation soldiers and the vehicle at the time of the shooting was about 200 meters, confirming that the vehicle was parked, noting that the live bullet hit stones near the vehicle before its fragments scattered and one of them hit the left eye of the child, Malha.


The child Malhaha was immediately transferred to a hospital in Nablus by an ambulance that was present at the place, and there it was found, after examinations and photographs, that the left eye of the child was severely damaged and he would not be able to see in it again.


As for the child Omar Assi (16 years), from the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan, west of Salfit, he was injured by shrapnel from a sound bomb fired at him by the Israeli occupation soldiers, on the twenty-fourth of last April, during clashes that broke out in the town. As a result, he lost sight of his right eye, while his left eye was severely damaged.


The child, Asi, told the World Movement that the clashes broke out that day after the occupation forces stormed the town, amid live bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas. He added that while he was sheltering with a number of citizens in a school, the occupation soldiers surrounded them and fired gas and stun grenades at them, and a stun grenade exploded directly in his face.


He continued: "I felt severe pain in my face, and I no longer saw in my eyes at all, and I also felt that blood was pouring from my face, so a number of those present carried me and walked me about 100 meters until we moved away from the soldiers, and then they took me in a private vehicle to the entrance of the town, and from there by an ambulance to a hospital in Nablus."


The child, Asi, said: "In the hospital, it was found that there was severe bleeding in my right eye with some shrapnel, as well as in my left eye, but to a lesser extent. I underwent surgery to stop the bleeding in my right eye and close it so that it does not become inflamed more, and currently I do not see at all in it, but in my left eye I see in it very lightly."


The "global movement" returned and mentioned the case of the child Ashraf Mahmoud Farahti (16 years) from the city of Jenin, who was shot by the occupation forces during their storming of Abu Bakr Street in the city center at rush hour, on the sixteenth of last March (2023).


The child, Farahti, was wounded in his right eye while he was hiding behind a Palestinian vehicle at the scene of the accident. Shrapnel from the bullet lodged in his brain stem. Because of the seriousness of his health condition, he was taken to a hospital in Ramallah, where he stayed for 65 days, including 20 days in intensive care, during which medical staff were unable to surgically remove the shrapnel due to the dangerous location.


After that, Farahati was transferred to the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, due to his complete loss of movement, while he was being fed through a tube.


His father says that he does not know whether his child knows him or not, as he is unable to move or even express his facial features.


The World Movement confirmed that the Israeli occupation soldiers deliberately target Palestinian civilians, including children, from a close distance and towards the upper parts of the body, with the aim of killing them or causing them permanent disabilities, taking advantage of the protection from accountability within the policy of impunity provided by the occupation to them, noting that these crimes rise to the level of a war crime and a crime against humanity according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 10:26 am - Jerusalem Time

Palestinian President Abbas to meet Erdogan today

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday as part of an official three-day visit.


The diplomatic adviser to President Majdi Al-Khalidi said that "important talks" with occur between the two leaders, ahead of a joint press conference. On the agenda, Al-Khalidi explained, will be the bilateral ties between the countries, international protection and mobilization for the Palestinian people, and other regional and international issues of common interest.


He stressed the importance of private sector cooperation as well, especially in regard to the industrial zone being developed in Jenin.


Al-Khalidi also revealed that President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, at the end of July. The meetings, he said, are intended to "fortify the Palestinian and Arab front, and the friends of our people, in the face of the fascism and racism of the occupying state, and to work as an international front under the umbrella of the United Nations in order to end the Israeli occupation of the land of the State of Palestine."



OPINIONS

Tue 25 Jul 2023 10:19 am - Jerusalem Time

Do Israeli high-tech projects constitute an economic breakthrough in the heart of Jerusalem?

Rasim Obeidat

Rasim Obeidat

Opinion Writer

The "IzzTech" project is a joint technological initiative between the entity's municipality headed by Moshe Lion and what is known as the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Meir Brosh. It is based on an investment of ten million shekels on the sixth floor of the "Mall" of the house on Al-Isfahani Street, with an area of ​​​​100 square meters, on the corner of Salah Al-Din Street in Jerusalem. My hand is in the Wadi al-Joz area, or as an extension of it.

We always have to look at the entity's state projects in the city with its interior and not with its appearance, as it carries malicious economic, political, security and educational goals, meaning that there is a hill behind it, and hell is paved with good intentions, and I am not afraid of anyone that the project of what is known as Silicon Valley "which the entity will establish in the Wadi al-Joz region, is a Judaization enveloped economically and technologically, and it will permanently write off 200 commercial and industrial workshops in the region, The entity talks about a project to bridge the gaps economically and socially between the residents of the eastern and western parts of the city, and also talks about providing job opportunities for tens of thousands of Arab residents of the city within a five-year plan. It is part of an Israeli program, and Silicon Valley is part of the slicing of Palestinian neighborhoods.

