Palestine: Israeli army kidnaps dozens of Palestinians in West Bank

[Photo: Israeli soldiers Invading Hebron:  Hebron Daily News]

By Saed Bannoura

IMEMC & Agencies: Tuesday, Israeli soldiers continued their large-scale military invasion into different Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, broke into dozens of homes and searched them, and kidnapped dozens of Palestinians.

Local sources in the southern West Bank district of Hebron have reported that the soldiers kidnapped at least fifteen Palestinians after breaking into their homes, and interrogated dozens of residents.
The WAFA News Agency said that soldiers invaded various towns, villages and refugee camps in the district, and kidnapped; Rami Rafe’ Markhiyya, 13, Jihad Monther Fannoun, Awni Sa’id Sabarna, Samir Saleh al-Qady, Fadi Abdullah Ghneimat, Ahmad Khalaf, Marwan Abbdul-Qader Abu Fara, Ahmad al-Hour and his son Husam, Jadallah Abdullah Rajoub, Mohammad Fawzi al-Khatib, Anas Sobhy al-Jo’ba, Jalal Jamal Yaghmour, Eid Mousa Ebrewish and Ali Hmeidat.

WAFA added that the soldiers also invaded dozens of homes, violently searched them, and used many homes as military posts and monitoring towers.

Soldiers also installed roadblocks blocking any contiguity between towns and villages in the southern and western parts of Hebron.

They further confiscated surveillance cameras belonging to residents in Sinjer area, east of Doura town.

Local sources said the sounds of explosions were heard in various areas in Hebron, and that the soldiers were deliberately throwing sounds bombs and concussion grenades into Palestinian homes before invading them.

At least 80 Palestinians have been kidnapped in the Hebron district since the three Israeli settlers went missing last Thursday night.

In Ethna town, west of Hebron, the soldiers demolished an under-construction 130 square/meter home, belonging to a resident identified as Mohammad Hussein Farahallah.

In the Bethlehem District, soldiers invaded the Aida refugee camp, east of the city, and searched a number of homes before kidnapping one resident identified as Shadi Mohammad Badawna, 24, while resident Khalid Abu Shaqra, 16, from Um Salmouna village, west of Bethlehem was also taken prisoner.

Medical sources in Aida refugee camp stated that several residents received treatment for the effects of teargas inhalation, especially at the eastern entrance of the camp.

The soldiers also invaded Nahhalin, west of Bethlehem, and invaded car tries workshops, acellphone store, a supermarket and a nearby store, confiscating surveillance cameras, and also invading and violently searching several homes while interrogating the families.

In addition, soldiers invaded the villages of Jouret ash-Sham’a, Wadi an-Neess and Um Salmouna, near Bethlehem, and searched dozens of homes and shops.

Late on Monday at night, a number of Israeli settlers hurled Molotov cocktails and rocks at Palestinian cars in Nahhalin village, near Bethlehem, causing damage but no injuries.

Earlier on Tuesday, at dawn, dozens of soldiers invaded Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, kidnapping a father and his two sons after violently searching their home.

They have been identified as Sa’id Salama Salim, and his sons Waleed and Odai.

The soldiers also besieged Azzoun after blocking all roads leading to it by concrete blocks, and sand hills.

Dozens of soldiers also invaded the Ramallah and al-Biereh District, attacked and searched several homes in different neighborhoods, before kidnapping at least three Palestinians.

Local sources said that the soldiers kidnapped Aziz Kayed, Ahmad Najid Mafarja, and Mohammad Ammar. Many residents were detained, and some might have been kidnapped later on.

In Salfit, in the central West Bank, medical sources said one Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli army fire, and was moved to a local hospital.

The young man, in his twenties, was shot by several rounds of live ammunition and was moved by the army to an Israeli hospital. His identity, and the severity of his injuries, remained unknown until the time of this report.

The Tuesday dawn invasion into northern West Bank districts resulted in at least 41 arrests, while Israeli online daily, Haaretz, has reported that more than a thousand Israeli soldiers participated in the night invasions across the occupied West Bank.

