information from Article WEST BANK: Palestinian Christians denied access to holy places in Jerusalem during Easter journalist Maher Abukhatera that entirely in English can be read on the link .
16th travanj 2011th
Unlike Christians the rest of the world, the Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank and Gaza can not visit Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Since Israel East Jerusalem in the early 1990s cut off from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories, Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the Israeli army must get permission to not go to Jerusalem.
The situation further deteriorated after 2000. , and restrictions are tightened after about East Jeruazelma built 6 feet tall concrete wall that Palestinian Muslims and Christians prevents access to holy sites and the old town of Jerusalem.
"For Christians, Holy Week in Jerusalem has a special spiritual significance," the statement said Christian communities in the West Bank. "The old city, its gates and roads, mountains Olives, Via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is visited by pilgrims from around the world are equally important and Palestinian Christians from Gaza and the West Bank, who want to Jerusalem together with his brothers to participate in the liturgical ceremonies that precede the resurrection, the holy Christian feast. "
Access Jerusalem for Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip instead of the religious right, has become a privilege. To come in Jerusalem every Palestinian from the West Bank or Gaza must first obtain a permit Israeli military authorities.
These permits are not obtained easily. It is usually issued by sick people for medical treatment in Jerusalem or Israeli hospitals or businesses. Often they get the workers because Israel exploited cheap Palestinian labor. But for people who wish to visit their family members who live in East Jerusalem, or explore the old town, or pray at the holy places, and permits are rarely issued.
"In every country that respects freedom of religion, believers of different religions live in harmony with their faith and can not pray without being authorities that hamper, "the statement said Christians. "In Jerusalem, for several decades, we have this situation. Occupying forces Christians and Muslims prevents free access to holy sites in several important opportunities, "said the statement.
"Restrictions imposed by the local believers are violations of their fundamental human rights, religious freedom and ancient religious traditions of indigenous Christian population of this country," it said in a statement.
Israel has recently begun to issue between 2000 and 3000 licenses for Christians during Christmas and Easter wish to visit holy places in Jerusalem, but these numbers are still relatively small compared to the number of Palestinian Christians. In addition, permits are issued only for older people in a marriage, a young and single people do not. Christians must also seek permission through their churches.
"licensing system imposed by Israel is clearly a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements and charters that Israel has signed," said the Christian community. "Regardless of the number of people from local congregations who are allowed to participate in the celebrations, we reject the imposition of licensing and quota so we can come to our church."
Unfortunately, Palestinian Christians, Easter coincides with the Jewish Passover. Israel usually closes the occupied Palestinian areas during Jewish holidays, which means that the license does not automatically apply to even those who received the permit will not be able to cross the checkpoint at the entrance to East Jerusalem.
Source: WEST BANK: Palestinian Christians denied access to holy places in Jerusalem during Easter
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boat "Srebrenica" will carry Help Palestinian people
main organizer of the action called "Freedom Flotilla Two" is a European campaign to blockade of Gaza (ECESG), among the 1,000 organizations that participate in the action of the Association of Solidarity from Bihac. Last year, we have already collected about 25,000 KM and we paid them on account ECESG's, and those who want to help more payments to or directly on the bank account ECESG's - said the president of the Association of Solidarity Zemira Gorinjac, explaining that More detailed information available on their web page www.solidarnost-bosnia.com Gorinjac added that, at the initiative "Solidarity", one of 15 ships are sailed to the Gaza Strip should be called "Srebrenica". For now it is certain that with 1,000 activists from various parts of the convoy to travel the world and four citizens of BiH. Another four of them, among which are the demobilized soldiers of the Army of BiH, it is also willing to go to Gaza, but has not yet secured the money. Zemira Gorinjac explains that the ship will carry only building material that Gazans desperately needed, because about 50,000 people living in tents. There are frequent cases of injuries to children near the buffer zone collecting stones.
Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni found dead in Gaza after kidnap (video)
Tribute to Vittorio (video)
Another country
A Palestinian who is summoned to the court cannot arrive by traveling on the main road, Highway 443, the route you followed just an hour ago. That road is limited to ordinary travelers, like yourself. The High Court actually ruled that Palestinians can travel on it, but they can only travel on its less useful stretches. In order to reach the court, Palestinians must travel on a different, longer road, which features two checkpoints (Bitunia and Qalandiyah ). A Palestinian reaches the court and is placed on the left side of the fence. An Israeli who travels to the court on the fast highway, positions himself on the right side. Right now, the Palestinian and the Israeli stand relatively close to one another; neither looks the other in the eye; each tries to stay in his own world. ... A 19-year-old woman is standing in the hall, declaring "I am sorry, your honor, I've learned my lesson. I won't do it again." I look at her; she has put on a lot of makeup and is holding a handbag. She looks like an Israeli teenager a few months before her army service. I wonder, what is she sorry about? What lesson has she learned? The judge says: "I accept the plea bargain. I believe that S. has decided to rehabilitate herself and go on with her life. She expresses regret about what she did, and claims that she has learned her lesson. For this reason, I sentence her to a month's suspended sentence, and an NIS 800 fine." Here's the story: It turns out that S. has a Palestinian father and an Israeli mother. One day, loneliness overcame her, and she decided to visit her mother in Jerusalem. She traveled there and was apprehended by security forces. She was put on trial for this offense. The judge now trusts that she will rehabilitate herself, that she will change her ways. If not, next time she will spend a month in prison. ... In most cases, the discrimination precedes the stage in which the detainee is brought to court. For example, when Abdallah Abu Rahmah was arrested several years ago, during a demonstration in Bil'in, six persons were detained - Abdallah Abu Rahmah, Ratab Abu Rahmah, and four Israeli Jews. All were charged with disturbing public order. The two Palestinians were interrogated, issued denials, and were imprisoned. Ratab was held in custody for two weeks. An indictment was issued against him, along with a request that he be held in remand until proceedings in his case were completed. Abdallah was held for a similar period, and an indictment was filed against him. In contrast, the four Israeli detainees did not cooperate with investigators. In the police station, investigators offered to release three, with restrictive conditions. One agreed; two refused the offer, as an act of solidarity with their Palestinian comrades. The three Israelis who were held in custody were released by the courts after spending one night in jail. Files on all four were closed.
ISM GAZA: We Will Not Go Away from Gaza
As we had done when Vittorio was with us, we will continue to stand alongside the Palestinian people, we will continue to struggle against the occupation, we will continue to accompany farmers to their lands along the border, we will continue to participate in demonstrations, and we will continue to tell the world what happens here in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. We think that Victor would agree with Che Guevara when he said, “Don’t cry for me if I die, do what I was doing and I will live on in you.” The best way to honor Vik is to continue the work that he was doing. In particular we will soon begin crewing a boat whose mission is to monitor the violation of human rights in Palestinian waters. This boat will have its maiden voyage on April 20: Vik had strongly backed this project and he had enthusiastically participated in its realization. Vik has been an inspiration to all of us, we all hope to live up to his example. In a documentary about him, Vik said he would have liked to be remembered by Nelson Mandela's quote; “A victor is merely a dreamer who never stops dreaming.” Your dreams are our dreams; we will never forget you, Vik.
Israel: Netanyahu Warns 2nd Freedom Flotilla May Spark Middle East Situation
(11. travanj 2011.) Netanyahu je na sastanku s europskim Ambassadors falsely claimed that in Gaza there is no humanitarian crisis and urged European governments to prohibit the departure of international humanitarian Fleet Freedom 2, which intends to sail to Gaza in May this year. Netanyahu said that the international civilian convoy in Gaza, which intends to translate humanitarian assistance "a provocation".
Itamar Killers Found?
According to Haaretz, the teens decided on a whim to go to Itamar armed with nothing but wire cutters and a prayer. They walked across the buffer zone without being noticed by the cameras, security guards, soldiers or residents of the colony. They reached the electrified fence, where they spent ten minutes cutting the wire. The automatic cameras and sensors seemed, by a stroke of anti-semitic fortune, to be asleep that day. Once they’d cut the fence, the two teenagers walked into the colony, where again nobody noticed them. They found a house which by sheer luck was 1) unlocked, 2) empty and 3) had an M16 rifle and ammunition lying about. Amjad and Hakim picked up the gun and the bullets, and stepped out of the empty house. There, they moved to the Fogels’ residence. They walked in, and killed four family members-one with the gun, the others with a knife. Having defied all odds, the teenagers now left the house and went back outside. They still hadn’t been noticed. Neither the gun shot nor the screams had been heard (the security services here explain that the weather wasn't conducive to carrying sound waves that evening). While realizing they STILL hadn't been noticed by any of the residents, soldiers, security guards or cameras, Amjad and Hakim spotted the Fogels' 3 month old baby through the window. So they decided to go back inside and kill the baby. Insatiable Arab thirst for blood and all that. Now the teens, armed with a big stolen M16 rifle, ammunition, and a knife simply walked back out of the colony, again unnoticed by the cameras, soldiers, guards, colonists, sensors and maybe even God himself. They walked across the buffer zone, back to their village, and thought they had gotten away with their dastardly crime. ... And before the seething masses of indignant Zionists could finish wringing their hands, out comes the family of Hakim Awad with the inconvenient revelation that their son had recently undergone testicular surgery that made it impossible for him to walk long distances and needing the toilet every hour, and was at home recovering the night the Fogels were killed. Oops. Zionism really is losing its lustre: They decided to frame a guy who can barely walk for trekking across a buffer zone, through an electrified fence, breaking into two houses, killing an entire family then jogging merrily home.
Vittorio, never more alive than now
This lost child of mine is more alive than ever before, like the grain that has fallen to the ground and died to bring forth a plentiful harvest. I see it and hear it already in the words of his friends, above all the younger among them, some closer, some from afar. Through Vittorio, they have known and understood, and now even more, how one can give 'Utopia' a meaning, like the thirst for justice and peace, how fraternity and solidarity still stand and how, as Vittorio used to say, 'Palestine can also be found at your doorsteps'. We were a long way from Vittorio, but now we are closer than ever, with his living presence magnified at every passing hour, like a wind from Gaza, from his beloved Mediterranean, blowing fierily to deliver the message of his hope and of his love for those without a voice, for the weak and the oppressed, passing the baton. Stay human.
