The FBI’s Fake ‘Investigation’ of Hillary’s Emails

ERIC ZUESSE | 03.09.2016 | WORLD

The FBI’s Fake ‘Investigation’ of Hillary’s Emails

1: The FBI chose to ‘investigate’ the most difficult-to-prove charges, not the easiest-to-prove ones (which are the six laws that she clearly violated, simply by her privatization and destruction of State Department records, and which collectively would entail a maximum prison sentence of 73 years).

The famous judge Jed Rakoff has accurately and succinctly said that, in the American criminal ‘justice’ system, since 1980 and especially after 2000, and most especially after 2010, «the prosecutor has all the power. The Supreme Court’s suggestion that a plea bargain is a fair and voluntary contractual arrangement between two relatively equal parties is a total myth… What really puts the prosecutor in the driver’s seat is the fact that he — because of mandatory minimums, sentencing guidelines (which, though no longer mandatory in the federal system, are still widely followed by most judges), and simply his ability to shape whatever charges are brought — can effectively dictate the sentence by how he publicly describes the offense».

If an Administration wants to be merely pretending an ‘investigation’, it’s easy: identify, as the topic for the alleged ‘investigation’, not the criminal laws that indisputably describe what the suspect can clearly be proven to have done, but instead criminal laws thatdon’t. Prosecutorial discretion is now practically unlimited in the United States. This discretion is an essential feature of any dictatorship. It’s the essence of any system that separates people into aristocrats, who are above the law, versus the public, upon whom their ‘law’ is enforced. It’s the essence of «a nation of men, not of laws».

But, different people focus on different aspects of it. Conservatives notice it in Clinton’s case because she was not prosecuted.Progressives notice it in Clinton’s case because other people (ones without the clout) who did what she did (but only less of it), have been prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced for it. The result, either way, is dictatorship, regardless of anyone’s particular perspective on the matter. Calling a nation like that a ‘democracy’ is to strip «democracy» of its basic meaning — it is foolishness. Such a nation is an aristocracy, otherwise called an «oligarchy».That’s the opposite of a democracy (even if it’s set up so as to pretend to be a democracy).

2: The FBI chose to believe her allegations, instead of to investigate or challenge them. For example: On page 4 of the FBI’s record of their interview with Hillary dated 2 July 2016, they noted: «Clinton did not recall receiving any emails she thought should not be on an unclassified system». But they already had seen this email. So, they asked her about that specific one: «Clinton stated she did not remember the email specifically. Clinton stated a ‘nonpaper’ was a document with no official heading, or identifying marks of any kind, that can not be attributed to the US Government. Clinton thought a ‘nonpaper’ was a way to convey the unofficial stance of the US Government to a foreign government and believed this practice went back ‘200 years.’ When viewing the displayed email, Clinton believed she was asking Sullivan to remove the State letterhead and provide unclassified talking points. Clinton stated she had no intention to remove classification markings».

Look at the email: is her statement about it — that «issues sending secure fax» had nothing to do with the illegality of sending classified U.S. Government information over a non-secured, even privatized, system — even credible? Is the implication by Clinton’s remark, that changing the letterhead and removing the document’a classified stamp, would solve the problem that Jake Sullivan — a highly skilled attorney himself — had brought to her attention, even credible? Well, if so, then wouldn’t the FBI have asked Sullivan what he was referring to when his email to Clinton said «They say they’ve had issues sending secure fax. They’re working on it».

The FBI provided no indication that there was any such follow-up, at all. They could have plea-bargained with Sullivan, to get him to testify first, so that his testimony could be used in questioning of her, but they seem not to have been interested in doing any such thing. They believed what she said (even though it made no sense as a response to the problem that Sullivan had just brought to her attention: the problem that emailing to her this information would violate several federal criminal statutes.

Clinton, in other words, didn’t really care about the legality. And, apparently, neither did the FBI. Her email in response to Sullivan’s said simply: «If they can’t, turn into nonpaper w no identifying heading and send nonsecure». So: she knew that it was classified information but wanted to receive it so that she would be able to say, «I didn’t know that it was classified information». In other words: she was instructing her advisor: hide the fact that it’s classified information, so that when I receive it, there will be no indication on it that what was sent to me is classified information.

