The Israeli military kidnap a Muslim cleric in Jerusalem and send him to Jericho

Thursday July 09, 2009 17:20 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

The Israeli military kidnapped on Thursday at dawn Sheikh Ali Abbasi, the Imam of the Al Qassa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The Israeli military took Sheikh Ali to Jericho city and released him there and told him he can't come back to Jerusalem because he has no Israeli citizenship. According to the Palestinian staff that runs the Al Qassa Mosque the Israeli military move today is part of the daily harassment they have to go through.

Soldiers attack the Ni'lin weekly Protest

Friday July 10, 2009 15:51 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Israeli soldiers attacked Palestinian villagers along with their international and Israeli peace supporters during the weekly non-violent protest against the wall in Ni'lin village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, on Friday.

As the villagers marched towards the location of the Israeli wall, undercover Israeli soldiers attacked people and kidnapped three local youth. Witnesses say the saw soldiers beating up the three, before kidnapping them.

People continued to march until they reached the wall; troops then attacked them with tear gas. Scores were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation. Later on local youth hurled stones on Israeli troops.

Two kidnapped and dozens suffered tear gas inhalation during the weekly Bil'in protest

Friday July 10, 2009 15:38 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Two were kidnapped and dozens suffered from gas inhalation when Israeli occupation soldiers attacked the weekly protest in Bil'in village near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday.

International and Israeli supporters joined the villagers of Bil'in and marched from the village center after the Friday midday prayers. The protesters demanded the halt of Israeli illegal settlements and construction of the wall. Among the protesters were leaders and supporters of the Palestinian National Initiative, PNI, marking the 7th anniversary of the initiative.

As the protesters arrived at the wall, Israeli occupation soldiers stationed at its gate fired a barrage of sound bombs, tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. troops kidnapped two civilians. The soldiers also used what the villagers call "bad smell" bombs.

The "bad smell" bombs cause people to vomit and get miss oriented. Dozens were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation and cases of vomiting. Among the people affected were Mustafa Al Barghouthi, General Secretary of the PNI and a Palestinian MP.

Marking the 5th anniversary of the decision of the International Court of Justice, that declared the Israeli Wall illegal, the local village committee against the Wall and settlements called for the popular nonviolent resistance to continue.

In related news, the Israeli military continued its invasions of the village of Bil'in. Troops kidnapped eight villagers and an international supporter this week. Local activists and international supporters responded to the nightly invasions by staying overnight, touring the village and stopping the military forces from kidnapping more civilians.