14 sept 2015
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday afternoon quelled a peaceful march protesting the annexation of Palestinian-owned lands in Beit Jala town for the construction of a separation wall.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) the IOF used tear gas to prevent the protesters from reaching the construction site near Bir Oneh area in the town.
The participants in the protest included Palestinian activists from the popular resistance committees in the West Bank as well as local residents and Christian clergymen, who performed their prayers in front of Israeli soldiers.
The protesters chanted slogans in support of the Aqsa Mosque and in protest at Israeli attempts to Judaize it.
The Israeli occupation army has started recently to bulldoze vast tracts of Palestinian cultivated lands in Beit Jala in order to build a section of the segregation wall.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) the IOF used tear gas to prevent the protesters from reaching the construction site near Bir Oneh area in the town.
The participants in the protest included Palestinian activists from the popular resistance committees in the West Bank as well as local residents and Christian clergymen, who performed their prayers in front of Israeli soldiers.
The protesters chanted slogans in support of the Aqsa Mosque and in protest at Israeli attempts to Judaize it.
The Israeli occupation army has started recently to bulldoze vast tracts of Palestinian cultivated lands in Beit Jala in order to build a section of the segregation wall.
13 sept 2015
The Israeli Tax Authority has rejected a claim for compensation by officials of the Catholic Church demanding compensation for the burnt Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, which was burnt which was burnt in an Israeli terrorist arson attack, last June.
Israeli Channel 2 has reported, Wednesday, that tax officials, who visited the burnt historic Christian church, where according to Christianity Jesus Christ multiplied loaves and fishes, have decided that the assault "was not a terrorist attack."
Rejecting to label the attack on the Christian church in the Galilee as a terrorist attack means that the Israeli government has no obligation to pay any compensation, as Israel only pays compensation to victims of attacks it deems as terrorist.
The decision of the Tax Authority even ignores statements by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who both labeled it as a terrorist attack.
Israel apprehended and charged three Israeli Jewish extremists, believed to be responsible for the attack, and for writing racist graffiti saying, "Idols will be cast out."
The church filed a request for compensation for damages, but their appeal was denied.
The "Times Of Israel" quoted Amir Cohen, a tax authority official, saying that he was not convinced the attack on the church was politically motivated.
Cohen said, "the charges filed against the three Israeli suspects state that their attack carried a religious motivation," and "was based on religious hatred of Christians."
In light of these "findings," and statements, the Tax Authority absolved itself of any financial responsibility, as the law only requires the state to pay compensation for victims of war and terrorism.
It said the attackers believe that the expulsion of Christians is a commandment, as they consider them "idolators."
Christian officials urged Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who visited to the burnt historic church before his visit to the Vatican a week go, to resolve the matter.
Rivlin contacted that Israeli Government Secretary's office, which, according to the Israeli paper, said it would "find a solution."
Israeli Channel 2 has reported, Wednesday, that tax officials, who visited the burnt historic Christian church, where according to Christianity Jesus Christ multiplied loaves and fishes, have decided that the assault "was not a terrorist attack."
Rejecting to label the attack on the Christian church in the Galilee as a terrorist attack means that the Israeli government has no obligation to pay any compensation, as Israel only pays compensation to victims of attacks it deems as terrorist.
The decision of the Tax Authority even ignores statements by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who both labeled it as a terrorist attack.
Israel apprehended and charged three Israeli Jewish extremists, believed to be responsible for the attack, and for writing racist graffiti saying, "Idols will be cast out."
The church filed a request for compensation for damages, but their appeal was denied.
The "Times Of Israel" quoted Amir Cohen, a tax authority official, saying that he was not convinced the attack on the church was politically motivated.
Cohen said, "the charges filed against the three Israeli suspects state that their attack carried a religious motivation," and "was based on religious hatred of Christians."
In light of these "findings," and statements, the Tax Authority absolved itself of any financial responsibility, as the law only requires the state to pay compensation for victims of war and terrorism.
