Confrontations near Al-Aqsa Mosque as Israel Seals off West Bank for 48 Hours

Al-manar

12/03/2010 Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered the army to seal off the West Bank for 48 hours until midnight on Saturday, an army spokesman said.

The action was taken "for security reasons" including a risk of attacks, the Israeli spokesman said Friday. The area was sealed off at midnight on Thursday.


Israeli occupation police have also said they would bar Muslim men under the age of 50 from prayers on Friday at occupied Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, one of Islam's holiest sites, fearing unrest.


The move infuriated worshipers, and the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights condemned the measures as a violation of privacy and freedom to worship. It expected the coming hours to see further restrictions on worshipers after confrontations took place between Palestinians and the Israeli occupation army near Al-Aqsa Mosque ahead of Friday’s prayer.


The moves come after violent clashes at the site during last week's Muslim prayers when occupation army stormed the holy site and threatened the worshippers. They also come after fresh tensions over Israeli plans to build 1,600 homes for settlers in mostly Arab east Jerusalem.


Since the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising in September 2000, Israel has usually sealed off the West Bank ahead of major holidays, saying the move is necessary to prevent attacks, but only rarely on other occasions. "The 8Israeli army will continue to operate in order to protect the citizens of Israel while maintaining the quality of life of the Palestinian population in the area," the occupation military said in a statement.

Via Friday-Lunch-Club

Israel seals off parts of Palestine ...

AFP/ here

"... The closure was announced one day after US Vice President Joe Biden concluded a visit of the West Bank and Israel aimed at promoting renewed peace talks but marred by an announcement that 1,600 new settler homes would be built in annexed east Jerusalem..."

Posted by G, Z, or B at 9:30 AM

Israeli occupation impose a closure on the West Bank


[ 12/03/2010 - 02:14 PM ]

WEST BANK, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authorities imposed a total closure on the West Bank starting Thursday evening for 48 hours that could be renewed.

Israeli sources said that the reason for the closure is the state of tension that exists in occupied Jerusalem and fearing escalation on Friday at the Aqsa Mosque, especially after Netanyahu's decision to expand settlements in occupied Jerusalem.

Palestinian labourers said on Friday morning that they found the crossings closed and they were forced to return home.

Meanwhile, Palestinian worshippers from the West Bank trying to reach the Aqsa Mosque were not able to do so because of the closure of the Qalandia crossing.

 

IOF soldiers detain Aqsa guard


[ 11/03/2010 - 01:55 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained one of the Aqsa guards after offering his Fajr (dawn) prayers in his village to the southeast of occupied Jerusalem.

Local sources said that IOF soldiers and policemen waited for Tarek Bukairat outside the mosque of Sour Baher at dawn Thursday.

They added that the soldiers handcuffed Bukairat and took him to his home where they confiscated his personal computer then detained him.

The Aqsa guards are routinely harassed by the IOF troops.

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