3: The FBI avoided using the standard means to investigate a suspect higher-up:obtaining plea-deals with subordinates, requiring them to cooperate, answer questions and not to plead the Fifth Amendment (not to refuse to answer). (In Hillary’s case, the Obama Administration actually did plea-deals in which they allowed the person who was supposed to answer all questions, to plea the Fifth Amendment to all questions instead. This is allowed only when the government doesn’t want to prosecute the higher-up — which in this case was Clinton. That alone proves the Obama Administration’s ‘investigation’ of Clinton’s email system to have been a farce.)

A plea-deal isn’t a Constitutional process: Jed Rakoff’s article explained why it’s not. The process is informal, but nowadays it’s used in more than 97% of cases in which charges are brought, and in more than 99% of all cases (including the 92% of cases that are simply dropped without any charges being brought). That’s the main reason why nowadays «the prosecutor has all the power». Well, the prosecutor in Hillary’s case (the Obama Administration) clearly didn’t want her in the big house; they wanted her in the White House.

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Palestinian who filmed Hebron shooting faces threats to his life

Source

Ever since he filmed an Israeli soldier executing a Palestinian man in Hebron,Emad Abu Shamsiya has been subject to threats. Things got so bad his family had to leave their home for a week. So why do the police refuse to help

Ever since a video showing Israeli soldier Elor Azaria executing an immobilized Palestinian attacker in Hebron was published, Emad Abu Shamsiya, the man whocaptured the incident on video, has been subject to threats against his life by right-wing activists and settlers. The latter even threw stones at his home, according to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, where Abu Shamsiya works.

Last week B’Tselem filed a complaint with Israeli police, claiming that Hebron police prevented Abu Shamsiya from submitting his own request following threats he received on the internet.

Abu Shamsiya describes how last Sunday he arrived at the police station in Hebron to file a complaint about the threats, which included comments such as “I will kill you, you disabled asshole,” “your time will come,” and threatening videos. After a lengthy wait he was told that the station was too busy and that he should return the following day. The next day, after another long wait, he was told that he could not file a complaint, since the only officer who could deal with issue was not present. Abu Shamsiya returned for a third day, waiting a number of hours to be helped. When he approached one of there investigators, he was told to go home and threatened with arrest should he refuse to do so.

In her letter to the police, Abu Shamsiya’s attorney, Gaby Lasky, wrote the following:

There are not enough words to describe the severity of Hebron police’s behavior, which vehemently refuses to fulfill its basic obligation and accept my client’s urgent complaint, under various, changing pretexts, while treating him with blatant disrespect. There is no doubt that the police’s behavior amounts to severe disciplinary offenses toward my client, including the criminal offense of using police force for the wrong purposes.

Due to the threats, the Abu Shamsiya family was forced to leave their home in Hebron for a number of days. The police’s failure to deal with the threats and incitement on the internet (it is reasonable to assume that had Palestinians written similar things they would have been arrested, even if no one filed a complaint) — as well as its refusal to accept the complaint, amount to a price tag against those who try to expose criminal acts.

West Bank police have yet to respond to the above claims.

*John Brown is the pseudonym of an Israeli academic and a blogger. This article was first published in Hebrew on Local Call where he is a blogger. Read it here.

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Ghassan’s Prediction and the Emerging New Palestinian Reality By James Zogby

Note to James Zogby:  

The cause of Ghassan Kanafani was Right of Return to Palestine Liberated from River to sea, not the so-called “equal rights”

His Cause was Beyond PALESTINE

returning to haifa

The title is often translated as Return to Haifa but that would be العودة إلى حيفا in Arabic. The actual title promises and describes the action of returning, and at the end Said tells Dov and Miriam they can keep the house for now, and admits or asserts that returning to it would mean war.

Ghassan’s Prediction and the Emerging New Palestinian Reality

By James Zogby

Global Research, September 02, 2016

Arab American Institute 1 September 2016

During the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of receiving visits from Ayman Odeh, Ahmad Tibi, and most recently Basel Ghattas—as they passed through Washington. All are Palestinian citizens of Israel. And all are Members of the Israeli Knesset, part of the Joint Arab List that won a record 13 seats in the last Israeli election. It was a delight to sit with them and learn from them not only about the difficulties they face, but the progress they have made.