It said the attackers believe that the expulsion of Christians is a commandment, as they consider them "idolators."
Christian officials urged Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who visited to the burnt historic church before his visit to the Vatican a week go, to resolve the matter.
Rivlin contacted that Israeli Government Secretary's office, which, according to the Israeli paper, said it would "find a solution."
4 sept 2015
Bishop Atallah Hanna, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, said that the Palestinian people are seeking to lead decent lives in their country and that they have the full right to rise up against injustice and refuse humiliation and submission.
Hanna said: "No conscientious person would accept the Israeli offensive practices against our people. These violations target their daily lives and pursue the worst racist policies; let alone desecrating the Palestinians' sanctities and holy sites especially in Jerusalem which the Israeli occupation greedily aims to occupy."
"We, Palestinian Christians, are not watching in silence, and we won't stand idle before the Israeli violations committed against our people," the bishop told a French delegation in Beit Jala.
He continued: "We belong to the Palestinian holy land, we love every single grain of its soil, it is our religious, national, and ethical duty to defend the Palestinian people and we will always believe in the justice of the Palestinian cause and in the Palestinians' right to fight for restoring their stolen freedom."
The bishop pointed out that the Israeli occupation targets the Palestinian lands and uproots the olive trees. He also drew attention to the Israeli plans to build the apartheid wall under security pretexts. "But in fact it is a racist measure aimed at separating the Palestinian people from each other," the bishop charged.
Hanna finally slammed Israel's apartheid policy and declared: "We will never give up to this racist policy at any cost."
Hanna said: "No conscientious person would accept the Israeli offensive practices against our people. These violations target their daily lives and pursue the worst racist policies; let alone desecrating the Palestinians' sanctities and holy sites especially in Jerusalem which the Israeli occupation greedily aims to occupy."
"We, Palestinian Christians, are not watching in silence, and we won't stand idle before the Israeli violations committed against our people," the bishop told a French delegation in Beit Jala.
He continued: "We belong to the Palestinian holy land, we love every single grain of its soil, it is our religious, national, and ethical duty to defend the Palestinian people and we will always believe in the justice of the Palestinian cause and in the Palestinians' right to fight for restoring their stolen freedom."
The bishop pointed out that the Israeli occupation targets the Palestinian lands and uproots the olive trees. He also drew attention to the Israeli plans to build the apartheid wall under security pretexts. "But in fact it is a racist measure aimed at separating the Palestinian people from each other," the bishop charged.
Hanna finally slammed Israel's apartheid policy and declared: "We will never give up to this racist policy at any cost."
2 sept 2015
Hundreds of Christian Palestinians protested in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth Tuesday against what they said was state discrimination in funding their schools, which prompted them to declare an open-ended strike, an AFP reporter said.
"We're not asking for a privilege but justice; that our schools receive what other schools in Israel get," the Roman Catholic patriarchal vicar for Israel, Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, told a crowd at the foot of the Basilica of the Annunciation in the northern city.
Palestinian Christian schools in Israel stayed shut Tuesday, delaying the start of the new academic year, in a funding dispute with authorities in Israel.
Traditionally, the schools received 65 percent of their budgets from the state, with parents paying the balance, as is the case with institutions recognized by the state but not considered official public schools.
But that figure was cut to 34 percent two years ago, sharply increasing the amount parents had to come up with. Current state financing covers only 29 percent of the costs, said Marcuzzo, noting that the schools were short approximately 200 million shekels ($51 million).
The strike affects around 33,000 pupils, mostly Muslim Palestinians, at 47 schools run primarily by the Catholic church, and would only end when a solution was reached, said Marcuzzo, who is bishop of Nazareth.
"If Christian schools are threatened, in the long run, it is the very Christian presence in Israel that is threatened," he told AFP. Marcuzzo said they were relying on Christians of all denominations mobilizing, and that Pope Francis himself would raise the matter in a Thursday meeting in the Vatican with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
"The Holy See will certainly discuss the issue," he said. Demonstrators at the site where Christians believe the Virgin Mary was told by the Archangel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus were holding banners accusing the government of seeking to put an end to Christian schools and demanding full state funding for the institutions.