The occupation seeks to bring about demographic changes and reduce the number of the Palestinian population in return for increasing the number of settlers, which is the greatest concern for the Israeli occupation.

I see in the "Izzetc" technological project that it constitutes an economic breakthrough in the heart of the city, as it is accompanied by a feverish effort by the entity municipality to control the commercial space in the city, especially the old town and its main streets, through the proliferation of many shops, with the "Israeli" brand, these stores are able to provide "Israeli" goods at prices that Arab shops cannot compete with, due to the weakness of the Palestinian economy, and this may open the way for the possibility of the entity and its municipality controlling the commercial movement in the city and its old town...

We may find that the "Isatec" project has been extended to the settlement outpost that is being built in place of the post office at the beginning of Salah El-Din Street.

Infiltration operations by the entity’s municipality and the institutions and companies associated with it are increasing and reproducing in the city, and in all fields schools, educational institutions, community centers, community police, cultural institutions, social services, etc., and the goal is to seek to integrate the city’s Arab residents into Israeli society and the economy, and perhaps the five-year plan announced by the entity’s government with a capital of 2 billion and one hundred million shekels from 2018 to 2023, for this purpose is nearing completion, and work is underway to renew it, and pump more money For the purposes of Judaization and Israeliization, foremost of which is the Israeliization of the entire educational process in the city, to end the Palestinian curriculum in the city, and I am not discussing the war on Palestinian educational institutions and the Palestinian curriculum, but rather the risks arising from the economic infiltration operations in the city, through joint economic, commercial, and industrial Judaization and normalization projects, stripping the city of its identity, history and culture. The entity, is the issue selective or is it related to dimensions related to the individual and family and clan weight...etc.


Perhaps the reaction by the Jerusalemite forces and actors to the process of renting a floor of the “mall” of the house to the entity municipality, for the Hi-Tech project and technological industries, is linked to several factors, in the forefront of which is that the person who rented a floor of the building is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jerusalem, and occupies several positions in the management or honorary presidency of many Palestinian institutions, and he is one of the Jerusalemite businessmen, and by virtue of his position in the Chamber of Commerce or the management and honorary presidency of those institutions, he is supposed to play a major role in defending the interests of merchants and the economic movement This would create a state of indirect normalization, not to mention the marginalization of the role of the Chamber of Commerce that the entity closed, and what is intended is to work on activating it and for it to be a true expression of the concerns and aspirations of merchants, and in a way that curbs and exposes the voices calling for the affiliation of Jerusalem merchants to the entity’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, not to mention that this person, with his weight and societal presence, must be a A model in combating economic and commercial penetration, and not a contributor to it, whether intentionally or unintentionally, in a manner that paves the way for the weak-minded of the beneficiaries and beneficiaries to walk in it, who are waiting for the opportunity and waiting to engage in this path.

It is true that the volume of penetration is increasing and the hernia is widening, but we must not involve ourselves in inaccurate or instrumental approaches and comparisons, but we must work seriously in order to build and define clear standards on how to deal with such issues, on a unified national basis and not linked to personal, family, factional dimensions...etc, in a way that creates a state of reassurance among the members of the Jerusalemite community.

OPINIONS

Tue 25 Jul 2023 10:18 am - Jerusalem Time

What after certifying unreasonableness?

Jerusalem Hadith

Jerusalem Hadith

Opinion Writer

The internal situation in the occupying state is going from bad to worse, especially in the aftermath of the Israeli Knesset's final approval yesterday of canceling the pretext of unreasonableness affecting the Israeli judiciary, especially the powers of the Supreme Court, in favor of the prime minister, ministers and other officials in the current government coalition, which is more right-wing, extremist and racist than the previous Israeli governments and perhaps the subsequent ones as well.


Strikes and protests will pervade the occupying state, starting today, which will paralyze economic life, in addition to the deterioration of relations between the coalition and the opposition, which will be reflected on Israeli society in general and on the relations of families with each other.


We have said more than once that the Israeli society based on the ruins of our people is moving rapidly towards right-wing and extremism, which found its repercussions not only on our people and the crimes committed against them, whether by the occupation forces or by herds of settlers, both of whom are supported by the government. Rather, this extended to the Israeli society itself, where internal contradictions emerged between Westerners and Easterners and between secularists and religious people who want to transform the occupying state into a religious one that derives its laws from the Torah and other religious books.