I have written about how I first became attached to the Arab community in Israel. It was the insightful Palestinian novelist,Ghassan Kanafani who caused me to divert my doctoral dissertation research from the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon to the Palestinian Arabs who remained in their homes after Israel was created in 1948. He gave me two reasons. While much had already been written about the refugees, there was an absence of good literature about the Palestinians “inside” and, he said,

they are the most promising component group of the Palestinian people since they have been forged like steel in the hearth of Israel. Facing enormous difficulties, they have developed a uniquely progressive identity and, he believed, the day would come when they would be in a position to provide real visionary leadership for the entire Palestinian people.

My meetings with Odeh, Tibi, and Ghattas have given me the sense that Ghassan may have been right. These are remarkable individuals, part of a larger movement that has faced down the increasingly repressive, ultra-nationalist Israeli government while defending their rights and securing their political role.

For the first three decades, the Arabs in Israel couldn’t form political parties or join unions (these were reserved for Zionists or Jews). They lived under a draconian anddiscriminatory legal system. They lost their lands to widespread confiscation. The Israeli educational system forced them to study Hebrew and Jewish history instead of their own language and history. And those who resisted, were imprisoned or forcibly expelled from the country.

Like other civil rights movements, these Palestinian citizens of Israel used every available opening to win their rights, facing down arrests, expulsions, and lethal violence. While tremendous problems remain, Palestinian citizens in Israel now form political parties, join unions, and teach their language and history. They still face systemic racism in housing, employment, education, allocation of the state’s budget, and many other areas—and yet they have built and sustained a fighting force that continues to press their demands for justice and equality.

In creating their Joint List, the Palestinian citizens of Israel have forged a remarkable national unity bringing together diverse political currents: nationalists, traditionalists, and progressives—Muslims and Christians, alike. Netanyahu’s far-right governing coalition has stepped up its assault on the Arab community in an effort to divide them and break their resolve. Israel has created a fake new identity for Christians—in an effort to divide the Arabs on the basis of religion. They have charged some Arab Knesset Members with “incitement” for advocating on behalf of their Palestinian brethren living under the suffocating economic embargo imposed on Gaza. Israel has passed laws prohibiting Arabs and progressive Jews from supporting the non-violent boycott movement protesting Israel’s settlement policy and making it more difficult for them to receive grants from the EU to promote democracy and human rights. None of these repressive measures have broken their resolve or unity.

In addition to my earlier studies, I have, in recent years, polled the Palestinian Arab citizens in Israel, as well as the Palestinians living under occupation and those in exile.Of all of the component parts of the Palestinian people, the Arabs in Israel are the most forward looking and the most committed to achieving justice for the entire Palestinian people. And as I have watched Odeh, Tibi, and Ghattas in action, I have been impressed by their political savvy. Unlike the divided and visionless leadership of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, the members of the Joint list have vision, a sound political sense of tactics and strategy, and a demonstrated ability to connect with the people they serve. While it is correct to acknowledge that Israel has done everything it could to weaken, punish, discredit, divide, and tie-in-knots the Palestinian leadership under occupation, the Israelis have been no less harsh in the treatment meted out to their own Palestinian citizenry. In this context, it is significant to note that while the efforts of several Arab states have failed, it is fallen on the shoulders of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel (the collective leadership of the Arab community in Israel) to launch an initiative to bring about reconciliation between the Palestinian factions of Fateh and Hamas.

I have just finished reading a compelling Haaretz article

”Stop with the Nonsense that Palestinians Are a Minority In Israel”.

The writer Gideon Levy argues that since Israel has refused to separate from the occupied territories and continues to entrench its settler colonies deeper into the heart of the West Bank and the Arab areas of what they call “Greater Jerusalem”, the “era of the two state solution [is drawing] to a close” and has been replaced by a de facto “bi-national state” in which the numbers of Jews and Arabs are roughly equal. In this new reality, Arabs are not a minority, they are half of the population.

If this is to remain the case, and I see no evidence that the Netanyahu government will change direction or that any outside power will compel them to do so, then the Palestinian struggle will inevitably be transformed from one demanding independence into a movement demanding equal rights. This will merely be an extension of the fight that the “inside” Palestinians have been waging for seven decades. If this is to be the case, we may well see the day when the Palestinian citizens of Israel will emerge, as Kanafani predicted, as the new leadership of a unified Palestinian community fighting for justice and equality.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the position of the Arab American Institute. The Arab American Institute is a non-profit, nonpartisan national leadership organization that does not endorse candidates. 