Christian schools and Israeli authorities have been in tough talks for a year and a half over state funding for them and their 3,000 employees, but with no results. "We've tried everything and have no option left but to go on strike," said Botrus Mansour, spokesman for the schools.
The education ministry said "there has been no cut in the (funding) of the last year, and there will be no cut in that of the upcoming year," noting that it would continue its dialogue with the schools. The student population at the schools is 60 percent Palestinian Christian and 40 percent Palestinian Muslim.
The schools have a history predating Israel's foundation in 1948 and are run primarily by the Roman Catholic Church.According to Israeli official figures, 160,000 Palestinian Christians live in Israel and 14,000 in occupied East Jerusalem.
The talks are taking place at a time when Palestinian Christians in Israel are under growing strains, with leaders of their communities saying they are afraid in the wake of attacks by Jewish extremists on churches and other properties. Earlier this month, Benzi Gopstein, leader of anti-Palestinian group Lehava, allegedly called for the burning of churches at a panel held for Jewish yeshiva students, using ancient Halachic, or Jewish law, to condemn what he called Christian "idol worship."
"We're not asking for a privilege but justice; that our schools receive what other schools in Israel get," the Roman Catholic patriarchal vicar for Israel, Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, told a crowd at the foot of the Basilica of the Annunciation in the northern city.
Palestinian Christian schools in Israel stayed shut Tuesday, delaying the start of the new academic year, in a funding dispute with authorities in Israel.
Traditionally, the schools received 65 percent of their budgets from the state, with parents paying the balance, as is the case with institutions recognized by the state but not considered official public schools.
But that figure was cut to 34 percent two years ago, sharply increasing the amount parents had to come up with. Current state financing covers only 29 percent of the costs, said Marcuzzo, noting that the schools were short approximately 200 million shekels ($51 million).
The strike affects around 33,000 pupils, mostly Muslim Palestinians, at 47 schools run primarily by the Catholic church, and would only end when a solution was reached, said Marcuzzo, who is bishop of Nazareth.
"If Christian schools are threatened, in the long run, it is the very Christian presence in Israel that is threatened," he told AFP. Marcuzzo said they were relying on Christians of all denominations mobilizing, and that Pope Francis himself would raise the matter in a Thursday meeting in the Vatican with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
"The Holy See will certainly discuss the issue," he said. Demonstrators at the site where Christians believe the Virgin Mary was told by the Archangel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus were holding banners accusing the government of seeking to put an end to Christian schools and demanding full state funding for the institutions.
Christian schools and Israeli authorities have been in tough talks for a year and a half over state funding for them and their 3,000 employees, but with no results. "We've tried everything and have no option left but to go on strike," said Botrus Mansour, spokesman for the schools.
The education ministry said "there has been no cut in the (funding) of the last year, and there will be no cut in that of the upcoming year," noting that it would continue its dialogue with the schools. The student population at the schools is 60 percent Palestinian Christian and 40 percent Palestinian Muslim.
The schools have a history predating Israel's foundation in 1948 and are run primarily by the Roman Catholic Church.According to Israeli official figures, 160,000 Palestinian Christians live in Israel and 14,000 in occupied East Jerusalem.
The talks are taking place at a time when Palestinian Christians in Israel are under growing strains, with leaders of their communities saying they are afraid in the wake of attacks by Jewish extremists on churches and other properties. Earlier this month, Benzi Gopstein, leader of anti-Palestinian group Lehava, allegedly called for the burning of churches at a panel held for Jewish yeshiva students, using ancient Halachic, or Jewish law, to condemn what he called Christian "idol worship."
1 sept 2015
Palestinian Christian schools in Israel stayed shut Tuesday, delaying the start of the new academic year, in a funding dispute with authorities in Israel.