Palestine: Eight Palestinians kidnapped by Israeli soldiers in Jenin, soldiers confiscate UN vehicle

[Jenin home ransacked by Israeli soldiers: Jenin Facebook Group]

By Saed Bannoura

IMEMC & Agencies:  Tuesday, dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and the Jenin refugee camp, violently broke into and searched dozens of homes, kidnapped eight Palestinians and confiscated a vehicle belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Local sources said that dozens of Israeli military vehicles and jeeps invaded various neighborhoods in the city, and searched dozens of homes before kidnapping eight Palestinians.

The sources said the eight have been identified as Yazan Jarrar (a lawyer), 23, Mohammad Sa’ad, 30, Wael Turkman, 20, Kifah Khader, 23, Yousef at-Tatar, 21, Ahmad Samara, 22, Ibrahim Maslamani. 30, and Abdullah as-Sa’dy, 48.
The men were kidnapped after soldiers smashed the doors of their homes and ransacked the property, causing excessive damage.

Soldiers also invaded the homes of Mahmoud Abu Naa’sa, Hassan Oweid and Mohammad Ghalyoun, and used the properties as military centers.

In addition, the soldiers caused excessive property damage in the homes of Ahmad Awartany, Ahmad an-Najjar, Awni Abu Alia, Rajeh Abu Alia and his father’s home, Thiab Sa’ad, and Abu Sa’id al-Bal’aqy.

Medical sources said scores of residents have been injured as the soldiers invaded Jenin city, and the Jenin refugee camp, while firing dozens of gas bombs, concussion grenades and rounds of live ammunition, leading to clashes with local youth. Undercover soldiers of the army also infiltrated into the city.

In addition, undercover forces of the army confiscated a vehicle belonging to the UNRWA, in the Jenin refugee camp, forced a kidnapped resident to drive it with them under gunpoint, left the vehicle later on in an area near the Annexation Wall, and released the driver.

Jenin Governor, Ibrahim Ramadan, slammed the ongoing Israeli military escalation, and the deliberate targeting of civilians, warning that Israel’s violations will only lead the area into further violence.

Ramadan added that kidnapping civilians violates International Law, and all related human rights agreements, adding that confiscating and illegally using an UNRWA car is a blatant Israeli disregard to the UNRWA and international law.

He called on the International Community and all peace activists and supporters around the world to act on ending the Israeli military aggression, and crimes that aim at trying to force the Palestinians to abandon their legitimate rights of dignity, freedom, liberation and independence.

Lebanon: Nasrallah: ISIS would be in Beirut if not for Hizbullah intervention

[ISIS capture Iraqi soldiers later were killed]

ISIS forces marching towards Baghdad would today be in Beirut had Hezbollah not intervened in the war in Syria, party chief Hassan Nasrallah was quoted as saying by As-Safir newspaper Tuesday.

“If [Hezbollah] hadn’t intervened in Syria the right way and at the right time, ISIS would be in Beirut now,” Nasrallah reportedly said in a speech to the Mahdi Scouts on Sunday.

The secretary general was referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria which has taken over large swathes of territory in Iraq since launching a massive offensive last week, and is encroaching on the capital.

The al-Qaeda breakaway group controls territory in both Iraq and Syria, but its presence in the latter is limited to the north after army forces backed by Hezbollah fighters drove them out of the Lebanese border regions.

In his speech, Nasrallah said the call to arms made by religious authorities in the Najaf, including top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, was “not intended to protect a particular sect, but to protect Iraq as a whole.”

He was also skeptical about “some Gulf and regional countries” that might have a role in Iraq’s collapse at the hands of ISIS.

“Why don’t we hear those who condemned [Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria] condemn ISIS?” he asked.

On the local front, Nasrallah stressed for the need to elect a president and put an end to Lebanon’s political stalemate.

Nasrallah said that Hezbollah wanted a new president, but not one that “would stab the Resistance in the back.”

(Al-Akhbar)

Iraq: Battles over northern Iraq Turkmen towns kill dozens

ISIS fighters attacked a northern Iraqi village inhabited by ethnic Turkmens but were repelled, police said on Tuesday, highlighting an upsurge of violence after stunning advances by the extremist rebels.

