سقوط أستانة في جنيف

سقوط أستانة في جنيف

مارس 25, 2017

ناصر قنديل

– لم يكن لقاء أستانة اجتماعاً تقنياً لتثبيت وقف النار بقدر ما كان فرصة قدّمتها روسيا لتركيا للتموضع وجلب مَن معها من فصائل مسلّحة تعرف موسكو تاريخاً وخلفياتها الدموية والإرهابية، إلى ضفة جديدة في الحرب محورها التخلي عن جبهة النصرة والاستعداد للانضواء في تحالف عنوانه الحرب على النصرة ونيل المقابل بدور لتركيا والفصائل في تسوية سياسية تحت سقف الدستور السوري وعباءة الرئيس السوري والجيش السوري تنتهي بدستور جديد وانتخابات، ووقف النار كان تقدمة روسية لتركيا والفصائل لتسهيل هذا التموضع، وليس قضية قائمة بذاتها ولا هدفاً بذاته.

– مهما حاولت الفصائل ومن ورائها تركيا ومن أمامها السعودية ووفد الرياض المفاوض لتبييض صورة ما يُرى، فالمشهد يجمع جبهة النصرة وعلى يمينها فيلق الرحمن الذي تديره تركيا وعلى يسارها جيش الإسلام الذي تشغله السعودية، والمشاركان في أستانة تحت عنوان فصل النصرة عن الفصائل، وذلك يعني سقوط أستانة كمسار والعودة بالحرب في سورية إلى مرحلة ما بعد سيطرة الجيش السوري وحلفائه على الأحياء الشرقية في حلب، واعتبار هجمات دمشق وريف حماة رداً على انتصار حلب.

– تركيا التي حاولت مقايضة سيرها في مسار أستانة بداية بحجز مقعد لها في التفاهم الروسي الأميركي المقبل، ولما تأخر حاولت بيعه للأميركيين بالعداء لإيران والانتظار في سورية ولما لم ينفعها دخول مدينة الباب كجواز مرور إلى منبج وفوجئت ببطاقة أميركية حمراء، عادت للمقايضة في أستانة، ثم تراجعت لأنها لم تحصُل من موسكو على موقف من الأكراد يلبي تطلعاتها باستئصالهم، هي تركيا ذاتها التي عادت الآن تقف وراء الفصائل لتوجه رسائل المشاغبة للقول لا يمكنكم تجاهلي فلا تزال هناك خيارات، والخيار الوحيد كما يبدو هو التموضع مع السعودية و«إسرائيل» للعب ورقة النصرة مرة أخرى.

– الاستقواء بالنصرة وتقويتها لتغيير قواعد الحرب والتفاوض سيف ذو حدين، فإن نجح قد يغير المعادلات مؤقتاً بتوازن سلبي يفرض زج المزيد من القوى والقدرات على سورية وحلفائها ليأخذها إلى الحسم الطويل والصعب، لكنه عندما يفشل فنتائجه ستكون مدوّية في الميدان والتفاوض، وما جرى في دمشق ويجري تباعاً في ريف حماة يقول إنها بدايات واضحة وحاسمة على مسار الفشل، والنتائج على تركيا والفصائل أبعد من الميدان والتفاوض، لأنها تعني سقوط مسار أستانة في موسكو.

– مسار أستانة روسي أصلاً، ولم يكن موضع حماس لا في دمشق ولا في طهران ولا لدى حزب الله، كما كانت الهدنة في مثل هذه الأيام العام الماضي، لكن روسيا حليف كبير ورئيسي ويهمّ الحلفاء أن تنضج خياراته بهدوء، لأنه معني بالظهور كمرجع للنزاعات الدولية يمنح الفرص للسلام والحلول السياسية. وهذه من موجبات الدولة العظمى التي لا تضرب خبط عشواء، لكن متى أقفلت أبواب الحلول فهي لا تفتحها مجدداً بل تضرب بقسوة وبدقة وبحسم، وهذا ما فعلته موسكو في حلب يوم حسمت أن طريق الحلول قد سقط بعد منحها شهوراً للتفاوض مع واشنطن وصناعة التفاهم معها. وهذا المعنى الأعمق لسقوط مسار أستانة.