The strike action affects around 33,000 pupils, mostly Muslim Palestinians, at 47 schools run primarily by the Roman Catholic church. "All the schools are closed after a call for an open-ended strike," said the spokesman for Christian schools in Israel, Botrus Mansour.
Palestinian Christian schools and Israeli authorities have been in tough talks over state funding for them and their 3,000 employees. "For a year and a half, we have been holding talks with the Israeli authorities and several figures have intervened, even the Vatican," said Mansour.
"A week ago, President Reuven Rivlin and Education Minister Naftali Bennett made very positive comments ... But we still haven't seen any serious proposal. "We've tried everything and have no option left but to go on strike," he said.
Traditionally, the schools received 65 percent of their budgets from the state, with parents paying the balance. But that figure was cut to 34 percent two years ago, sharply increasing the amount parents had to come up with. Current state financing covers only "29 percent of the overall cost of a primary school," the schools said in a statement.
"It is a matter of equality," according to Father Abdelmassih Fahim, director of schools for the Catholic church's Custody of the Holy Land. "A Jewish Israeli child has the right to 100 percent (of school costs covered by the state) while our schools don't, while our teaching is among the best in Israel."
The student population at the schools is 60 percent Palestinian Christian and 40 percent Palestinian Muslim. The schools have a history predating Israel's foundation in 1948 and are run primarily by the Roman Catholic Church.
According to Israeli official figures, 160,000 Palestinian Christians live in Israel and 14,000 in occupied East Jerusalem. The talks are taking place at a time when Palestinian Christians in Israel are under growing strains, with leaders of their communities saying they are afraid in the wake of attacks by Jewish extremists on churches and other properties.
Earlier this month, Benzi Gopstein, leader of anti-Palestinian group Lehava, allegedly called for the burning of churches at a panel held for Jewish yeshiva students, using ancient Halachic, or Jewish law, to condemn what he called Christian "idol worship."
The strike action affects around 33,000 pupils, mostly Muslim Palestinians, at 47 schools run primarily by the Roman Catholic church. "All the schools are closed after a call for an open-ended strike," said the spokesman for Christian schools in Israel, Botrus Mansour.
Palestinian Christian schools and Israeli authorities have been in tough talks over state funding for them and their 3,000 employees. "For a year and a half, we have been holding talks with the Israeli authorities and several figures have intervened, even the Vatican," said Mansour.
"A week ago, President Reuven Rivlin and Education Minister Naftali Bennett made very positive comments ... But we still haven't seen any serious proposal. "We've tried everything and have no option left but to go on strike," he said.
Traditionally, the schools received 65 percent of their budgets from the state, with parents paying the balance. But that figure was cut to 34 percent two years ago, sharply increasing the amount parents had to come up with. Current state financing covers only "29 percent of the overall cost of a primary school," the schools said in a statement.
"It is a matter of equality," according to Father Abdelmassih Fahim, director of schools for the Catholic church's Custody of the Holy Land. "A Jewish Israeli child has the right to 100 percent (of school costs covered by the state) while our schools don't, while our teaching is among the best in Israel."
The student population at the schools is 60 percent Palestinian Christian and 40 percent Palestinian Muslim. The schools have a history predating Israel's foundation in 1948 and are run primarily by the Roman Catholic Church.
According to Israeli official figures, 160,000 Palestinian Christians live in Israel and 14,000 in occupied East Jerusalem. The talks are taking place at a time when Palestinian Christians in Israel are under growing strains, with leaders of their communities saying they are afraid in the wake of attacks by Jewish extremists on churches and other properties.
Earlier this month, Benzi Gopstein, leader of anti-Palestinian group Lehava, allegedly called for the burning of churches at a panel held for Jewish yeshiva students, using ancient Halachic, or Jewish law, to condemn what he called Christian "idol worship."
