7 nov 2013
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The Ministry of Education in Gaza confirmed that the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2006 had a negative impact on the Educational process that led to stopping several projects due to the scarcity of building materials.
Undersecretary assistant of the Ministry’s Administrative and Financial Affairs Dr.Anwar al-Barawi confirmed during a tour organized by the ministry on Wednesday morning the role of the media in exposing the Israeli crimes against Gaza. He praised the journalists’ role in covering the ministry’s achievements and highlighting the abuses it is facing. The tour included visits of a number of educational institutions affiliated to the ministry including |
the schools of Mostafa Rafii for the Deaf and al-Noor and al-Amal for the Blind, the Industrial Center , Educational Radio, Training Center in east Gaza, and al-Aqsa University.
Undersecretary Assistant for Educational Affairs in the Ministry Dr. Ziad Thabet confirmed that his ministry is working on eliminating the evening schools by building more new ones.
He noted that the ongoing blockade greatly affected the educational process in the last three years, pointing out that the electricity blackouts affected the educational competence badly.
Undersecretary Assistant for Educational Affairs in the Ministry Dr. Ziad Thabet confirmed that his ministry is working on eliminating the evening schools by building more new ones.
He noted that the ongoing blockade greatly affected the educational process in the last three years, pointing out that the electricity blackouts affected the educational competence badly.
5 nov 2013
A number of citizens suffered breathing difficulty in Tulkarem on Tuesday when Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided the city’s Khaddouri university. Local sources said that IOF soldiers raided the university campus and set up a roadblock at its entrance and interrogated passing citizens.
The sources said that confrontations erupted between students and IOF soldiers in which the soldiers used teargas to disperse the young men, adding that a number of citizens were treated for breathing problems.
They said that the soldiers questioned students, who complained of similar IOF practices over the past three days.
The sources said that confrontations erupted between students and IOF soldiers in which the soldiers used teargas to disperse the young men, adding that a number of citizens were treated for breathing problems.
They said that the soldiers questioned students, who complained of similar IOF practices over the past three days.
31 oct 2013
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The Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip has introduced amended textbooks for grades eight, nine and 10, adding lessons about various methods of Palestinian resistance, a Ma'an reporter said.
The first three chapters of the books focus on pre-1948 Palestine, overviewing major Palestinian cities now under Israeli control. They also include a history of the 1929 Buraq Uprising in addition to Izz Addin al-Qassam's armed resistance movement against Zionism and the British Mandate for Palestine. In the new eighth grade textbook, students are taught about the Israeli occupation and everyday methods of resistance. |
A later chapter focuses on military resistance - including details about rockets fired into Israel from Gaza - and illustrates that modern weaponry has become capable of "confusing the occupation."
Grade nine's textbook includes an even more detailed account of Palestinian reactions to Israeli military aggression, covering Gaza's militant response to Israel's Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense, which, using language from the Quran, the textbooks dub the Battle of the Criterion and Operation Stones of Shale.
Another chapter is dedicated to the cross-border military operation by three Palestinian groups in 2006 as a result of which Israel agreed to release Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,024 Palestinian prisoners.
The textbook also includes a chapter on the Palestinian national movement, discussing nonnegotiable Palestinian principals such as the right of return and the importance of Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
In the tenth grade textbook, Palestinian factions such as Hamas, Fatah, the Islamic Jihad movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine are discussed. The text book also documents the history of Palestinian leaders such as Yasser Arafat, Ahmad Shuqiri and Ahmad Yasin.
Gaza schools run by the United Nations will not use the amended textbooks.
Grade nine's textbook includes an even more detailed account of Palestinian reactions to Israeli military aggression, covering Gaza's militant response to Israel's Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense, which, using language from the Quran, the textbooks dub the Battle of the Criterion and Operation Stones of Shale.
Another chapter is dedicated to the cross-border military operation by three Palestinian groups in 2006 as a result of which Israel agreed to release Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,024 Palestinian prisoners.
The textbook also includes a chapter on the Palestinian national movement, discussing nonnegotiable Palestinian principals such as the right of return and the importance of Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
In the tenth grade textbook, Palestinian factions such as Hamas, Fatah, the Islamic Jihad movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine are discussed. The text book also documents the history of Palestinian leaders such as Yasser Arafat, Ahmad Shuqiri and Ahmad Yasin.
