27 may 2019
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The Israeli military has admitted that one of the two extremist Jewish settlers recently caught on video setting fire to Palestinian farming fields in the occupied West Bank is an Israeli soldier who was on leave at the time.
The military announced in a statement on Sunday that the settler seen setting fire to the fields was an off-duty soldier from an Israeli combat unit. “The incident happened when the soldier was on leave, and so the matter was passed on to the Israel police,” the statement read. “At the same time, the soldier has been suspended from his duties.” The Israeli military had previously blamed the arson on Palestinians, saying that it had extinguished “a fire set by Palestinians near Asirah al-Qibliyah” |
after clashes broke out on May 17 between Israeli settlers from the nearby settlement of Yitzhar and Palestinians from the surrounding villages of Burin, Urif, and Asirah al-Qibliyah.
The army then corrected the statement after Israeli rights NGO B'Tselem published a video showing Israeli settlers walking through Palestinian fields and igniting fires.
In another video from the clashes, Israeli troops could be seen standing by and watching as settlers throw rocks at Palestinians.
According to B’Tselem, the Israeli military had granted “almost total immunity” to the settlers involved in the attacks with neither of them being interrogated or arrested.
The Israeli military refused to comment on why no settlers had been arrested.
Yitzhar settlers are notorious in the West Bank for extremist violence, and are frequently involved in violent attacks against Palestinians.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank in 1967.
This is while much of the international community considers the settler units illegal and subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied land.
Off-duty Israeli Soldier Caught on Video Torching Palestinian Farms
A video released by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem shows a group of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian villagers and setting their farms on fire on May 17th – and today, the group managed to identify one of the arsonists in the video as an off-duty Israeli soldier.
According to B’Tselem, on Friday, 17 May 2019, Israeli paramilitary settlers torched Palestinian farmers’ fields in Burin and ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah. In both villages, the settlers threw stones at the residents’ homes.
In ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, where the area is controlled by military watchtowers, a settler even fired shots in the air. Soldiers nearby did not arrest the attackers and prevented the Palestinians from approaching their burning land.
The Israeli military followed the attack with a public statement containing the absurd and easily disproved claim that *Palestinians* had started the fires – a version of events that was then unquestioningly repeated by the Israeli and US media.
The attack took place about a kilometer away from the Giv’at Ronen settlement point, and the Israeli paramilitary settlers involved in the attack apparently came from the settlement of Yitzhar.
The fire-setting by the Israeli soldier is especially disturbing given that it took place in the midst of an extremely dry season in Israel and Palestine, with wildfires having burned hundreds of acres in Israel over the past several weeks, and burn bans in place across the country to try to prevent the spread of any more fires.
Setting fires intentionally during such a climate and atmosphere could have a devastating impact and would normally have severe consequences.
Given the Israeli military’s record of failing to prosecute Israeli soldiers who commit crimes against Palestinians – even when those crimes are documented clearly on video – Palestinians impacted by the crime on May 17th say that they have little faith that the perpetrators in this case will be prosecuted.
According to the Israeli paper Ha’aretz, two separate Israeli security services verified to their reporters that the arsonist was an off-duty soldier. However, the Israeli military claimed that the incident would be handled by the Israeli police, and the Israeli police claimed that it would be handled by the military.
Neither the army nor the police have arrested the perpetrator, although he was clearly identified and both forces confirmed his identity.
The army then corrected the statement after Israeli rights NGO B'Tselem published a video showing Israeli settlers walking through Palestinian fields and igniting fires.
In another video from the clashes, Israeli troops could be seen standing by and watching as settlers throw rocks at Palestinians.
According to B’Tselem, the Israeli military had granted “almost total immunity” to the settlers involved in the attacks with neither of them being interrogated or arrested.
The Israeli military refused to comment on why no settlers had been arrested.
Yitzhar settlers are notorious in the West Bank for extremist violence, and are frequently involved in violent attacks against Palestinians.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank in 1967.