The militants were beaten back from the village of Basheer, 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of the city of Kirkuk after an hour of clashes with local militia and police forces.

But dozens have been killed in fighting for another northern Turkmen village, deputy provincial council chief of Tal Afar, Nuriddin Qabalan, said.

Militants have seized most of Tal Afar in fighting that has killed dozens of civilians and combatants.

Security forces and civilian fighters still hold parts of Tal Afar, in Nineveh province, along a strategic corridor to Syria

The government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seeking to repel the militants who have seized several cities over the past week.

Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other militants have swept through towns in the Tigris valley north of Baghdad in recent days but appeared to have halted their advance outside the capital on Sunday as they tightened their grip on the north.

ISIS’s advance may pose the biggest security crisis to Iraq since the worst of the sectarian bloodshed that followed the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Iraqi state news channel “Iraqiya” said that the army had killed two commanders from ISIS on Tuesday. It did not say where in Iraq.

Libya: US captures suspected 2012 Benghazi consulate attack ringleader

[Photo: Ahmed Abu Khattala]

A militant suspected of being involved in the deadly 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi has been captured in a secret raid in Libya. Four Americans, including the ambassador, were killed in the attack.

US officials announced on Tuesday that Ahmed Abu Khattala, a senior leader of the Benghazi branch of the terror group Ansar al-Sharia in Libya, had been captured.

“I can confirm that on Sunday, June 15 the US military – in cooperation with law enforcement personnel – captured Ahmed Abu Khatallah, a key figure in the attacks on US facilities in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012,” spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said.

“He is in US custody in a secure location outside Libya,” Kirby added.

An unnamed US official told the Reuters news agency that Khattala is being held on a US ship following his capture over the weekend by US special operations forces. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said he was apprehended on the outskirts of Benghazi in a secret operation and will now be brought to the US.

“There were no civilian casualties related to this operation, and all US personnel involved in the operation have safely departed Libya,” a Pentagon press secretary said.

Consulate attacked

On September 11 2012, militants linked to al-Qaeda affiliates attacked the US consulate in Benghazi (pictured above), killing the US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

The attack on the US mission and the adjacent CIA compound became a point of contention among Democrats and Republicans in Washington.

Republicans accused the Obama administration, in particular former UN Ambassador Susan Rice, of deliberately misleading the public about what caused the attacks. Rice and other officials initially said they stemmed from a spontaneous protest over an anti-Muslim film.

The Obama administration later said the event was a premeditated attack carried out by an al Qaeda-backed militia.

Mosque Controversies in Europe (and Lessons Learned From the American Experience)

According to a 2012 research study conducted by Pew, Muslims are the second largest religious group in Europe, constituting approximately 5.9 percent of the population. Their growing presence, attributed to an influx of migration from Muslim-majority societies, has been met by increased government restrictions on and related social hostilities related to religion or belief. This post examines the conflict surrounding mosque construction projects.

By way of background, many Muslims view mosques as a divine house of worship reserved for spiritual reflection and prayer akin to a Christian church, Jewish synagogue, Buddhist temple or Hindu mandir.

In some communities, a mosque is a place of social, cultural and economic significance, too. Members may go to there to celebrate weddings or births, contribute to a charitable event, participate in interfaith dialogues and sell ethnic garb or goods.

For some Europeans, however, purpose-built mosques are a symbolic representation of Muslims, a visible imprint of the group's cultural presence. Similar to controversies arising in the American context, the debate surrounding European mosque construction plans may reflect popular anxieties about fundamentalism, expressions of gender inequality, links with extremism, etc.

Popular and political opposition may also be undergirded by a fear of Islamic power and dominion. This is because a purpose-built mosque visibly alters landscape and territory. In contrast, makeshift or ad hoc mosques are unrecognizable as such and are plentiful throughout Europe.

In Greece, a country that was subject to Turkish Ottoman rule for nearly four centuries, Muslims have been struggling since 1971 to build an official mosque in Athens, reportedly the only capital city in the European Union without one.