The original source of this article is Arab American Institute

Copyright © James Zogby, Arab American Institute, 2016

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• Nahida: Breaking Taboos

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The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Yemeni Rocketry Force Launches Ballistic Missile on Saudi Military Target in Taif

September 2, 2016

The rocketry force of the Yemeni army announced launching a ballistic missile (Borkan 1) onto the Saudi interior front.

Yemeni sources reported that Borkan 1 is a Russian Scud missile which has been developed by Yemeni military experts and that it covers a distance range of 800 kilometers.

The sources asserted that the rocket hit a Saudi military target in Taif city.

Yemen has been since March 26, 2015 under brutal aggression by Saudi-led coalition.

Riyadh launched the campaign against Ansarullah revolutionaries (known as Houthis) in a bid to restore power to fugitive ex-president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi who is a close ally to Saudi Arabia.

Thousands have been martyred and injured in the aggression, with the vast majority of them are civilians.

Source: Al-Manar Website

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Kevin Barrett’s and Greg McCarron look into Max Blumenthal’s affairs

September 02, 2016  /  Gilad Atzmon

You want to listen to this radio program:

Kevin Barrett’s:  Max Blumenthal – son of Zionist operator, Libya-destroyer, and Hillary confidante Sidney Blumenthal – is one of the highest-profile pro-Palestine Jews and foundation-funded “alternative” media luminaries. Though a notable truth-teller concerning on-the-ground realities in Occupied Palestine, Max Blumenthal occasionally mutates into a self-appointed thought-policeman. As if his past witch-hunts against Gilad Atzmon and Alison Weir were not shameful enough, Blumenthal has now taken it upon himself to decide who is guilty, and who is not guilty, of the dreadful crime of 9/11 truth. The good news is that he has found Abby Martin “not guilty.” The bad news is that he seems to be taking the position that 9/11 truth is indeed pernicious, but that Abby Martin only sought the truth about 9/11 when she was young and foolish. Older and wiser now, Abby is no longer interested in such things, Max assures us.

Today’s guest, Greg McCarron, is not impressed by Blumenthal’s attempts at gatekeeping. Read his analysis at:

MAX BLUMENTHAL FINDS ABBY MARTIN NOT GUILTY OF 9/11 TRUTH

…and listen to our exasperated attempts to figure out where Max Blumenthal (and Abby Martin for that matter) are coming from.

(source: http://truthjihadradio.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/greg-mccarron-max-blumenthal-finds-abby.html)

Kevin Barrett’s and Greg McCarron look into Max Blumenthal’s affairs

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (25-31 August 2016)

Source

Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

(25 – 31 August 2016)

 
Jerusalem: Israeli Forces Demolish House of Wasim Khaled Atiyah in Sour Baher Village

• Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt

• Palestinian suffering from mental disorder was killed at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah.
• 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded in al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem.

• Israeli forces conducted 43 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one in the central Gaza Strip.
• 41 civilians, including 10 children, a mother and her daughter, were arrested.
• 10 of them, including 5 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

• Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures against Palestinian civilians.
• A house belonging to Amayrah family in Doura, south of the West Bank, was bombed.

• Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• 6 dwellings and 2 livestock barns in al-Ma’azai community, east of Jaba’ village, north of Jerusalem, were demolished.
• A house in Sour Baher village and 2 other under-construction houses in Silwan village, south of the city, were demolished.

• Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea
• A Palestinian fisherman was wounded, 5 others were arrested, 2 fishing boats were confiscated and a third was damaged.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9^th
• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 8 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were arrested at military checkpoints.

 Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in theoPt continued during the reporting period (25 – 31 August 2016).

Shooting:

Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian suffering from a mental disorder and wounded 3 others, 2 of them in the West Bank and the 3^rd in the Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen and chase them in the sea.

In the West Bank, on 26 August 2016, in excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed Eyad Hamed (38), who suffers from a mental disorder, at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. Israeli media reported that Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian who ran towards them and refused to stop when he was asked to, therefore, they suspected him and opened fire at him.

On the same day, 2 Palestinian civilians sustained bullet wounds to the lower limbs when Israeli forces moved into al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, to carry out arrests, during which dozens of youngsters gathered and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli soldiers. Therefore, Israeli soldiers opened fire in response, due to which 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded and then taken to hospitals by private cars because ambulances were banned by Israeli forces from reaching the wounded.