– قال مصدر روسي إن الذين خرقوا وقف النار في ريف ردمشق وريف حماة سيدفعون ثمناً باهظاً لتلاعبهم وخداعهم، فكيف وهم يقاتلون مع النصرة؟

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Syria: the blow of the strategic confusion to Israel سورية : ضربة الإرباك الاستراتيجي لـ«إسرائيل»

Syria: the blow of the strategic confusion to Israel

مارس 24, 2017

Written by Nasser Kandil,

Any serious rational person does not need a proof to read the quality of the region’s entities, their governments, and the degree of their impact on drawing the international policies to make a conclusion, if Israel did have not a vital interest and a detailed control over the course of the war on Syria there would not be a war. Without America the Saudi desires and hatreds cannot tamper the maps of the sensitive area that affects all of the international and the regional balances. Without America the serious Ottoman dreams cannot lead to a war along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for which they bring ten thousands of the elements of Al-Qaeda organization and led to the change of the equations of the Middle East and the security rules in it. Without the US interest in filling the gap which will result from leaving Iraq and Afghanistan, America would not think of the war on Syria, but if the war was not an Israeli need and if Israel was not reassured that every detail can achieve its concept of the strategic security the war would not turn from a desire to a decision.

The formations of the political and the military opposition have been submitted to the Israeli checking as well as to the testing of their leaders, their official commanders, and their negotiators. The growth of the presence of extremist Islamist at their forefront the Wahhabi was to control those but under the Israeli ceiling. Moreover the Saudi progress from the security normalization to the public normalization with Israel as a precondition and the waging of Israel of the war of Yemen to destroy the ballistic missiles and the positioning in Hodeidah has been settled by Israeli request, otherwise it did not get the US approval, or else the Americans were not wait for three months to see the consequences of signing the understanding on the Iranian nuclear file. Those who want proofs have to stop in front of the meanings of the acts of the opposition formations by hitting the facilities of the electronic war in Syria and the eavesdropping centers at Israel in Daraa area on the first days of what they called “the revolution”, and to stop in front of targeting the networks of the air defense which were isolated in the mountains before what is so-called opposition, moreover to stop in front of the assassination of the leaders of the missiles warfare and their industry, and the aircraft officers who newly arrived from Russia for making courses on the new aircraft, towards the medical care and the sponsorship provided by Israel to Al-Qaeda organization and its militants, in addition to the announced statements about cooperating with it, and the boasting of the symbols of the opposition of their allied relation with Israel and their repeated visits to it.

The Israeli fiery support of the coordinated battles within the war on Syria which are waged by the formations of the armed groups under US sponsorship from the MOC in Jordan and in which Saudi Arabia and Jordan participate has formed an inherent feature of the battles of the southern of Syria between the Syrian army and the formations named opposition at their forefront Al Nusra front, towards the Israeli announcement of the intention to form a security strip on the borders of Golan handed over by Al Nusra, like the equation of Israel in the southern of Lebanon when it was unable to have control on the overall of Lebanon, but after the fall of the project of having control on Syria Israel has to anticipate for what is beyond the end of the war and to answer what is next?

The Israelis confirm at all the levels of decision and analysis that the next scene will consist of four parts; the US political involvement which started with the understanding on the Iranian nuclear file and which will continue in breaking up the crises even in a winding way, the war on terrorism as an alternative of the war on Syria according to the challenges and the surrounding changes of the war and which are taking place in America and the west, the intense Russian presence in Syria as a strategic base that has the interest and the sponsorship, and the presence of coherent Syrian military force that has tested all the kinds of fight and threats of wars and has acquired immunity and solidness with the integration of the transformation of the qualitative force of Hezbollah into new force that perfects the arts of regular and semi-regular fight and the possession of fighting expertise in coordination with the air force, the armored-clad, the formations of the armies, and the wars of the cities and the rural areas, so the outbreak of  a war that leads to disabling the settlements’ prospects is an existential catastrophe to Israel.

The Israeli experts consider that the risk of such a war has made them in 2012 demand from the Americans to accelerate the thinking of how to change the regime in Syria, but they say today that the situation which they will inherit from the failed war on Syria will make the risks of 2010 mere ordinary comparing with the risks of 2020. Russia is now drawing the borders of the map and forming a ceiling for it. The capacities of Iran have been doubled, each day it has a new weapon from the ballistic missiles, tanks, and aircraft. The Syrian army and Hezbollah are growing superpower and the first army of the ground wars in the Middle East, but according to the concept of engagement the US decision to ask for the cooperation with Russia in the war on terrorism will mean one thing no matter how long, the setting afloat of the Syrian country sooner or later as the Iranian country has been set afloat by the understanding on the Iranian nuclear file.