Their efforts stem from a desire to accommodate the faith practices of a growing community. Approximately 500,000 to 700,000 Muslims live in the area, and currently pray in ad hoc (unregistered) mosques operating in old garages, warehouses or cultural halls. Again, these mosques are invisible -- just a sign or plaque identifies them as such -- and little to no debate surrounds them.

Since 2011, plans to build an official mosque in Athens have failed on five occasions due to popular and political opposition. Organized protests to the Athens mosque has been fomented by supporters of the far-right National Front movement and by members of Golden Dawn, a political party openly espousing anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism.

Amid Greek's financial turmoil in recent years, these parties have grown in strength and political power with adverse consequences for the country's ethnic and religious minorities, including Muslims who have historically been viewed as Turkish, foreigners or harboring anti-Greek sentiments.

In Northern Ireland, Muslims have been working for over a decade to establish a purpose-built mosque in Belfast to accommodate the community of approximately 5,000. Their initial plans failed about 10 years ago when popular opposition voiced concerns about how a purpose-built mosque would attract Islamic militants and introduce noise pollution to the area. Members continue to pray in a Victorian house that accommodates just 200 worshippers.

As reported by Amnesty International, the efforts of Muslims to introduce a purpose-built mosque to Catalonia, Spain have similarly failed. In fact, between 1990 and 2008, such efforts have given rise to 40 disputes between Muslim organizations, municipal officials and residents.

With more than 350,000 Muslims residing in the region, some political parties have described the group's desire for a purpose-built mosque as "incompatible with Catalan traditions and culture." As a result, Muslims are frequently forced to pray outdoors due to the lack of adequate space at ad hoc prayer rooms.

In other instances, selective enforcement of laws and regulations are used to shut down mosques. In Italy, for instance, officials are described as selectively enforcing security or fire safety standards against mosques but not other buildings that are in violation of the same regulations. To be sure, all buildings should comply with applicable rules and regulations that should be applied fairly across the board.

In the United States, American Muslims have confronted popular and official opposition to mosque construction and expansion projects, too. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), such opposition represents the Civil Rights Division's greatest "growth industry" in the context of anti-Muslim activity.

In response, American Muslims have often filed related lawsuits to enforce their right to establish a house of worship under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal U.S. statute that protects individuals, houses of worship and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning law.

From Murfreesboro, Tennessee to Bridgewater, New Jersey, American Muslims have prevailed in those cases.

And, they have frequently done so with the assistance of or support from the U.S. federal government. In Murfreesboro, the DOJ famously intervened by filing legal papers supporting the Muslim community's right to build their house of worship. In the past two years, the DOJ has initiated 21 cases involving discrimination and arbitrary action by local zoning boards against mosques.

This represents the first lesson learned from the American experience: officials must strengthen the rule of law by implementing and enforcing appropriate legislation.

Under international law, the right to establish places of worship is a protected aspect of one's right to freedom of religion or belief set forth within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and European Convention on Human Rights.

This is because constructing a purpose-built mosque represents a manifestation of religious freedom.

European government officials should protect the rights of all citizens, including religious minorities, to establish places of worship by further strengthening the rule of law in their respective states. They can do so by ensuring that private and official actors adhere to the law. Further, political leaders and officials should visit existing mosques to help dispel stereotypes and stigma surrounding the institutions; U.S. embassy officials should do the same.

In so doing, their efforts not only advances the cause of human rights and religious freedom but also effectively undermines the narrative that the so-called 'War on Terrorism' is in reality a 'War on Muslims.'

Similar to their American counterparts, Muslims in Europe have a critical role to play in upholding the rule of law, too. And, that brings us to the second lesson learned from the American experience:

File a lawsuit.

And, once you have prevailed, be sure to hold an open house at the new purpose-built mosque to facilitate dialogue and enhance mutual understanding necessary to fostering peace and building community in your area.

Engy Abdelkader is a Legal Fellow with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C.

This article was published in the Huffington Post on January 2, 2014. Read it here.