The endorsement of the abolition of the pretext of unreasonableness came despite the weekly and non-weekly demonstrations and the opposition of the United States of America and many Western countries that established the occupying state on Palestinian land and are still providing it with support and all elements of survival, including weapons that are used against our people.


Despite the multiplicity of possibilities, the transformation of the Israeli internal contradiction into a major contradiction is unlikely at the current stage, just as America's abandonment of the occupying state is also excluded at the current stage. The United States, through the Zionist lobby in America, will try not to escalate this internal contradiction, but to keep it within the framework of assimilation and not turn it into a major contradiction, especially since America is still counting on the occupying state to preserve its interests in the Arab region.


The occupying power can also freeze this contradiction by carrying out a new aggression against the Palestinians or southern Lebanon, and perhaps also Syria and Iran, which will unite the aggressive army and the opposition, as we saw in the attack on Jenin camp, where the opposition supported this aggression.


Therefore, we should not rely too much on the Israeli internal contradiction, even if benefiting from it is for the benefit of our people and its national cause, and the broad movement at all levels to reveal the reality of this aggressive and racist state that seeks to transform the conflict from political to religious may not remain or be left behind.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 10:03 am - Jerusalem Time

Condemnations for the murder of 3 young men in Nablus

Today, Tuesday, official and factional bodies condemned the assassination of three young men by the Israeli occupation forces who were riding in a vehicle in the vicinity of Al-Tur Gate area in Nablus.


The official spokesman for the presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said, "The assassination of the three young men is a "war crime," and a continuation of the policy of collective punishment to which our Palestinian people are subjected.


Abu Rudeineh stressed that the Israeli occupation government is the only one that bears the consequences of what is happening in terms of aggression and crimes, whether by the occupation forces or the settler terrorism that takes place under the eyes and protection of the occupation army.


Abu Rudeineh pointed out that the international impotence and the silence of the American administration is what encourages the occupation to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people, calling for immediate American intervention to stop this aggression, which aims to drag the region into the square of violence, tension and instability.


In turn, Munther al-Hayek, a spokesman for the "Fatah" movement, said, "The government of killing and terrorism will not prevent our people from continuing the struggle until the occupation is defeated and the Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital."


Hayek added, "The occupation is still persevering in committing crimes, believing that it is able to break the will of the Palestinian people. After every crime, the Palestinian people come out stronger and give a message of challenge and determination to accomplish the national project."


For his part, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said, "The assassination and escalation of the occupation's aggression against our holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque, confirms the inevitability that the meeting of the general secretaries of the factions in Cairo will produce a comprehensive and unified national plan to confront the terrorism of the fascist settler government."


While the Democratic Front affirmed that the assassination crime will not intimidate our people and its resistance, nor will it discourage it from continuing its struggle and resistance in all forms against the occupation and settlers, noting that it will not be a lifeline for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to escape from its internal crises, but rather it will pay the price for its terror.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 9:46 am - Jerusalem Time

Demolition of a house and agricultural facilities in occupied Jerusalem

Today, Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces forced a citizen to demolish his house, while demolishing agricultural facilities in occupied Jerusalem.


According to local sources, these forces forced Mohammed al-Saud to demolish his house in Beit Hanina, in which he and his family of 5 live, in order to avoid the exorbitant costs of demolition.


The sources indicated that the house has existed for several years, and the family fears that two other houses they own will be demolished, under the pretext of not having a permit.


The occupation forces demolished agricultural facilities, such as barracks and sheep pens, and uprooted olive trees belonging to the Al-Saedi family and other families from Al-Isawiya.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 9:31 am - Jerusalem Time

A group of prisoners continue their hunger strike

Today, Tuesday, the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners Affairs Authority reported that a group of prisoners are continuing their open-ended hunger strike inside the occupation prisons.


According to the commission, the two prisoners, Ataf Jaradat and Fatima Shaheen, are engaged in an open-ended hunger strike for the third day in a row, in protest of their arbitrary transfer to the criminal prisoners' section in Ramla.


While the two prisoners, Omar Al-Sanajel and Ismail Halabiya, continue their open-ended hunger strike (for the 13th and 7th day), respectively, in protest against their administrative detention and the extension policy.


The two prisoners, Iyad Radwan "Al-Tabanja" and Samer Abu Diak, continue their hunger strike for the third day in a row, in protest against the transfer of the two prisoners, Jaradat and Shaheen, to the section of criminal prisoners.


The commission confirmed that the sick prisoners languishing in the so-called "Ramla" prison hospital are continuing their escalatory steps, in protest against the transfer of the two prisoners, Jaradat and Shaheen, to the section of criminal prisoners.