Israel has drawn its strategy on the basis of slowing down the US movement toward a political settlement in Syria. It sent Mohammed Bin Salman and the suicide bombers of Damascus to say to Washington that the war of the north on ISIS is something that depends of its alliances and disputes, while the war of the south is something else it is your war, and that our war on the Iranian influence must not stop under the pretext of facilitating the war of the north. In contrast Benjamin Netanyahu went to Moscow to anticipate the forthcoming Russian timing and to gain margins of the military movement in Syria according to the equation of what we do not do today, will not be done tomorrow by us, and when he presented his intentions in front of the Russian President to dismiss the military tampering inside Syria and the investment on the equation that the treating with the country of his enemy that is governed by controls remains the best for the concept of the strategic security from the tampering in chaos which grants circumstantial  profits but it grants the irregular forces strategic gains to change the situations because they do not need but only for the time and the legitimacy of move, this is granted by Israeli tampering in the southern of Syria to Hezbollah, Netanyahu did not want to negotiate with Moscow but to be sufficient that he informed it, this is Israel and it is enough to do so.

Netanyahu returned and the preparations started to target Hezbollah in the southern of Syria. There was a necessary to test the results of Moscow’s visit and the extent of the ability of the Syrian army of repeating the dealing with the entry of the Israeli jets to the Syrian airspaces by launching advanced missiles at these jets, as happened four months ago and has obliged Israel to narrow their margins by resorting to the raids from the Lebanese airspaces to the extent of sixty kilometers, and launching missiles from the occupied territories with approximately the same range. Therefore the Israeli incursion in the Syrian airspaces has been coincided with the implementation of the US aircraft a raid on the sites of Al –Qaeda organization in the western of Aleppo by using planes from the base of the King Khaled in Saudi Arabia. It is known that the path over Jordan requires notifying the Israeli media after getting the approval of the Russians to pass safely in the Syrian airspaces, and it is known also that the US-Israeli- Jordanian-Saudi cooperation does not need proofs, nothing prevents that the US raid has been timed on the Israeli time, that the Israeli jets uses the same air corridor which is followed by the US aircraft and at the same time.

The most important in the test is the results. The Israeli statements reveal that what have been fallen in the villages of Irbid are the remains of the Arrow missile which was prosecuting the Syrian missiles which targeted the participated aircraft in the raid, this confirms that the path of the Israeli jets was over Jordan not over Lebanon. What Israel has announced is that the Arrow missile has failed in dropping the Syrian missiles which reached to the airspace of Jerusalem and Jericho and have fallen there by the US Patriot network, which means that the Arrow missile on which Israel depends in the Iron dome has been stopped from service and that the Syrian missiles have been launched from the vicinity of Homs. It seems that they were four missiles, two of them have targeted the attacker jets, and two of them have prosecuted the two protection jet planes, they reached to Jerusalem airspace, which means that their range has reached to five hundred kilometers, this makes them among the most modern types, What Israel has said to reduce the fear is that they were SAM 5 missiles, it is a manipulating in the words because SS300 is of the kind of SAM 5 as well as SS400 this means that what the Israeli experts have said on the TV networks and the Israeli press that the time of the Israeli air superiority is over is the most important.

The long term conclusions are that Israel which lost the ground and the sea superiority is losing the air superiority now, and that Russia which is in the heart of the war will not grant Israel guarantees for moving in the Syrian airspaces, and the Syrian leadership has the will and the ability to confuse Israel strategically and make a country that is unable to think in a war even limited without taking the adventure in a confrontation that is out of control.

Israel recognizes all of that, so it does not mind if tomorrow some of the Arabs including Syrians and Lebanese people grant Israel a majeure force in the war and an international political influence from America to Russia that it desires but it cannot reach, as has happened after the Israeli defeat in the war of July 2006 where Fouad Al Siniora was an adjective not a person.

Those who will ask after today where is the right of response let them keep silent.

Translated by Lina Shehadeh,

سورية : ضربة الإرباك الاستراتيجي لـ«إسرائيل»