Gaza schools run by the United Nations will not use the amended textbooks.
27 oct 2013
Israeli forces assaulted a Palestinian bus driver carrying students in the Masafer region east of Yatta in the southern West Bank early Sunday morning, a Palestinian official said.
Ratib al-Jbour, the coordinator of the Popular and National Committees south of Hebron and east of Yatta, said that the Israeli forces stopped Mufid Abu Qbaiyta, 27, and beat him up while he was picking up school children.
As a result of the attack, al-Jbour suffered from bruises all over his body.
Israeli forces also damaged the tires of the bus, in order to prevent drivers from picking up children in the surrounded areas.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was "not familiar" with the incident.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israel civil and security control since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The safety of these settlers is often given as an excuse for forced displacement of Palestinians who live in the area.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank forms a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Ratib al-Jbour, the coordinator of the Popular and National Committees south of Hebron and east of Yatta, said that the Israeli forces stopped Mufid Abu Qbaiyta, 27, and beat him up while he was picking up school children.
As a result of the attack, al-Jbour suffered from bruises all over his body.
Israeli forces also damaged the tires of the bus, in order to prevent drivers from picking up children in the surrounded areas.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was "not familiar" with the incident.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israel civil and security control since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The safety of these settlers is often given as an excuse for forced displacement of Palestinians who live in the area.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank forms a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
20 oct 2013
A senior Israeli official held the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) fully responsible for the recent escalation of the West bank resistance operations. The Hebrew radio quoted deputy speaker of the Knesset Ofir Akunis as saying that Israel holds the Palestinian Authority and its president Mahmoud Abbas responsible for the recent security deterioration and terrorist attacks that took place lately.
Akunis also claimed that the Palestinians incite against Israel and Abbas's latest remarks about a Palestinian state without Jews encourage violence and lead to growing terrorist attacks against Israelis.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) were put on high alert in the West Bank in the wake of some recent attacks against Jewish settlers and soldiers, described by the Palestinians as resistance operations and the Israelis as terrorist attacks.
For his part, Avigdor Lieberman, head of the foreign affairs and defense committee at the Knesset, called on the PA to make radical changes in its school books in order to create what he described as the generation of peace.
Lieberman told the Hebrew radio on Sunday that Israel has to demand the PA to restructure its educational system, and complained that the Palestinian school books do not contain any map of the state of Israel or mention anything about the Nazi holocaust.
He stressed that it would be impossible to initiate genuine negotiations on a permanent settlement agreement before the Palestinians raise their children on peace.
Akunis also claimed that the Palestinians incite against Israel and Abbas's latest remarks about a Palestinian state without Jews encourage violence and lead to growing terrorist attacks against Israelis.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) were put on high alert in the West Bank in the wake of some recent attacks against Jewish settlers and soldiers, described by the Palestinians as resistance operations and the Israelis as terrorist attacks.
For his part, Avigdor Lieberman, head of the foreign affairs and defense committee at the Knesset, called on the PA to make radical changes in its school books in order to create what he described as the generation of peace.
Lieberman told the Hebrew radio on Sunday that Israel has to demand the PA to restructure its educational system, and complained that the Palestinian school books do not contain any map of the state of Israel or mention anything about the Nazi holocaust.
He stressed that it would be impossible to initiate genuine negotiations on a permanent settlement agreement before the Palestinians raise their children on peace.
13 oct 2013
Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights states that the recent weeks have seen a remarkable escalation in the attacks of the Israeli soldiers and settlers on Palestinian schools and students. The Foundation says in a statement on Sunday that these attacks include raiding the schools and destroying their contents, as well as detaining and assaulting students.
It points out that the first of these attacks took place four months ago when the occupation bulldozers demolished the walls and the garden of Azzun Atma School in Qalqilya, for the expansion of the separation wall.
Tadhamun adds that last week has witnessed a remarkable increase in these attacks, when dozens of settlers stormed the Jalud School in Nablus, threw stones in the classrooms and smashed 6 vehicles that belong to the teachers.