31 aug 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) quelled a peaceful march in Beit Jala to the west of Bethlehem on Sunday in protest against the Separation Wall.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators. The march was organized by the Popular Committees against the Separation Wall and Settlement as well as by Beit Jala municipality, he added.
The march was launched from Beer Oneh area where Israeli military vehicles are working on completing the construction of the Separation Wall.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah along with scores of Palestinian activists and national figures in addition to inhabitants of Beit Jala participated in the march. They raised Palestinian flags and anti-Separation Wall slogans.
The IOF soldiers prevented the march from reaching the working place of Israeli vehicles and fired stun grenades and tear gas bombs at the marchers. The Israeli forces assaulted and arrested two Palestinians.
The forces attacked Palestinian press crews and forced them to leave the scene under gun threat.
In a speech, Patriarch Michel Sabbah stressed the need for supporting the inhabitants of Beit Jala in their popular resistance of the Separation Wall. He asked the Palestinian Authority to work on halting the Israeli violations and exposing it at the international level.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators. The march was organized by the Popular Committees against the Separation Wall and Settlement as well as by Beit Jala municipality, he added.
The march was launched from Beer Oneh area where Israeli military vehicles are working on completing the construction of the Separation Wall.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah along with scores of Palestinian activists and national figures in addition to inhabitants of Beit Jala participated in the march. They raised Palestinian flags and anti-Separation Wall slogans.
The IOF soldiers prevented the march from reaching the working place of Israeli vehicles and fired stun grenades and tear gas bombs at the marchers. The Israeli forces assaulted and arrested two Palestinians.
The forces attacked Palestinian press crews and forced them to leave the scene under gun threat.
In a speech, Patriarch Michel Sabbah stressed the need for supporting the inhabitants of Beit Jala in their popular resistance of the Separation Wall. He asked the Palestinian Authority to work on halting the Israeli violations and exposing it at the international level.
30 aug 2015
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday violently attacked a peaceful march organized near al-Aroub refugee camp, north of al-Khalil city, in protest at the appropriation of Beit al-Baraka building by Jewish settlers.
Beit al-Baraka used to be a hospital belonging to an American Christian society, which had been providing free medical care for tuberculosis patients since its inception in the early 40s until its closure in 1983.
Anti-settlement activist in al-Khalil, Rateb al-Jabour, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a number of protesters were slightly injured when Israeli soldiers subdued them during a march demanding the protection of Beit al-Baraka building against Judaization.
Jabour added that the soldiers violently attacked the protesters outside the hospital building with their rifle butts and declared the area a closed military zone.
Father Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of the Palestinian Orthodox Church in Occupied Jerusalem, and foreign activists participated in the march.
Beit al-Baraka used to be a hospital belonging to an American Christian society, which had been providing free medical care for tuberculosis patients since its inception in the early 40s until its closure in 1983.
Anti-settlement activist in al-Khalil, Rateb al-Jabour, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a number of protesters were slightly injured when Israeli soldiers subdued them during a march demanding the protection of Beit al-Baraka building against Judaization.
Jabour added that the soldiers violently attacked the protesters outside the hospital building with their rifle butts and declared the area a closed military zone.
Father Atallah Hanna, Archbishop of the Palestinian Orthodox Church in Occupied Jerusalem, and foreign activists participated in the march.
29 aug 2015
Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna was among a number of political and religious leaders to take part in a march Saturday protesting the purchase, by Israeli settlers, of a Christian church compound in the southern occupied West Bank.
The 38-dunam (9.3 acre) compound, known as Beit al-Baraka, is located to the north of al-Arrub refugee camp in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, according to Ma'an.
An investigative report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz in May alleged that an American millionaire, Irving Moskowitz, purchased the site through a Swedish company in 2012 with the intention of turning it into a settlement outpost.
Popular resistance committees organized Saturday's march, which was attended by political figures including MP Fayez al-Saqqa and Fatah spokesperson Osama al-Qawasma, in addition to well-known Palestinian popular resistance activists and religious leaders.