Thousands of Gazans participate in Slain Italian activist's funeral
Thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip participated in the funeral of the murdered Italian activists (19 April 2011th)
Politicians, members of NGOs and activists participated Monday in the funeral Vittorio Arrigonija by the last Friday in the Gaza Strip killed one salafijska groups. Palestinian police officers were carrying a coffin with the body Arrigonijevim and joined the funeral. The crowd chanted "Death to terrorists!" Arrigonijevo body was transferred from Gaza City to Rafah border crossing to him in Egypt over Arrigonijeva family. Police told the media that the investigation Arrigonijevog murder continues to be the killers brought to justice.
State funeral for Italian activist slain in Gaza
State funeral for Italian activist killed in Gaza (April 19th 2011th)
Palestinian civilians, police and members of security forces on Monday escorted the body of murdered activist the Rafah crossing. Around the coffin as mourners gathered and friends of people with banners on which was written "be human", Vittorijev motto. The body was transported to Rafah in the parade while other people stood along the road with pictures Arrigonija in his hands. In Rafah were carriers of the coffin crying. The coffin was transported from Rafah in Cairo in accordance with the wishes of the family Arrigonijeve. Hamas security forces have so far arrested four persons in connection with this murder, but claimed that at least 3 more suspects on the loose. They were identified as Bilal Al Omari, Jordanian Abdul Rahman Al-Breizat, and Hamas police officer Mohammed Al Salfiti.
To those who Juliano & Vittorio murdered in cold blood
To the Palestinian People, We need to protect every soul who is in solidarity with us and therefore I call on Palestinians to make April "International Activist Month '. Hold events in mosques, churches, schools, community centers and Workplaces to highlight what international activists are doing and the important role those people have in defending the human rights and cultural rights of Palestinians. Talk about the high price that many have paid to defend our schools, our hospitals, our olive trees, our homes, our land, our families, our rights and our lives. Some paid the price twice, within their own communities and tragically within our community. It is our community’s responsibility to protect them, as they have come to join our struggle for freedom. Many of us did not get a chance to tell Vittorio and Juliano how much we love them. Take a minute today to tell any international activists you know that you love them. To all the international Palestine activists, I love you all.
2 dead in clash with murder suspects
killed two suspects for the murder of Vittorio Arrigonija (19 April 2011th)
security forces of Hamas government in Gaza inflammation on Tuesday in an apartment building in Gaza City to arrest suspects for the murder of Italian activists Vittorio Arrigonija. Police before unsuccessfully trying to persuade the suspects to surrender. 2 suspects were killed and a third was wounded and arrested. Police said the suspect was Abdul-Rahman Al-Breizat to another suspect, Bilal Al-Forestry threw a grenade, and then committed suicide by gunshot. The third suspect, Mahmoud Muhammad Nimira Salfiti was wounded and arrested. Before the raids, security forces surrounded a house in the center of Gaza in which three suspects were hiding, and the surrounding apartments were evacuated. The owner of the house, Amer Abu Ghulam, surrendered to police. Prime Minister Haniyeh in Gaza, the police offered a reward for the arrest of those responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Italian activists, and some parts of the Gaza Strip were closed to prevent the escape of suspects.
RiP Vittorio Arrigoni (video)
Reflections on the death of Vittorio Arrigoni - Eva Bartlett
Vik, ever determined to witness Gaza, returned on Free Gazas 5th successful mission, arriving just weeks before Israel began the 23-day assault on the entire Gaza Strip. During the war, ISM and Free Gaza rode with ambulances, documenting Israel's war crimes and crimes against civilians. Vik managed to both accompany ambulances and race back along darkened, drone and F-16 targeted roads, to Gaza Citys Ramattan News Agency -the only place we were able to report from-to give non-stop phone interviews and write for his blog, Guerilla Radio as well as Italian and international media, including IL Manifesto and Peacereporter. In those horrifying 23 days, Vik's humor and compassion matched that of our Palestinian medical colleagues, with whom we rode. Vik was a counselor to many of us, with an empathetic ear, wise words, and always a "yalla" (lets go) to get things going. His lack of mastering Arabic didn't matter, he peppering his English speech with Italian curses and Arabic adjectives. To say he was eccentric in some ways would be an understatement, but it would also be irrelevant. He was a fully-conscious humanist and used his political readings and personal experience to advocate clearly, intelligently, often humorously, and humanely for Palestinian justice. He was always ready to go out with the fishermen or get up before dawn to accompany farmers facing similar threats from the Israeli army. Many a sleepy morning we would meet to take a shared taxi Vik had arranged for our accompaniment work in the southeast or north, Vik always in good humor. He always documented our accompaniments with his hand-held camera, along with one or two of us, and would quickly have the footage transferred to computer and uploaded to the internet.
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