Hundreds of female students from Khader School in Bethlehem and Beit Dajan School in Nablus suffered from suffocation as the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas grenades at their schools.
The occupation forces have also killed the student at Budrus School Samir Ahmed Awad, 17, in January after shooting him in the chest.
Meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers have set up military towers few meters away from some Palestinian schools to obstruct the students from reaching their schools
It points out that the first of these attacks took place four months ago when the occupation bulldozers demolished the walls and the garden of Azzun Atma School in Qalqilya, for the expansion of the separation wall.
Tadhamun adds that last week has witnessed a remarkable increase in these attacks, when dozens of settlers stormed the Jalud School in Nablus, threw stones in the classrooms and smashed 6 vehicles that belong to the teachers.
Hundreds of female students from Khader School in Bethlehem and Beit Dajan School in Nablus suffered from suffocation as the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas grenades at their schools.
The occupation forces have also killed the student at Budrus School Samir Ahmed Awad, 17, in January after shooting him in the chest.
Meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers have set up military towers few meters away from some Palestinian schools to obstruct the students from reaching their schools
9 oct 2013
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Israeli forces shot a student in the foot with a rubber-coated steel bullet near Bethlehem on Wednesday, locals said.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the committee against the wall and settlements, told Ma'an that Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at a school in the village of al-Khader. One student was shot in the foot by a rubber bullet and dozens suffered tear gas inhalation. Incidents of this kind occur on a daily basis and prevent students from attending school, Salah said. An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was looking into the incident. |
Palestinian Authority firetrucks arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze.
Settlers tried to enter the village but were confronted by local residents, Daghlas added.
An Israeli security official said the military received a complaint that a school, seven vehicles and an orchard were damaged in an attack.
In response, the official said, four suspects were arrested.
Lt.-Col. Peter Lerner added that the "the IDF frowns upon such grave actions, which destabilize the region and deviate security forces' attention from their main mission - combating terror."
The Nablus region of the West Bank experiences a particularly high rate of settler attacks, with settlements built illegally next to Palestinian communities.
Settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are systematic and rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law.
Settlers tried to enter the village but were confronted by local residents, Daghlas added.
An Israeli security official said the military received a complaint that a school, seven vehicles and an orchard were damaged in an attack.
In response, the official said, four suspects were arrested.
Lt.-Col. Peter Lerner added that the "the IDF frowns upon such grave actions, which destabilize the region and deviate security forces' attention from their main mission - combating terror."
The Nablus region of the West Bank experiences a particularly high rate of settler attacks, with settlements built illegally next to Palestinian communities.
Settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are systematic and rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law.
3 oct 2013
Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Gaza has inaugurated, in collaboration with Islamic Relief, the first solar power project to generate electricity in Gaza schools in a new challenge to the Gaza siege. Solar energy equipment has been already installed, at Ihsan School in Khan Younis, which directly generate electricity. It is predicted to start working in this station during the coming few days.
The project entails promotion of environmentally friendly alternatives especially that it constitutes an essential component of the Palestinian curriculum.
Dr. Osama Mozainy Minister of Education confirmed that this project came in light of the ministry's tireless efforts to overcome electricity crisis in the besieged strip especially that it negatively affects the Educational Process in the Gaza Strip.
He also pointed out to the impact of the siege on the Palestinian people lives in Gaza.
The minister said that in case the project has succeeded, it will be applied to large numbers of schools in Gaza Strip to provide a conducive study atmosphere for the students.
The project entails promotion of environmentally friendly alternatives especially that it constitutes an essential component of the Palestinian curriculum.
Dr. Osama Mozainy Minister of Education confirmed that this project came in light of the ministry's tireless efforts to overcome electricity crisis in the besieged strip especially that it negatively affects the Educational Process in the Gaza Strip.
He also pointed out to the impact of the siege on the Palestinian people lives in Gaza.
The minister said that in case the project has succeeded, it will be applied to large numbers of schools in Gaza Strip to provide a conducive study atmosphere for the students.
1 oct 2013
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education stated that the continued siege on the Gaza Strip and the fuel crisis have negatively affected the educational process in Gaza. The ministry said in a report on Monday that 500 thousand students in government, UNRWA, and private schools and nearly 130 thousand university students suffer a lot to reach their schools and universities, pointing to the employees' suffering to reach their work places as well.