In the Gaza Strip, in the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 25 August 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off the northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire heavily towards the Palestinian fishing boats. Two Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat on board of which were Abdul Aziz Sa’dallah (24) and Mohammed Sa’dallah (68), both from Jabalia refugee camp. As a result, the first fisherman was wounded and arrested while the fishing boat was hit with several bullets.

On 27 August 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire also in the same area. As a result, Abdul Latif Troush (21) and Ahmed Abu Hassan (22), both from al-Twam area in Jabalia, were arrested and then transported to Ashdod Seaport, while their fishing boat and 10 pieces of fishing net were confiscated. On the same day afternoon, Israeli forces released the 2 fishermen but kept the boat in custody.

On 28 and 29 August 2016, similar attacks were carried out by Israeli forces in the same area. On the second day, fisherman Mahdi Abu Reyala (38) and his son Nafez (16), from the Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City, were arrested and the fishing boats was confiscated.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 43 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 4 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 41 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children, a mother and her daughter.  Ten of them, including 5 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, on 31 August 2016, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters into the east of al-Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later.

Collective Punishment measures:

On 30 August 2016, Israeli forces moved into Soud valley, north of Doura, southwest of Hebron and stationed in the vicinity of a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Amayrah (38). They raided the house in which Mohammed’s family consisting of his wife and their 2 girls live and started planting explosives in the walls. Israeli forces asked all neighbours around to get away and kept them in one house before bombing Mohammed’s house. It should be noted that Mohammed is being arrested by Israeli forces since 02 July 2016 under the pretext that he was involved in a shooting against a settler vehicle on road (60) that resulted then in the killing of a female settler.

Creating Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem:

Concerning house demolitions and demolition notices, on 29 August 2016, Israeli bulldozers demolished 6 dwellings and 2 livestock barns in al-Ma’azi community, east of Jaba’ village, north of occupied Jerusalem. As a result, 28 individuals, including 18 children, were rendered homeless.

On 30 August 2016, Israeli bulldozers demolished a house in Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem, belonging to the family of Wasim Atiyah under the pretext of building without a license. Atiyah mentioned that he tried to obtain a license for the house and the municipality court had appointed the end of October for a hearing to discuss the house license issue.

In the same context, Israeli bulldozers demolished 2 under-construction houses in Yasoul valley in silwan village, south of the Old City of Jerusalem, belonging to Eyad Nairoukh. It should be noted that Nairoukh started building the 2 houses on 11 August 2016 and he was shocked by the demolition. In addition, Israeli forces demolished 2 fences around the 2 houses as well. Nairoukh said that Israeli forces demolished 2 under-construction apartments he started building 2 weeks ago.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people.  The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

Details

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 25 August 2016

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Ibrahim Dawoud Hamad (20), Saif Salah Hamed (20), Handalah Samir Hamad (20), Mohamed Khalid Hamad (20), Mohamed Abdullah Hamed (23) and Abed al-‘Aziz Lutfi Hamad (23).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp in al-Bireh city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Ameen Abu Radaha and arrested him.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in al-Fawaghrah area in the centre of the village. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested ‘Alaa Jala Shalash (31) and Mahmoud Esam Jabir (24).

• At approximately 06:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within one nautical mile. Two Israeli gunboats approached a fishing boat belonging to Abed al-‘Aziz Fareed Abdullah Sa’dallah (24), which was manned by the fishing boat owner and Mohamed Mohamed Mousa Sa’dallah (68). Both of the abovementioned fishermen are from Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli navy forces obliged Mohamed Sa’dallah to lay down over the boat, while they forced Abed al-‘Aziz to take off his clothes, jump into the sea and swim towards the gunboats. After that, Israeli navy forces left Mohamed Sa’dallah on the fishing boat and took Abed al-‘Aziz to an unknown destination. Another Palestinian fishing boat headed towards S’adallah’s boat and pulled it to the shore, during which they noticed that the fishing boat engine was damaged due to the Israeli shooting. Moreover, the fishing boat was hit with live bullets, while one of the fishermen was wounded.

