IOF troops quell a women demonstration in Jerusalem

 [ 19/03/2010 - 10:02 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

 A large number of Palestinian women took part in a demonstration after the end of the Friday prayer Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to local sources in the occupied holy city.

The women marched the streets of the old city raising copies of the Quran and chanting slogans about Jerusalem and  Al-Aqsa Mosque belonging to the Palestinians and condemning the Israeli occupation government policies of confiscation of Palestinian lands.

As soon as the demonstration reached Bab Al-Amoud at the centre of the city IOF troops barred the demonstrators from reaching Sultan Sulaiman Street and the demonstrators clashed with the Israeli occupation troops who violently quelled the demonstration and assaulted the women.

Clashes across Jerusalem as court evicts 15

Published yesterday (updated) 20/03/2010 08:39

Jerusalem – Ma'an –

Hundreds of young Palestinian men clashed with Israeli occupation government border police in the Shu’afat refugee camp north of Jerusalem on Friday, witnesses said.

"At least 15 boys were beaten and detained when they took shelter in an empty building 100 meters away from the military checkpoint" at the entrance of the camp, one witnesses said.

Israeli occupation soldiers "disguised as Arabs and an under-cover unit that surrounded them inside the building," the witness, who preferred not to be named, added. "When they were forced out they had blood on their faces."

Rubber-coated bullets and tear-gas were used against the group, and ambulances were unable to access the injured, locals said, with traffic being turned around as far away as the 'Anata and As-Salam neighborhoods.

Violence erupted when camp residents concluded Friday prayers and gathered at the military checkpoint at one entrance, throwing stones at the structure, witnesses said, noting large numbers of forces were summoned to the camp, blocking the entrance.

Clashes spread as witnesses reported at least one Molotov cocktail thrown in the street at Sultan Suleiman, where an Israeli patrol car was policing the area. No injuries were reported among the soldiers.

The East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Wadi Al-Joz , Ras Al-'Amud, the Qalandiya refugee camp and Al-Eisawiyah saw stone throwers met with tear-gas and rubber-coated bullets, with several injuries reported in Qalandiya.

Shaikh Jarrah

Hundreds of Israeli and international peace activists gathered in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shaikh Jarrah, in an effort to show solidarity with residents of the area, many of whom were threatened with home demolitions and eviction orders.

Israeli occupation government police forces blocked the entrances of the neighborhood, preventing many of activists from reaching Al-Kurd and Al-Ghawar homes, occupied by illegal Israeli settlers. 

Six Jerusalemites were ordered evicted from their Bab Huta and Al-Wad neighborhood homes in the Old City on Friday, a report said, following their arrest on Thursday.

Moussa Ghousha, 22, his brother Ibrahim, 21, 'Ahed Al-Resheq, 22, Mohammad 'Aseela, 17, and Abed Al-Ramlawi,18, from Al-Wad and Rami Al-Fakhouri,18, from Bab Huta, were identified as the young men subjected to the eviction order.

Another fifteen may also be subjected to eviction, a court document said.

Israeli occupation government police and border guard officials were unavailable for comment.

Israel tightens Jerusalem restrictions

Published yesterday (updated) 20/03/2010 13:58

Jerusalem – Ma'an –

 The Israeli occupation government planned to limit the entrance of male Palestinian worshipers to East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque area on Friday, officials said, preventing men under the age of 50 from visiting the site.

Israeli occupation government police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the restrictions would not apply to women visiting the Old City landmark, and that the area remained open for other visitors as normal.

Rosenfeld told Ma'an he was aware of "no unusual activity on the Temple Mount," denying reports that police damaged several doors to ablution rooms at a Ministry of Endowment building, and that forces were seen standing on rooftops adjacent to the mosque.

Israeli police were expected to deploy in force throughout the occupied eastern half of the city, officials said, following violent clashes over the past several days that left dozens of Palestinians and Israeli police injured.

Israeli occupation government police detained a Palestinian man on Friday morning after a limited scuffle at the Damascus Gate entryway into the Old City, Al-Jazeera reported.