Dr Anwar Buraawi, the Ministry's Assistant Undersecretary, said that the crisis also affected the disabled students, referring to the two government schools for disabled students in the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that the students who live on the border areas particularly who are forced to walk for long distances to reach their schools which would affect their educational attainment.
The construction of 20 schools has been suspended due to the continued siege on the strip, he confirmed, noting that the donation for the establishment of three other schools was also stopped.
For his part, Dr. Khalil Hammad General Manager of university education at the Ministry of Education, said that the continued siege paralyzes the university education on two levels.
On the one hand, the fuel shortage affects students' transportation to their universities. On the other hand, the power cuts affect the educational programs that rely on the power supply, such as computing and science laboratories.
He also referred to the students who were stranded on the border crossing deprived from reaching their universities abroad.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the Gaza Strip called on international community and human rights institutions and brotherly countries to intervene to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip.
Dr Anwar Buraawi, the Ministry's Assistant Undersecretary, said that the crisis also affected the disabled students, referring to the two government schools for disabled students in the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that the students who live on the border areas particularly who are forced to walk for long distances to reach their schools which would affect their educational attainment.
The construction of 20 schools has been suspended due to the continued siege on the strip, he confirmed, noting that the donation for the establishment of three other schools was also stopped.
For his part, Dr. Khalil Hammad General Manager of university education at the Ministry of Education, said that the continued siege paralyzes the university education on two levels.
On the one hand, the fuel shortage affects students' transportation to their universities. On the other hand, the power cuts affect the educational programs that rely on the power supply, such as computing and science laboratories.
He also referred to the students who were stranded on the border crossing deprived from reaching their universities abroad.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the Gaza Strip called on international community and human rights institutions and brotherly countries to intervene to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) showered Palestinian school students with teargas near Fawar refugee camp in Al-Khalil afternoon Monday. Eyewitnesses told the PIC that the school students marched form Dura town to Al-Khalil city and threw stones at soldiers and a military watchtower in what they called the day of rage against settlements and army barriers.
They said that confrontations took place near Sanabur suburb, which is adjacent to the main road leading to Al-Khalil from Dura. Similar confrontations were reported on Sunday near Fawar refugee camp when young men demonstrated in support of the Aqsa Mosque.
They said that confrontations took place near Sanabur suburb, which is adjacent to the main road leading to Al-Khalil from Dura. Similar confrontations were reported on Sunday near Fawar refugee camp when young men demonstrated in support of the Aqsa Mosque.
29 sept 2013
Families of students in Hebron on Sunday closed down a primary school in protest at the lack of English teachers, locals said.
The families of primary school students in Surif called on the Palestinian Authority ministry of eduction to immediately intervene to solve the problem.
The school currently has no English teachers for grades 1 to 4.
The families told Ma'an that they would escalate their protests until the problem is solved.
The families of primary school students in Surif called on the Palestinian Authority ministry of eduction to immediately intervene to solve the problem.
The school currently has no English teachers for grades 1 to 4.
The families told Ma'an that they would escalate their protests until the problem is solved.
28 sept 2013
Birzeit University Council on Saturday decided not to adopt a fixed exchange rate for Jordanian Dinars (JOD) for student tuition fees.
The council decided to add 3 JOD to the tuition of new undergraduate students and 1 JOD to current undergraduate students.
The tuition fees for postgraduate students will remain unchanged.
The council said that since 88 percent of the students had already paid their tuition, or made the necessary financial arrangements, they will be reimbursed.
The council praised the efforts of faculty and staff of the university and the Palestinian Authority that helped defuse tensions after students forcibly closed the University in protest on Sept. 25.
Cuts to the Palestinian Authority budget have led to a fewer funds available to Palestinian academic institutions like Birzeit University, and as a result University authorities have been scrambling to find alternative sources of funding.
The decision follows days of protests and strikes by Birzeit students opposed to the rise in tuition implementing the fixed exchange rate would entail.
Students had previously been asked to pay their fees according to a high Jordanian dinar/Israeli shekel exchange rate. The protests successfully delayed the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year.