The fisherman Mohamed S’adallah said that at approximately 05:00 on Thursday, he headed to the sea along with his nephew, Ahmed S’adallah (26), to gather the fishing nets. After that, another fisherman, Abed al-‘Aziz who was present there, pulled ‘Sadallah’s fishing boat and then stationed near the fishing nets they threw in the sea a day before. They were sailing within one nautical mile off al-Wahah resort. They were then surprised that 15 fishing nets were damaged by Israeli navy forces. Mohamed S’adallah collected the remaining fishing nets. At approximately 06:00 on the same day, Mohamed was surprised that two Israeli gunboats headed towards him and heavily opened fire around the fishing boat, so they fled eastwards. After that, they were forced to stop sailing due to the heavy shooting. When Israeli gunboats approached the fishing boat, Israeli navy forces directly opened fire at the boat resulting in damaging the engine. Israeli navy forces then obliged Mohamed to lay down over the boat, while forced Abed al-‘Aziz to take off his clothes, jump into the sea and then swim towards the gunboat. As a result, Abed al-‘Aziz sustained wounds to his left leg while swimming and was then taken to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Oreef village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ziyad Ahmed Shehada (20) and arrested him.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura, Deir Samet, al-Koum, Deir Razah and Tafouh villages in Hebron.

Friday, 26 August 2016

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces accompanied with over 10 military vehicles moved into al-Dahisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Omar Mohamed al-Sayfi claiming that they are looking for his son Naba’ (19), who was not home. An Israeli officer asked the family to call Naba’ and tell him to surrender, but his family refused. As a result, Israeli forces arrested all the family members, who were identified as Naba’s father, Omer, and his mother, Nawal Mohamed Dawoud, his brother Mo’az and his sister Asmaa. After that, Israeli forces took the arrested persons to Anton Mount overlooking the camp in order to oblige Naba’ to surrender. In the meantime, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and Molotov cocktails and handmade explosive devices. Israeli forces then fired tear gas canisters, sound bombs and flare bombs at them. As a result, 2 civilians were hit with live bullets to the lower limbs and were then taken by a private car to a hospital. It should be noted that Israeli forces denied ambulance crews access to the camp. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and stationed in the center of the camp. They raided and searched two houses from which they arrested Khalil ‘Izaat Banat (22) and Salah ‘Anan al-Landawi (19). 

• In excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian from Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, at the western entrance to the village. According to PCHR’s investigations and statements of eyewitnesses, Eyad Zakaria Mohamed Hamed (38), who suffers from mental disability, headed to the western entrance to Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. Eyad approached a military watchtower established there and entered into an area surrounded by barbed wire. At approximately 12:35, Eyad tried to get out of the area, but he could not identify from where he entered, so he ran. As a result, Israeli soldiers opened fire at him and wounded him to the back. Eyad fell near the cement cubes at the entrance. A PRCS ambulance arrived at the area, but Israeli forces denied them access to the wounded. After that, an Israeli military ambulance arrived and put Eyad in a black bag, which means that he was dead. They then took Eyad’s corpse to “Ofer” settlement. In the evening, Eyad’s family received their son corpse and then took it to Palestine Medical Complex, where medical sources stated that Eyad was hit with a live bullet that entered his back and exited the upper side of his chest. Eyad’s corpse was directly taken from Palestine Medical Complex to Selwad village for funeral procession. It should be noted that the victim was married and has two children. The Israeli media reported that Israeli forces opened fire at the Palestinian civilian after he ran towards them and refused to stop, so they suspected him and opened fire at him.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sureef, Beit ‘Awaa and Samou’a villages in Hebron.

Saturday, 27 August 2016 

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Bita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided a sport club in the center of the village and confiscated surveillance cameras. After that, they withdrew and no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Dura, southwest of Hebron, and stationed in Haninah area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Raied Shanan (17) and arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Rojeeb housing compound and the outskirts of Balata camp from the eastern side, southeast of Nablus. Israeli forces raided houses, during which, a number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired tear gas canisters in response. Moreover, Israeli forces chased ‘Isaa Ribhi Hashash (17) and arrested him.

• At approximately 07:45, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles. An Israeli gunboat approached a fishing boat belonging to Talal Zaki Taroush (30), which was manned by Abed al-Latif Zaki Mostafa Taroush (21) and Ahmed Waheed Hussain Abu Hasan (22). Both of the above-mentioned fishermen are from al-Towam area in Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli navy forces then obliged the fishermen to take off their clothes, jump into the sea and swim towards the gunboat. The fishermen were arrested and taken to Ashdod Seaport, while the fishing boat was confiscated and 10 fishing nets as well. At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces released the two fishermen via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, while the fishing boat is still in custody.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Bani Na’iem, al-Dahiriya and Suraa villages in Hebron; and Beit Fowreek village, northeast of Nablus.