The protesters performed a mass prayer led by Attalah Hanna, the archbishop of the Sebastian Greek Orthodox Church, and Father George Awad.
Awad urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to support Beit al-Baraka in its battle against Israeli violations.
Participants said that Israeli forces suppressed the march and prevented them from reaching the church compound.
It was reported in June that Israeli authorities prevented Archbishop Hanna from taking part in another march at the church compound by summoning him to the Russian Compound detention center in Jerusalem.
Haaretz's investigation earlier this year alleged that a Swedish company established in 2007 had been used to cover up the sale and transfer of Beit al-Baraka in 2012 to a settler organization funded by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz.
A pastor who headed the church that previously owned the compound, Keith Coleman, told Haaretz he thought it had been sold to a Swedish company called Scandinavian Seamen Holy Land Enterprises in March 2008 that would revive its use as a church.
Haaretz discovered however that, "the Swedish group was established in Stockholm in 2007, and seems to have been used as a cover for transferring the ownership of the compound to the settlers. The group does not seem to have any offices."
The Swedish company registered the purchase with the Israeli Civil Administration in 2012.
The company was then dissolved, with ownership handed over to an American nonprofit organization, American Friends of the Everest Foundation, funded by Irving Moskowitz and working towards the eventual "Judaization" of occupied East Jerusalem.
The church lies in a sensitive location, which when settled, will see Israeli settlements stretch all the way from the Gush Etzion settler block south of Jerusalem to the cluster of settlements around Hebron.
There are more than 500,000 Israelis living in illegal settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The 38-dunam (9.3 acre) compound, known as Beit al-Baraka, is located to the north of al-Arrub refugee camp in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, according to Ma'an.
An investigative report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz in May alleged that an American millionaire, Irving Moskowitz, purchased the site through a Swedish company in 2012 with the intention of turning it into a settlement outpost.
Popular resistance committees organized Saturday's march, which was attended by political figures including MP Fayez al-Saqqa and Fatah spokesperson Osama al-Qawasma, in addition to well-known Palestinian popular resistance activists and religious leaders.
The protesters performed a mass prayer led by Attalah Hanna, the archbishop of the Sebastian Greek Orthodox Church, and Father George Awad.
Awad urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to support Beit al-Baraka in its battle against Israeli violations.
Participants said that Israeli forces suppressed the march and prevented them from reaching the church compound.
It was reported in June that Israeli authorities prevented Archbishop Hanna from taking part in another march at the church compound by summoning him to the Russian Compound detention center in Jerusalem.
Haaretz's investigation earlier this year alleged that a Swedish company established in 2007 had been used to cover up the sale and transfer of Beit al-Baraka in 2012 to a settler organization funded by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz.
A pastor who headed the church that previously owned the compound, Keith Coleman, told Haaretz he thought it had been sold to a Swedish company called Scandinavian Seamen Holy Land Enterprises in March 2008 that would revive its use as a church.
Haaretz discovered however that, "the Swedish group was established in Stockholm in 2007, and seems to have been used as a cover for transferring the ownership of the compound to the settlers. The group does not seem to have any offices."
The Swedish company registered the purchase with the Israeli Civil Administration in 2012.
The company was then dissolved, with ownership handed over to an American nonprofit organization, American Friends of the Everest Foundation, funded by Irving Moskowitz and working towards the eventual "Judaization" of occupied East Jerusalem.
The church lies in a sensitive location, which when settled, will see Israeli settlements stretch all the way from the Gush Etzion settler block south of Jerusalem to the cluster of settlements around Hebron.
There are more than 500,000 Israelis living in illegal settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
28 aug 2015
The Israeli nature authority objected to the decision of the war ministry to resume construction of the separation barrier near Beit Jala, south of Occupied Jerusalem, after the Supreme Court had invalidated the building of the barrier in that region and ordered the government to reconsider it, Haaretz reported Thursday.
A few days ago the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) uprooted olive trees along the wall's route.