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Hijab purifying our intentions

“Verily, the reward of deeds depends upon the intentions, Verily, every person will get rewarded only for what he intended.” – Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

As a female, I realize how hard it is to overcome the temptations of dressing up in a certain way. Since we’re constantly bombarded with media images telling us how to dress and how to look more appealing to others. I realize this. But I also realize a bigger reality. For this isn’t the reason why I was created. It’s not all about my looks and how others perceive me. I was created for a more noble purpose. To help make this world a better place and find my way back to my Creator. While studying some of the world religions, I realized that among the many similarities between them is in fact the religious dress code of women. It has always been about covering and not drawing attention to one’s body. In Islam, we often refer to this kind of dress code as Hijab.

Any behavior that is regularly repeated will soon turn into a habit. That’s why in Islam we are constantly encouraged to renew our intentions before taking any action. Finding meaning to hijab, which is an act of obedience to God, is essential. It shouldn’t turn into a habitual act devoid of any spiritual meaning.

There is in fact an increasingly popular trend among Muslim women these days of taking off the hijab. It might also become the norm very soon. I believe one of the main reasons girls are taking it off is because they no longer feel its essence. It has become insignificant or an unnecessary burden. Some might argue that it’s not obligatory. While others believe it is, but admit it’s a decision they’re not ready to take. Nouman Ali Khan, a Quran teacher, says about the validity of Hijab: “The ruling hasn’t changed. It’s not something that is really open to discussion and it wasn’t questionable until recently.”

So what is Hijab?

Hijab comes from the Arabic word ‘hajaba’ meaning to hide or to concel. Islamically, it often refers to the dress code of Muslim women. Khimar is another Arabic word that comes from the root word ‘khamara’ meaning to cover. Everything that covers something else is called its khimar. In accordance to the Muslim woman dress code, Khimar is the top garment (head-covering) while hijab may refer to the garment of the rest of the body. This shows that Hijab is not simply a headscarf covering the head, but it’s more than that. You can wear whatever you want making sure it doesn’t violate the Islamic guidelines of Hijab which mainly revolve around wearing loose garments that do not reveal the female’s figure.

“O you Children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you garments to cover your shame, and (garments) for beauty but the garment of God-consciousness is the best of all..” [Quran 7:26]

So why should we wear it ?

Many Muslim women wear hijab for a number of reasons. Whether it’s for cultural reasons, parental influence, religious reasons or others. Our intention behind wearing it is what really counts. Most of us though would answer instantly when asked and say we do it for God. But the truth is, sometimes we tend to forget that and we keep it on out of habit or out of fear of being judged by others. According to Islam, we wear it not because it forces men to respect us; and not to save our beauty for them, not to make ourselves less of a trial for men: they’re not even part of the equation. We do it because God told us to do so, not because we saw benefits in it either. On a personal level, I also see it as a test. A test from the Most Beautiful. Among God’s countless blessings is the fact that He made all women beautiful.

And no doubt – we all love our beauty to be recognized.

But I believe our obedience is actually being tested.

“Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” without being put to test? [Quran 29:3]

The word Islam bears within its meaning ‘peace and submission’ , coming from the same root word as Salam, ‘Salam and Isteslam’ respectively. So it basically means that by submitting your will to God you’ll be at peace. That is what Islam is about, submitting our standards to God’s standards. And truth be told, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

It’s important to mention that Hijab is not the only way by which women could worship God. However, it is still an act of worship we’re commanded to be engaged in.

As Maryam Amirebrahimi says: “Worship comes in such a variety of forms. Being a housewife can be a form of worship. Being a stay-at-home-mom can be a form of worship. Being a working wife and mother can be a form of worship. Being an unmarried female student can be a form of worship. Being a divorced female doctor, a female journalist, Islamic scholar, film director, pastry chef, teacher, veterinarian, engineer, personal trainer, lawyer, artist, nurse, Qur’an teacher, psychologist, pharmacist or salon artist can each be a form of worship. Just being an awesome daughter can be a form of worship.

We can worship Allah in a variety of ways, as long as we have a sincere intention, and what we do is done within the guidelines He has set for us.”