Sunday, 28 August 2016 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mowafaq Badawnah and arrested his son, Abed al-Raziq (25).

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Khadir village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Anan Suliman Salah (37) and arrested him.

• At approximately 08:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee for fear of being arrested or wounded and no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Burin village, south of Nablus, and stationed in front of the Civil Defence Office. Israeli forces arrested Ali Qadafi Hindy (15), while passing in the area. After that, Israeli vehicles headed towards Burin High school, where students were playing football, and arrested Ahmed Mohamed Abed al-Rahman ‘Imran (15). Israeli forces then withdrew and took the abovementioned persons to an unknown destination.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Bita village, southeast of Nablus and Madama village, south of the city; Halhoul, Yatta and al-Moreq villages in Hebron and al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron as well.

Monday, 29 August 2016

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp in al-Bireh city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Isma’il Fahmi ‘Abed and arrested him.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Jenin camp, west of the city, and stationed in al-Sumran and al-Hadaf areas. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Mohamed Othman Abu Qantah and Ramzy al-Qanirah. Mohamed ‘Othman’s mother, ‘Afaf Abu Qantah (59), said that at approximately 02:30, Israeli forces raided their house and locked all of them in one room. They then searched the upper floor and roof. At approximately 05:30, they arrested Mohamed and then withdrew from the house.

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within one nautical mile. An Israeli gunboat approached a fishing boat, which was manned by Mahdi Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Riyalah (38) and his son, Nafiz (16), both of them are from al-Shati camp, west of Gaza City. Israeli navy forces obliged the fishermen two take off their clothes, jump into the sea and swim towards the gunboat. They also confiscated the fishing boat and fishing nets. Fishermen, who witnessed the incident, said that Israeli gunboats heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 5 nautical miles. The shooting incident concentrated at the fishing boat carrying the abovementioned fishermen, who attempted to flee to the east. When the fishermen were sailing within one nautical mile, they were forced to stop due to the heavy gunfire. They were then arrested and their fishing boat was confiscated.

• At approximately 11:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Oreef village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched two houses from which they arrested Ahmed Mashhour Mohamed al-Safadi (16) and Mohamed Ahmed Abed al-Fatah Shehada (20).

Tuesday, 30 August 2016

• At approximately 00:50, Israeli forces moved into Deir Balout village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hamadah Abed al-Wahab Mohamed Abdullah (37), handcuffed him and took him to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron, and stationed in the western side of the village. They raided and searched two houses from which they arrested Ziad ‘Oqab Nawaj’ah (40) and Fahd ‘Isaa Mohamed ‘Awad (33).

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: a;-Far’ah camp, south of Tubas; Sabsatyia village, northwest of Nablus; and Halhoul and Sureef villages in Hebron.

Wednesday, 31 August 2016

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Salem village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched houses and arrested Mos’ab ‘Akif Ishtaih (22). It should be noted that the arrested person is a former prisoner, who suffered from thyroid goitre, due to which he became unable to speak 3 times in the Israeli jails. Moreover, Mos’ab suffered from hypertension. Mos’ab was arrested on 23 July 2014 and was sentenced 16 months in prison. 

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved about 100 meters away, east of al-Burij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces patrolled the area along the border fence before re-deployment.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Talfit village, southeast of Nablus, and ‘Araaq Bureen village, south of the city.

• Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

West Bank:

Following the Friday prayer, on 26 August 2016,  dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah, al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the city, and Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya. Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters and chased them into the agricultural fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations.

 Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethal if they hit the head of victim from a close range.

Collective Punishment: 

• At approximately 01:00, on 30 August 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with a military bulldozer moved into Soud Valley, north of Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They stationed around a house belonging to Mohamed Abed al-Majeed ‘Amayrah (38) and then raided it. It should be noted that the abovementioned house was built on an area of 200 meters and there was a water well around it. Mohamed’s family consisting of his wife and their two girls lives in the house. Israeli forces planted explosives in the house walls and then took all the neighbourhoods 400 meters away from the targeted house and locked all of them in one house. At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces bombed the house. It should be noted that Mohammed has been arrested by Israeli forces on 02 July 2016, claiming that he carried out a shooting attack at a vehicle, which resulted then in the killing of a female settler. On 23 July 2016, Israeli forces handed an administrative demolition notice to the family, according to Regulation 119 of the Defence (Emergency) Regulations 1945.

2. Continued closure of the oPt

Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.

Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

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