This is while much of the international community considers the settler units illegal and subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied land.
Off-duty Israeli Soldier Caught on Video Torching Palestinian Farms
A video released by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem shows a group of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian villagers and setting their farms on fire on May 17th – and today, the group managed to identify one of the arsonists in the video as an off-duty Israeli soldier.
According to B’Tselem, on Friday, 17 May 2019, Israeli paramilitary settlers torched Palestinian farmers’ fields in Burin and ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah. In both villages, the settlers threw stones at the residents’ homes.
In ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah, where the area is controlled by military watchtowers, a settler even fired shots in the air. Soldiers nearby did not arrest the attackers and prevented the Palestinians from approaching their burning land.
The Israeli military followed the attack with a public statement containing the absurd and easily disproved claim that *Palestinians* had started the fires – a version of events that was then unquestioningly repeated by the Israeli and US media.
The attack took place about a kilometer away from the Giv’at Ronen settlement point, and the Israeli paramilitary settlers involved in the attack apparently came from the settlement of Yitzhar.
The fire-setting by the Israeli soldier is especially disturbing given that it took place in the midst of an extremely dry season in Israel and Palestine, with wildfires having burned hundreds of acres in Israel over the past several weeks, and burn bans in place across the country to try to prevent the spread of any more fires.
Setting fires intentionally during such a climate and atmosphere could have a devastating impact and would normally have severe consequences.
Given the Israeli military’s record of failing to prosecute Israeli soldiers who commit crimes against Palestinians – even when those crimes are documented clearly on video – Palestinians impacted by the crime on May 17th say that they have little faith that the perpetrators in this case will be prosecuted.
According to the Israeli paper Ha’aretz, two separate Israeli security services verified to their reporters that the arsonist was an off-duty soldier. However, the Israeli military claimed that the incident would be handled by the Israeli police, and the Israeli police claimed that it would be handled by the military.
Neither the army nor the police have arrested the perpetrator, although he was clearly identified and both forces confirmed his identity.
26 may 2019
Fire investigators say Lag B'Omer bonfires are unlikely to be cause of at least some of the massive wildfires that raged across the country over the weekend, leaving dozens of families homeless
Firefighting authorities said Sunday that a massive bushfire in one of the communities in central Israel, where at least 40 homes have been burned over the weekend, might have been caused by arson.
National Fire and Rescue Authority is investigating whether a blaze in the religious moshav of Mevo Modi'im in central Israel was started deliberately after discovering the fire in the community had several points of origin. The investigation is still ongoing.
Overall, some 50 homes were destroyed by the blaze, which was exacervated by the extreme heatwave that hit the country over the weekend. At least 16 people suffered smoke inhalation and 13 others had light burns, including some of the 1,000 firefighters who battled at least 1,023 conflagrations across the country.
In the meantime, fire investigators said the blaze in the communities bordering Gaza, where dozens of homes were also damaged, was likely to have been started by a failure of Israel Electric Corporation power cables in the area, and not by Lag B'Omer bonfires.
The IEC responded by saying the investigation conducted by the company’s own fire department contradicts the findings of National Fire and Rescue Authority and points to arson and bonfires as the main causes of the conflagrations.
Thus, it was decided by the two bodies to establish a joint investigation team in order to thoroughly examine the causes of the wildfires.
On Friday, the police arrested three suspects from East Jerusalem on suspicion of arson in connection with fires in the area of Mount Scopus in the holy city. The suspects were questioned and their arrest was extended at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.
The police believe the suspects are not part of an organized cell, and each of the suspects acted independently.
Firefighting authorities said Sunday that a massive bushfire in one of the communities in central Israel, where at least 40 homes have been burned over the weekend, might have been caused by arson.
National Fire and Rescue Authority is investigating whether a blaze in the religious moshav of Mevo Modi'im in central Israel was started deliberately after discovering the fire in the community had several points of origin. The investigation is still ongoing.