The council decided to add 3 JOD to the tuition of new undergraduate students and 1 JOD to current undergraduate students.
The tuition fees for postgraduate students will remain unchanged.
The council said that since 88 percent of the students had already paid their tuition, or made the necessary financial arrangements, they will be reimbursed.
The council praised the efforts of faculty and staff of the university and the Palestinian Authority that helped defuse tensions after students forcibly closed the University in protest on Sept. 25.
Cuts to the Palestinian Authority budget have led to a fewer funds available to Palestinian academic institutions like Birzeit University, and as a result University authorities have been scrambling to find alternative sources of funding.
The decision follows days of protests and strikes by Birzeit students opposed to the rise in tuition implementing the fixed exchange rate would entail.
Students had previously been asked to pay their fees according to a high Jordanian dinar/Israeli shekel exchange rate. The protests successfully delayed the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year.
15 sept 2013
Israeli forces stormed on Wednesday morning a secondary orphan school in the old city of Jerusalem. Researcher at Wadi Hilwa Information Center, Maysa Abu Ghazallah said that an Israeli special unit surrounded the school claiming that the students threw stones on them.
She added that the Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades toward the school, causing tension among students. She said, "they withdrew later on."
The school's administration tried to prevent the soldiers from entering the school but they were threatened to be arrested if they did not give them the names of the students who threw stones on the soldiers, according to witnesses.
The Israeli soldiers walked to the Wadi Street, put barricades and spread foot patrol soldiers in the area to search the citizens, locals said.
She added that the Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades toward the school, causing tension among students. She said, "they withdrew later on."
The school's administration tried to prevent the soldiers from entering the school but they were threatened to be arrested if they did not give them the names of the students who threw stones on the soldiers, according to witnesses.
The Israeli soldiers walked to the Wadi Street, put barricades and spread foot patrol soldiers in the area to search the citizens, locals said.
23 sept 2013
On Tuesday 24 September 2013, at 7:30 PM, AICafe invite you for Palestine in Israeli school books: Ideology and propaganda in education with Professor Nurit-Peled Elhanan.
Nurit Peled-Elhanan is an Israeli peace activist and professor of language and education at Hebrew University. Peled-Elhanan is the author of Palestine in Israeli School Books: Ideology and Propaganda in Education. In her book she clarifies how the textbooks used in the Israeli school system promote the idea of Judaization of both Israel and Palestine presented as one unit- the Land of Israel, and that they play a part in priming Israeli children for military service.
She analyzes the presentation of images, maps, layouts and use of language in History, Geography and Civic Studies textbooks, and reveals how the books marginalize or rather exclude Palestinians from the life-world of the region, legitimize Israeli military action and reinforce Jewish-Israeli territorial identity, all of which seem to correspond to all categories of racist verbal and visual discourse.
Please join for this powerful evening!
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.
Nurit Peled-Elhanan is an Israeli peace activist and professor of language and education at Hebrew University. Peled-Elhanan is the author of Palestine in Israeli School Books: Ideology and Propaganda in Education. In her book she clarifies how the textbooks used in the Israeli school system promote the idea of Judaization of both Israel and Palestine presented as one unit- the Land of Israel, and that they play a part in priming Israeli children for military service.
She analyzes the presentation of images, maps, layouts and use of language in History, Geography and Civic Studies textbooks, and reveals how the books marginalize or rather exclude Palestinians from the life-world of the region, legitimize Israeli military action and reinforce Jewish-Israeli territorial identity, all of which seem to correspond to all categories of racist verbal and visual discourse.
Please join for this powerful evening!
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.
22 sept 2013
Violent confrontations were reported in the Old City of Al-Khalil after Israeli occupation forces (IOF) fired teargas at schoolchildren while on their way home from school at noon Sunday. Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that schoolchildren threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers who responded by firing teargas at them. They added that a number of citizens suffered breathing problems as a result of the attack especially the elderly people and some of them were taken to the government hospital in the city.
The witnesses said that IOF soldiers arrested four kids for taking part in throwing stones but women in the suburb succeeded in freeing them. They added, however, that two others were arrested and taken to an army barracks near the Ibrahimi mosque.
Meanwhile, other IOF soldiers closed the southern entrance to Al-Khalil city and the main entrance to Fawar refugee camp.