On Wednesday the IOA carried out large-scale excavations in the area.
The Palestinians along with adjacent Christian monasteries and Israelis residing in the illegal settlement of Gush Etzion have objected to the construction of the separation wall saying it rather affects the environment and is unnecessary for Israel’s security.
The IOA resumed construction of the wall after years of deliberations with the Supreme Court that culminated in recommendations to reconsider the planned route of the separation barrier in the area.
The war ministry, however, resumed its work on the wall without altering its route, promising to leave a 200-meter gap in the wall near the local monasteries.
A few days ago the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) uprooted olive trees along the wall's route.
On Wednesday the IOA carried out large-scale excavations in the area.
The Palestinians along with adjacent Christian monasteries and Israelis residing in the illegal settlement of Gush Etzion have objected to the construction of the separation wall saying it rather affects the environment and is unnecessary for Israel’s security.
The IOA resumed construction of the wall after years of deliberations with the Supreme Court that culminated in recommendations to reconsider the planned route of the separation barrier in the area.
The war ministry, however, resumed its work on the wall without altering its route, promising to leave a 200-meter gap in the wall near the local monasteries.
27 aug 2015
In a move likely to upset Israel's government, Palestinians and the Vatican are seeking to raise their flags at UN headquarters -- just in time for Pope Francis' visit, next month.
According to Al Ray/AP, supporters of the idea hope that the UN General Assembly will adopt a resolution on the flag-raising shortly before the pope arrives.
They're betting that the United States or other allies of Israel will not block the plan and risk offending the Vatican on Francis' first US visit. The Palestinian proposal has been tabled, and a draft of the resolution set to be made public was seen by the Associated Press, on We3dnesday. The draft would allow non-member observer states -- there are only two -- to display their flags with the 193 member states.
The United States and Israel oppose recognizing the Palestinian state, arguing that it undermines efforts to negotiate a peace agreement. This process, however, has largely been at a standstill since the deadly conflict in Gaza a year ago.
Many states have shown support for the Palestinians' pursuit of statehood, including the Vatican. In May, the Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in their first formal, bilateral treaty. Israel's foreign ministry said it was "disappointed".
During Francis' 2014 visit to the Holy Land, the Vatican's official program referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as the president of the "state of Palestine."
In 2012, the Vatican welcomed an overwhelming vote in the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians' status to a UN non-member observer state. Their delegation promptly unfurled the flag in the chamber.
Pope Francis has not been shy about ambitious diplomacy.
He helped bring the United States and Cuba together for their historic reestablishment of diplomatic ties. Last year, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a day of peace prayers at the Vatican.
Most countries in Western Europe have held off on recognizing a Palestinian state, but some have hinted that their position could change, if peace efforts remain deadlocked. Most countries in Africa, Asia and South America have recognized Palestine.
Francis is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Sept. 25, just before world leaders meet to launch a set of development goals aimed at ending both poverty and hunger over the next 15 years.
According to Al Ray/AP, supporters of the idea hope that the UN General Assembly will adopt a resolution on the flag-raising shortly before the pope arrives.
They're betting that the United States or other allies of Israel will not block the plan and risk offending the Vatican on Francis' first US visit. The Palestinian proposal has been tabled, and a draft of the resolution set to be made public was seen by the Associated Press, on We3dnesday. The draft would allow non-member observer states -- there are only two -- to display their flags with the 193 member states.
The United States and Israel oppose recognizing the Palestinian state, arguing that it undermines efforts to negotiate a peace agreement. This process, however, has largely been at a standstill since the deadly conflict in Gaza a year ago.
Many states have shown support for the Palestinians' pursuit of statehood, including the Vatican. In May, the Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in their first formal, bilateral treaty. Israel's foreign ministry said it was "disappointed".
During Francis' 2014 visit to the Holy Land, the Vatican's official program referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as the president of the "state of Palestine."