Overall, some 50 homes were destroyed by the blaze, which was exacervated by the extreme heatwave that hit the country over the weekend. At least 16 people suffered smoke inhalation and 13 others had light burns, including some of the 1,000 firefighters who battled at least 1,023 conflagrations across the country.
In the meantime, fire investigators said the blaze in the communities bordering Gaza, where dozens of homes were also damaged, was likely to have been started by a failure of Israel Electric Corporation power cables in the area, and not by Lag B'Omer bonfires.
The IEC responded by saying the investigation conducted by the company’s own fire department contradicts the findings of National Fire and Rescue Authority and points to arson and bonfires as the main causes of the conflagrations.
Thus, it was decided by the two bodies to establish a joint investigation team in order to thoroughly examine the causes of the wildfires.
On Friday, the police arrested three suspects from East Jerusalem on suspicion of arson in connection with fires in the area of Mount Scopus in the holy city. The suspects were questioned and their arrest was extended at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.
The police believe the suspects are not part of an organized cell, and each of the suspects acted independently.
25 may 2019
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As Friday dawned, firefighters surveyed the damage caused by massive wildfires that threatened Kibbutz Harel and almost wiped out Mevo Modi'im, in addition to many other blazes; unseasonably high temperatures reaching 48C maintain fear that more yet to come
The massive blaze that threatened Kibbutz Harel on Thursday was likely caused by a falling electric cable in a nearby town; six homes were damaged there. In Mevo Modi'im, 40 of the town's 50 homes were damaged and thousands of residents from those two regions spent the night at hospitality centers. Emergency services battled multiple wildfires throughout the country on Thursday. |
Residents describe the hard feeling of having to flee for their lives as they watched the fire engulf the woods around their homes, not knowing if they would have where to return to when it was over.
Firefighter spokesman Udi Gal said Friday morning that the advance of the fires has been stopped and the main focus at the moment is in the area of Tarom, just north of Beit Shemesh in the Judean hills. The conflagration at Harel was mostly under control, he said.
However, because the weather remains quite dry and the temperature is expected to rise even further Friday, after two days of unseasonably high temperatures, firefighting officials are warning the public to refrain from lighting fires outdoors and to heed instructions from emergency services.
On Thursday, Israel reached out to countries including Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Croatia for assistance in dealing with the wildfires. Due to recent tensions between the two countries, help was not requested from Turkey.
Israelis sizzled in sweltering heat, as the weather reached scorching temperatures across the country. By Thursday afternoon, Tel Aviv and the northern city of Haifa both saw some 40 degrees celsius. In the southern city of Be’er Sheva, temperatures rose to 44 degrees, while the Dead Sea region experienced 48 degrees.
Firefighting brigades mobilized all available units and are using planes and dozens of fire trucks to try to stamp out the flames still burning in several locations.
Firefighting services said that some of the fires might have started as a result of Lag B’Omer bonfires not being extinguished properly overnight.
Firefighter spokesman Udi Gal said Friday morning that the advance of the fires has been stopped and the main focus at the moment is in the area of Tarom, just north of Beit Shemesh in the Judean hills. The conflagration at Harel was mostly under control, he said.
However, because the weather remains quite dry and the temperature is expected to rise even further Friday, after two days of unseasonably high temperatures, firefighting officials are warning the public to refrain from lighting fires outdoors and to heed instructions from emergency services.
On Thursday, Israel reached out to countries including Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Croatia for assistance in dealing with the wildfires. Due to recent tensions between the two countries, help was not requested from Turkey.
Israelis sizzled in sweltering heat, as the weather reached scorching temperatures across the country. By Thursday afternoon, Tel Aviv and the northern city of Haifa both saw some 40 degrees celsius. In the southern city of Be’er Sheva, temperatures rose to 44 degrees, while the Dead Sea region experienced 48 degrees.
Firefighting brigades mobilized all available units and are using planes and dozens of fire trucks to try to stamp out the flames still burning in several locations.