The soldiers also broke into the home of Salem Al-Salayma in Al-Khalil and forced him and his entire family out of it this afternoon.
Salayma told the PIC reporter that the soldiers ordered him, his wife, and children out of the home and blocked them from approaching it. He said that the soldiers occupied the rooftop of his home and a nearby mosque, noting that they were near to the Kiryat Arba settlement.
Recalling that it was not the first time, Salayma said that such “arbitrary measures target forcing us to abandon our home due to its proximity to Kiryat Arba settlement”.
The witnesses said that IOF soldiers arrested four kids for taking part in throwing stones but women in the suburb succeeded in freeing them. They added, however, that two others were arrested and taken to an army barracks near the Ibrahimi mosque.
Meanwhile, other IOF soldiers closed the southern entrance to Al-Khalil city and the main entrance to Fawar refugee camp.
The soldiers also broke into the home of Salem Al-Salayma in Al-Khalil and forced him and his entire family out of it this afternoon.
Salayma told the PIC reporter that the soldiers ordered him, his wife, and children out of the home and blocked them from approaching it. He said that the soldiers occupied the rooftop of his home and a nearby mosque, noting that they were near to the Kiryat Arba settlement.
Recalling that it was not the first time, Salayma said that such “arbitrary measures target forcing us to abandon our home due to its proximity to Kiryat Arba settlement”.
Dozens of Palestinian students Sunday suffered from tear gas suffocation during clashed that erupted between them and Israeli forces in the southern part of Hebron city, according to local sources. They said that confrontations erupted between Israeli forces and students in the vicinity of a high school in the southern part of Hebron city; forces fired tear gas canisters at the students, causing several suffocation cases among them.
Several schools in that area sent students back to their homes to insure their safety.
Several schools in that area sent students back to their homes to insure their safety.
19 sept 2013
Students and patients seeking medical treatment outside Gaza are among those affected by Egypt’s closure policy
Malaka Mohammed has her luggage packed and is ready to leave at any moment. Yet the 23-year-old does not know when she will be able to take up her place in Britain’s Sheffield University. The closure of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has left her stranded.
Because of the uncertainty, Mohammed says she spends “most of my time leaning on my laptop,” waiting to hear if the crossing has been reopened.
Obtaining a scholarship in Sheffield was a lengthy process. Mohammed made contact with the university’s students’ union on the Internet. The union was supportive of her efforts and after a number of months, her scholarship was approved by the academic authorities.
Once she makes it to the northern English city, she will begin studying for a master’s degree in international politics and law.
Mohammed’s parents have encouraged her to continue her studies, now that she has graduated in English literature from the Islamic University of Gaza.
“My father has been pushing me towards pursuing my education,” she said. “I am so grateful to my father for the confidence he has put in me, encouraging me to go abroad. You know here it is a conservative society, but my father has been so open-minded and has never objected. He is now so concerned, maybe more than myself, about the reopening of Rafah crossing.”
Activist Mohammed is no stranger to political activism. Over the past few years, she has helped the campaign for a boycott of Israeli goods to grow within Gaza and has organized protests in solidarity with hunger strikes by Palestinian political prisoners.
Understandably, the main focus of her activism lately has been to have Rafah reopened.
She is one of many students planning to take part in a 25-kilometer march from Gaza City, where she lives, to Rafah in the near future. Some activists have also set a goal of collecting 100,000 signatures urging Egypt to reopen the crossing.
The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that only a small number of Gaza residents have been allowed to cross into Egypt, after its authorities closed the Rafah crossing following the coup which took place in Cairo during July. OCHA has estimated that an average of 150 persons [PDF] crossed into Egypt via Rafah per day in the first week of this month. This was just 15 percent the number of people allowed to enter Egypt in June.
“Ridiculous pretext” Patients requiring medical treatment in Egypt that they cannot receive in Gaza have also been affected by the closure. The health ministry in Gaza has stated that thousands of people have been blocked from going to Egypt for treatment.
Medical staff have reportedly been denied permission to enter Gaza from Egypt, too. The staff had intended to provide specialized treatment and train local staff (“Egyptian border restrictions create misery in Gaza,” IRIN, 17 September 2013).