The commission indicated that the captive movement is studying today mechanisms to respond to the crime of abuse of the two captives, Jaradat and Shaheen, and transfer them to the section of criminal prisoners.


While she indicated that the prisoner, Muhannad Abu Alia, from the town of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, suffers from infections in the esophagus and difficulty swallowing, and he is given only painkillers, noting that he needs a hospital and a specialized doctor to examine and diagnose his condition.


PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 8:56 am - Jerusalem Time

The Hebrew newspapers are blackened

The Israelis were surprised, on Tuesday morning, when the major Hebrew newspapers printed their front pages in black, without any other writing.


This step comes as a protest against the Israeli Knesset passing yesterday evening amendments to the controversial “reasonableness” law, which aims to limit compliance with judicial decisions.


And "Israel" has been witnessing a major crisis for 7 months due to these passes that the extremist government led by Benjamin Netanyahu sought, and succeeded in reaching yesterday.


Israel suffers from a state of severe division, in light of the continued protests rejecting these amendments, which last night was the climax, during which more than 30 demonstrators and 10 Israeli police officers were injured, while 18 protesters were arrested.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 7:46 am - Jerusalem Time

Protests persist after Israel's gov't passes law weakening judicial oversight

Protests continued into the night after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government passed a law to prevent the courts from overturning decisions that they deem "unreasonable" on Monday.


The Israeli Medical Association also announced a 24-hour strike to protest the law, which passed in a heated Knesset session boycotted by the opposition. 


According to the Hebrew website Ynet, the Israeli police arrested 18 demonstrators over claims that they attacked police, behaved in a disorderly manner and set off fires. 


Israel Police also arrested a motorist who rammed into three protests in the city of Kfar Saba.



PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 7:37 am - Jerusalem Time

The White House regrets the passage of Israeli "judicial reforms".

The White House on Monday expressed its disappointment over the Israeli Knesset's passage of the so-called judicial reforms, calling on the Israeli government to adhere to the necessity of (Israeli) consensus on issues that "affect democracy."

And the White House issued a statement saying: “As an enduring friend of Israel, US President Joe Biden has publicly and privately expressed his views that major changes in democracy that must be sustained should depend on as broad a consensus as possible.”

"It is unfortunate that (to see) the vote (which) took place today with a narrow majority, and we understand that the talks are ongoing and are likely to continue over the coming weeks and months to reach a broader compromise even with the Knesset recess," the statement added, in an unusual tone.

The White House pledged, according to the statement: "The United States will continue to support the efforts of President Herzog and other Israeli leaders as they seek to build a broader consensus through political dialogue."

On Monday, the Israeli Knesset approved the draft amendments to the controversial so-called "reasonableness" law, which relates to judicial amendments.

According to the Israeli Knesset Channel, 64 members of the government coalition voted in favor of the project, while no one objected or abstained after the opposition members withdrew from the hall, after all attempts by Israeli President Isaac Herzog failed, since Sunday evening, to bridge views and postpone the vote or reach a compromise that would allow for negotiations at a later time.

According to experts, the amendments to the law will allow any government to ignore any decisions of the Israeli judiciary, whose decisions will not obligate the government to cancel any decision taken by it.

It is noteworthy that the American “CNN” network said that US President Joe Biden is very disappointed with the Knesset’s proceeding to approve fundamental changes in the Israeli Supreme Court, and stated that he sent a message about that, through the American journalist in the newspaper “The New York Times”, Thomas Friedman, to the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The network claimed that Biden warned in his message of the repercussions of the decision, and of the decline in the bilateral relationship to low levels, indicating that he prefers continued consultations between the various Israeli forces in order to reach a broad consensus among them on it.

Friedman had published an article on Sunday under the title "Only Biden can save Israel now," in which he called on the US president to build a bridge "urgently to save Israel from destruction from within," recalling former US President Richard Nixon, who ordered an air bridge to support the occupation with ammunition, after the Israeli army's ammunition ran low in the October 1973 war, when the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched a surprise attack on the occupying entity.

"Israel, 55 years after the Nixon Bridge, needs another airlift to save it. It needs an urgent resupply of hard realities," Friedman emphasized.

PALESTINE

Tue 25 Jul 2023 7:33 am - Jerusalem Time

An Israeli settler miraculously survived in Hebron

Last night, fire devoured a settler's vehicle while he was driving it near the so-called "Zif" junction, south of Hebron.


According to the Hebrew channel Reshet Kan, the settler escaped from the vehicle that was hit by a Molotov cocktail, without being injured. According to her claim.


It indicated that the Israeli army carried out a combing operation in the area in search of the Molotov cocktail throwers.