Firefighting services said that some of the fires might have started as a result of Lag B’Omer bonfires not being extinguished properly overnight.
23 may 2019
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Assistance sought from Greece, Croatia, Cyprus — Turkey will likely not be asked to help considering recent tensions; Hundreds of firefighters are battling 2 major conflagrations, as well as many smaller blazes, as scorching temperatures reach 48 degrees Celsius in some parts of southern Israel; at least 16 homes destroyed
A giant blaze that started in the Ben Shemen Forest led to the evacuation of thousands of residents from nearby towns Thursday as Israel finds itself battling a multitude of wildfires on the hottest day of the year so far. "The damage is enormous, not just to the woodland, but also to the animals," said a JNF official (the Jewish National Fund manages many of |
Israel's nature areas). "Large swaths of the woodland, the green lung of the Dan region were burnt. We did not expect such a painful blow since we spent the whole night expelling people who lit bonfires."
Residents of Gimzo, Shilat, Kfar Rut, Neot Kedumim, Kfar Daniel, Mevo Modi'im and the Adam IDF base were all evacuated, and several homes were damaged in Mevo Modi'im.
Families are being sent to spend the night in the Ben Shemen Youth Village. Social workers will be on hand to assist people with the emotional trauma. Residents of surrounding towns are hosting some 3,500 evacuees.
Earlier, Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan held a briefing with the police and firefighter commissioners, along with representatives of MDA and other emergency services as the country battles multiple, large wildfires that have led to residents being evacuated from several towns.
Erdan spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who instructed that assistance be sought from neighboring countries — Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Croatia, but not Turkey — to help with the blazes. 12 planes and two helicopters are already being used to battle the flames, but apparently foreign assistance is required.
As of 8pm Thursday evening, major fires were burning at two primary locations: Mevo Modi'im and Kibbutz Harel. Some 200 firefighters are battling flames at those two locations. At least 16 homes were destroyed by the fires and police ordered both towns fully evacuated of residents.
Israelis sizzled in sweltering heat, as the weather reached scorching temperatures across the country. By the afternoon hours, Tel Aviv and the northern city of Haifa both saw some 40 degrees celsius. In the southern city of Be’er Sheva, temperatures rose to 44 degrees, while the Dead Sea region experienced 48 degrees on Thursday afternoon.
Firefighting brigades mobilized all available units and are using planes and dozens of fire trucks to try to regain control of the massive flames raging in the Jerusalem area, the Mount Hebron region and in woodlands in the center of the country. Authorities evacuated some homes in the region as the flames began spreading to residential areas.
Firefighting services said that some of the conflagrations might have started as a result of Lag B’Omer bonfires not being extinguished properly overnight.
On Wednesday, the National Fire and Rescue Authority restricted the bonfires that traditionally accompany the celebrations. The new regulations said that fires were not allowed to be lit in any forests, even in usually designated areas.
Firefighters are also battling flames in the Shfela region (south of Tel Aviv and east of the coastal plain) and near Beit Shemesh. A large fire in the Jerusalem hills led to the evacuation of Kibbutz Harel. Residents of Mavo Modi'in, Gamzu and Kfar Daniel are also being asked to evacuate their homes due to fires in the Ben Shemen woodlands.
Several homes in the Judean hills settlement of Beit Haggai were evacuated due to a fire that broke out near Highway 60 and several people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
The Israel Railways said the extreme weather might cause delays and disruptions in train services throughout Israel since high temperatures cause the steel on the railway tracks to expand in size, slowing down the traffic.
On Friday, the heatwave is expected to reach its peak. “The weather will reach at least 40 degrees celsius in the morning hours,” said Tzahi Wachsman from the Meteo-Tech meteorological company.
Wachsman added that sandstorms might occur in southern Israel on Friday and by Saturday the heatwave will begin to ease.