Mahmoud al-Ajramy, a professor at the Palestine University in Gaza, argued that the residents of Gaza are being collectively punished for events in Egypt. Collective punishment is illegal under international law.
“The Egyptian officials did not produce a single piece of evidence against the Palestinian people,” he said. “For example, when they claimed that body guards of Muhammad Morsi [the ousted president], were members of the Palestinian Hamas party, this was a ridiculous pretext to use against the Palestinian resistance. These claims can never be believed.”
Although it might be some time before she can leave the Strip, Malaka Mohammad has no intention of abandoning her plans.
“I am still hoping that our Egyptian brothers will respond to our legitimate, simple demand for travel,” she said. “While Israel is still imposing a blockade on Gaza, we look to our Arab brothers to help us and to relieve us.”
Rami Almeghari is a journalist and university lecturer based in the Gaza Strip.
Malaka Mohammed has her luggage packed and is ready to leave at any moment. Yet the 23-year-old does not know when she will be able to take up her place in Britain’s Sheffield University. The closure of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has left her stranded.
Because of the uncertainty, Mohammed says she spends “most of my time leaning on my laptop,” waiting to hear if the crossing has been reopened.
Obtaining a scholarship in Sheffield was a lengthy process. Mohammed made contact with the university’s students’ union on the Internet. The union was supportive of her efforts and after a number of months, her scholarship was approved by the academic authorities.
Once she makes it to the northern English city, she will begin studying for a master’s degree in international politics and law.
Mohammed’s parents have encouraged her to continue her studies, now that she has graduated in English literature from the Islamic University of Gaza.
“My father has been pushing me towards pursuing my education,” she said. “I am so grateful to my father for the confidence he has put in me, encouraging me to go abroad. You know here it is a conservative society, but my father has been so open-minded and has never objected. He is now so concerned, maybe more than myself, about the reopening of Rafah crossing.”
Activist Mohammed is no stranger to political activism. Over the past few years, she has helped the campaign for a boycott of Israeli goods to grow within Gaza and has organized protests in solidarity with hunger strikes by Palestinian political prisoners.
Understandably, the main focus of her activism lately has been to have Rafah reopened.
She is one of many students planning to take part in a 25-kilometer march from Gaza City, where she lives, to Rafah in the near future. Some activists have also set a goal of collecting 100,000 signatures urging Egypt to reopen the crossing.
The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that only a small number of Gaza residents have been allowed to cross into Egypt, after its authorities closed the Rafah crossing following the coup which took place in Cairo during July. OCHA has estimated that an average of 150 persons [PDF] crossed into Egypt via Rafah per day in the first week of this month. This was just 15 percent the number of people allowed to enter Egypt in June.
“Ridiculous pretext” Patients requiring medical treatment in Egypt that they cannot receive in Gaza have also been affected by the closure. The health ministry in Gaza has stated that thousands of people have been blocked from going to Egypt for treatment.
Medical staff have reportedly been denied permission to enter Gaza from Egypt, too. The staff had intended to provide specialized treatment and train local staff (“Egyptian border restrictions create misery in Gaza,” IRIN, 17 September 2013).
Mahmoud al-Ajramy, a professor at the Palestine University in Gaza, argued that the residents of Gaza are being collectively punished for events in Egypt. Collective punishment is illegal under international law.
“The Egyptian officials did not produce a single piece of evidence against the Palestinian people,” he said. “For example, when they claimed that body guards of Muhammad Morsi [the ousted president], were members of the Palestinian Hamas party, this was a ridiculous pretext to use against the Palestinian resistance. These claims can never be believed.”
Although it might be some time before she can leave the Strip, Malaka Mohammad has no intention of abandoning her plans.
“I am still hoping that our Egyptian brothers will respond to our legitimate, simple demand for travel,” she said. “While Israel is still imposing a blockade on Gaza, we look to our Arab brothers to help us and to relieve us.”
Rami Almeghari is a journalist and university lecturer based in the Gaza Strip.