In 2012, the Vatican welcomed an overwhelming vote in the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians' status to a UN non-member observer state. Their delegation promptly unfurled the flag in the chamber.
Pope Francis has not been shy about ambitious diplomacy.
He helped bring the United States and Cuba together for their historic reestablishment of diplomatic ties. Last year, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a day of peace prayers at the Vatican.
Most countries in Western Europe have held off on recognizing a Palestinian state, but some have hinted that their position could change, if peace efforts remain deadlocked. Most countries in Africa, Asia and South America have recognized Palestine.
Francis is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Sept. 25, just before world leaders meet to launch a set of development goals aimed at ending both poverty and hunger over the next 15 years.
26 aug 2015
The Vatican, on Tuesday, asked the Palestinian UN mission to remove all references to it from a draft resolution the Palestinians have prepared for the General Assembly calling for the flags of Palestine and the Holy See to fly at the UN.
The Palestinian draft resolution, which was seen by Reuters, says that the flags of non-member observer states “shall be raised at the United Nations Headquarters and Offices following the flags of the member states of the United Nations.”
The draft resolution specifically refers to both the Vatican and the State of Palestine, both of which are non-member observer states at the United Nations.
The initiative comes one month before the scheduled appearance of Pope Francis for a major speech before a high-level gathering of the 193-nation UN General Assembly on September 25th.
Currently, according to the PNN, only member states’ flags fly at UN headquarters. UN diplomats say the United States and Israel, which do not recognize Palestinian statehood, would likely be irked by any move to fly the Palestinian flag at UN headquarters in New York City.
The flag-flying resolution, which diplomats said the Palestinians were expected to circulate to the full assembly as early as on Wednesday, had apparently been prepared without the explicit consent of the Vatican’s mission to the United Nations.
In a note circulated to some UN members and seen by Reuters, the Vatican made clear that while it did not object to the Palestinians proposing a resolution to fly their own flag, the Holy See had no plans to join the initiative – even though the Vatican formally recognized the State of Palestinian earlier this year.
“The Holy See does not intend to co-sponsor a draft resolution that the State of Palestine may eventually present on the matter,” the note said.
“The Holy See asks the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations kindly to remove in its draft resolution any reference to the ‘Holy See’ and any generic reference ‘on behalf of the Observer States’,” it added.
A diplomat at the Palestinian mission did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In 2012 the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine. That de facto recognition came after a failed bid by the Palestinians to secure full membership in the United Nations.
The Palestinian draft resolution, which was seen by Reuters, says that the flags of non-member observer states “shall be raised at the United Nations Headquarters and Offices following the flags of the member states of the United Nations.”
The draft resolution specifically refers to both the Vatican and the State of Palestine, both of which are non-member observer states at the United Nations.
The initiative comes one month before the scheduled appearance of Pope Francis for a major speech before a high-level gathering of the 193-nation UN General Assembly on September 25th.
Currently, according to the PNN, only member states’ flags fly at UN headquarters. UN diplomats say the United States and Israel, which do not recognize Palestinian statehood, would likely be irked by any move to fly the Palestinian flag at UN headquarters in New York City.
The flag-flying resolution, which diplomats said the Palestinians were expected to circulate to the full assembly as early as on Wednesday, had apparently been prepared without the explicit consent of the Vatican’s mission to the United Nations.
In a note circulated to some UN members and seen by Reuters, the Vatican made clear that while it did not object to the Palestinians proposing a resolution to fly their own flag, the Holy See had no plans to join the initiative – even though the Vatican formally recognized the State of Palestinian earlier this year.
“The Holy See does not intend to co-sponsor a draft resolution that the State of Palestine may eventually present on the matter,” the note said.
“The Holy See asks the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations kindly to remove in its draft resolution any reference to the ‘Holy See’ and any generic reference ‘on behalf of the Observer States’,” it added.
A diplomat at the Palestinian mission did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In 2012 the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine. That de facto recognition came after a failed bid by the Palestinians to secure full membership in the United Nations.