The Health Ministry recommended to avoid going outside during the afternoon hours and avoid excessive exercise. It’s also recommended to close the blinds and curtains in the house in order to avoid solar radiation.
Residents of Gimzo, Shilat, Kfar Rut, Neot Kedumim, Kfar Daniel, Mevo Modi'im and the Adam IDF base were all evacuated, and several homes were damaged in Mevo Modi'im.
Families are being sent to spend the night in the Ben Shemen Youth Village. Social workers will be on hand to assist people with the emotional trauma. Residents of surrounding towns are hosting some 3,500 evacuees.
Earlier, Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan held a briefing with the police and firefighter commissioners, along with representatives of MDA and other emergency services as the country battles multiple, large wildfires that have led to residents being evacuated from several towns.
Erdan spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who instructed that assistance be sought from neighboring countries — Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Croatia, but not Turkey — to help with the blazes. 12 planes and two helicopters are already being used to battle the flames, but apparently foreign assistance is required.
As of 8pm Thursday evening, major fires were burning at two primary locations: Mevo Modi'im and Kibbutz Harel. Some 200 firefighters are battling flames at those two locations. At least 16 homes were destroyed by the fires and police ordered both towns fully evacuated of residents.
Israelis sizzled in sweltering heat, as the weather reached scorching temperatures across the country. By the afternoon hours, Tel Aviv and the northern city of Haifa both saw some 40 degrees celsius. In the southern city of Be’er Sheva, temperatures rose to 44 degrees, while the Dead Sea region experienced 48 degrees on Thursday afternoon.
Firefighting brigades mobilized all available units and are using planes and dozens of fire trucks to try to regain control of the massive flames raging in the Jerusalem area, the Mount Hebron region and in woodlands in the center of the country. Authorities evacuated some homes in the region as the flames began spreading to residential areas.
Firefighting services said that some of the conflagrations might have started as a result of Lag B’Omer bonfires not being extinguished properly overnight.
On Wednesday, the National Fire and Rescue Authority restricted the bonfires that traditionally accompany the celebrations. The new regulations said that fires were not allowed to be lit in any forests, even in usually designated areas.
Firefighters are also battling flames in the Shfela region (south of Tel Aviv and east of the coastal plain) and near Beit Shemesh. A large fire in the Jerusalem hills led to the evacuation of Kibbutz Harel. Residents of Mavo Modi'in, Gamzu and Kfar Daniel are also being asked to evacuate their homes due to fires in the Ben Shemen woodlands.
Several homes in the Judean hills settlement of Beit Haggai were evacuated due to a fire that broke out near Highway 60 and several people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
The Israel Railways said the extreme weather might cause delays and disruptions in train services throughout Israel since high temperatures cause the steel on the railway tracks to expand in size, slowing down the traffic.
On Friday, the heatwave is expected to reach its peak. “The weather will reach at least 40 degrees celsius in the morning hours,” said Tzahi Wachsman from the Meteo-Tech meteorological company.
Wachsman added that sandstorms might occur in southern Israel on Friday and by Saturday the heatwave will begin to ease.
The Health Ministry recommended to avoid going outside during the afternoon hours and avoid excessive exercise. It’s also recommended to close the blinds and curtains in the house in order to avoid solar radiation.
21 may 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at night, Beit Forik town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Media sources said several army jeeps invaded the town, especially its center, and drove around its streets and alleys.
They added that many Palestinians protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the military vehicles, while the soldiers fired gas bombs, concussion grenades and flares, causing a fire in a land in the western part of Beit Forik.
Furthermore, the soldiers closed the military roadblock at the entrance of the town, and prevented the Palestinians from crossing.
Media sources said several army jeeps invaded the town, especially its center, and drove around its streets and alleys.
They added that many Palestinians protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the military vehicles, while the soldiers fired gas bombs, concussion grenades and flares, causing a fire in a land in the western part of Beit Forik.
Furthermore, the soldiers closed the military roadblock at the entrance of the town, and prevented the Palestinians from crossing.