18 sept 2013
Dozens of Jerusalemite students were injured on Wednesday morning after the Israeli soldiers attacked their school in Abu Dis eastern Jerusalem and fired tear gas on them. Maisa Abu Ghazalah, a researcher in Wadi Hila Information Center, told Alray that an Israeli special unit attacked Abu Dis town and surrounded “the Abu Dis Male Secondary School” close to Al-Quds University, leading to clashes between the Israeli soldiers and the students.
She added the Israeli troops fired tear gas toward the school, several suffocation cases were reported.
These attacks came after a group of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa in the early morning under the pretext of celebrating the Jewish holiday called” Soroka Holiday”.
She added the Israeli troops fired tear gas toward the school, several suffocation cases were reported.
These attacks came after a group of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa in the early morning under the pretext of celebrating the Jewish holiday called” Soroka Holiday”.
Israeli forces forcibly entered the al-Aqsa mosque compound on Wednesday and deployed heavily around the entrances, preventing Palestinian worshipers from accessing the area, locals said.
Israeli troops entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate and the Chain Gate and denied all Palestinians, including women and chidlren, entry to the area.
Around 500 students who study at religious schools in the al-Aqsa compound were also denied access to their schools, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, a group of ultra-orthodox Jews were allowed entry to the area at around 8 a.m. through the Moroccan Gate. Dozens of Palestinian worshipers who were in the mosque hurled stones at the group, before being chased by Israeli forces.
They were then held in the southern mosque and attacked with pepper spray, witnesses said.
Hundreds of worshipers gathered near the main gates leading to al-Aqsa in protest about restricted access to the area.
Israeli officers hit several people, including women, with clubs near the Bab al-Huta.
A series of recent of visits by Israeli rightists have created a sense of fear among al-Aqsa authorities about control of the holy site.
Head of the Islamic Higher Commission, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, told Ma'an last week that repeated incursions by Jewish extremists "confirm Israeli ambitions and the risks to the mosque."
He pointed to the division of the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron, which is now separated into two parts.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood.
According to mainstream religious leaders, Jews are forbidden from entering for fear they would profane the "Holy of Holies" the inner sanctum of the Second Temple.
Israeli troops entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate and the Chain Gate and denied all Palestinians, including women and chidlren, entry to the area.
Around 500 students who study at religious schools in the al-Aqsa compound were also denied access to their schools, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, a group of ultra-orthodox Jews were allowed entry to the area at around 8 a.m. through the Moroccan Gate. Dozens of Palestinian worshipers who were in the mosque hurled stones at the group, before being chased by Israeli forces.
They were then held in the southern mosque and attacked with pepper spray, witnesses said.
Hundreds of worshipers gathered near the main gates leading to al-Aqsa in protest about restricted access to the area.
Israeli officers hit several people, including women, with clubs near the Bab al-Huta.
A series of recent of visits by Israeli rightists have created a sense of fear among al-Aqsa authorities about control of the holy site.
Head of the Islamic Higher Commission, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, told Ma'an last week that repeated incursions by Jewish extremists "confirm Israeli ambitions and the risks to the mosque."
He pointed to the division of the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron, which is now separated into two parts.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood.
According to mainstream religious leaders, Jews are forbidden from entering for fear they would profane the "Holy of Holies" the inner sanctum of the Second Temple.
11 sept 2013
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) forced liberated prisoner Samer Al-Juba to take a forced break from his education at a university in Al-Khalil and return to his hometown in Beersheba. The Ahrar center for prisoners’ studies said in a statement on Wednesday that Samer, 21, was arrested twice before the first for one month in 2010 and the second for seven months in 2012.
The center quoted Samer as saying that it was the first time he had heard of such an order and added that he left back for Beersheba and abandoned his studies in Al-Khalil University.
He said that the IOA claimed he posed danger to the region, adding, “I don’t know what is that danger”.
Ahrar statement described the IOA decision as “oppressive and inhuman”, adding that freedom of movement, residence, and education should be available to all without any restrictions.
The center quoted Samer as saying that it was the first time he had heard of such an order and added that he left back for Beersheba and abandoned his studies in Al-Khalil University.
He said that the IOA claimed he posed danger to the region, adding, “I don’t know what is that danger”.
Ahrar statement described the IOA decision as “oppressive and inhuman”, adding that freedom of movement, residence, and education should be available to all without any restrictions.