مارس 18, 2017

ناصر قنديل

– لا يحتاج عاقل جدّي في قراءة نوعية كيانات المنطقة وحكوماتها ودرجة تأثيرها في رسم السياسات الدولية إلى دليل ليخلص إلى الاستنتاج، أنه لو لم تكن لإسرائيل مصلحة حيوية وسيطرة تفصيلية على مجريات الحرب على سورية لما كانت الحرب. فبدون أميركا لا يمكن للرغبات والأحقاد السعودية العبث بخرائط منطقة حساسة تؤثر على التوازنات الدولية والإقليمية كلها، ومن دون أميركا لا يمكن لأحلام العثمانية الجديدة أن تفتح حرباً تجلب إليها بالتعاون مع السعودية وقطر عشرات آلاف عناصر تنظيم القاعدة، وتقلب معادلات الشرق الأوسط وقواعد الأمن فيه، ومن دون مصلحة أميركية بملء الفراغ الذي سينتج عن مغادرة العراق وأفغانستان ما كانت أميركا لتفكر بالحرب في سورية وعليها، لكن من دون أن تصير الحرب حاجة «إسرائيلية»، ومن دون أن تطمئن «إسرائيل» إلى أن التفاصيل كلها ستدار بما يحقق مفهومها لأمنها الاستراتيجي لما تحوّلت الحرب من رغبة إلى قرار.

– تشكيلات المعارضة السياسية والعسكرية خضعت للتدقيق «الإسرائيلي»، وكذلك اختيار قادتها ومسؤولي تشكيلاتها القتالية، ومفاوضيها، ونموّ حضور الإسلاميين المتطرفين، وفي طليعتهم الوهابيون، جاء بضبط هؤلاء تحت السقف «الإسرائيلي»، وتقدم سعودي من التطبيع السرّي إلى التطبيع العلني مع «إسرائيل» كشرط مسبق، وخوض «إسرائيل» حرب اليمن لتدمير الصواريخ الباليستية اليمنية والتموضع في الحديدة تمّ بطلب «إسرائيلي»، وإلا لما حاز الموافقة الأميركية وانتظر الأميركيون نتائج الحرب ثلاثة شهور لتوقيع التفاهم على الملف النووي الإيراني، ولمن يريد شواهد عليه التوقف أمام معاني قيام تشكيلات المعارضة بضرب منشآت الحرب الإلكترونية في سورية ومراكز التنصّت على «إسرائيل» في منطقة درعا في الأيام الأولى لما سمّوه «ثورة»، وأمام استهداف شبكات دفاع جوي منعزلة في الجبال من قبل ما يُسمّى بالمعارضة، وأمام اغتيال قادة حرب الصواريخ وصناعتها، وضباط الطيران الوافدين حديثاً من روسيا من دورات على الطائرات الجديدة، وصولاً للطبابة والحضانة اللتين منحتهما «إسرائيل» لتنظيم القاعدة ومسلّحيه والتصريحات المعلنة عن التعاون معه، والمجاهرة من رموز المعارضة بالعلاقة التحالفية مع «إسرائيل» وزياراتهم المكررة لها.

– الإسناد الناري «الإسرائيلي» لمعارك منسّقة ضمن الحرب على سورية تخوضها تشكيلات الجماعات المسلحة برعاية أميركية من غرفة الموك في الأردن، وتشارك فيها السعودية والأردن، شكّل سمة ملازمة لمعارك جنوب سورية بين الجيش السوري والتشكيلات المسمّاة معارضة وفي طليعتها جبهة النصرة، وصولاً للإعلان «الإسرائيلي» عن نية إقامة حزام أمني على حدود الجولان تتولاه النصرة، أسوة بمعادلة «إسرائيل» في جنوب لبنان يوم استعصت السيطرة على كل لبنان، لكن مع سقوط مشروع السيطرة على سورية صار على «إسرائيل» التحسّب لما بعد نهاية الحرب، والإجابة عن سؤال ماذا بعد؟

– يؤكد «الإسرائيليون» على مستويات القرار والتحليل كلها، أن المشهد المقبل سيتكوّن من رباعية، الانخراط الأميركي السياسي الذي بدأ من التفاهم على الملف النووي الإيراني وسيستمرّ في فكفكة الأزمات ولو متعرّجاً، والحرب على الإرهاب كبديل للحرب على سورية، بما يتماشى مع التحديات والتغييرات المحيطة بالحرب والجارية في أميركا والغرب، والحضور الروسي المكثف في سورية كقاعدة استراتيجية تحظى بالاهتمام والرعاية، ووجود قوة عسكرية سورية متماسكة اختبرت كل أنواع القتال ومخاطر الحروب، واكتسبت مناعة وصلابة بالتكامل مع تحوّل قوة حزب الله النوعية إلى قوة جديدة تتقن فنون القتال النظامي وشبه النظامي، وامتلاك خبرات القتال بالتنسيق مع سلاح الجو ومع المدرعات وتشكيلات الجيوش، وحروب المدن والأرياف، ما يجعل نشوب حرب بسبب انسداد آفاق التسوية، كارثة وجودية لـ«إسرائيل».

– يعتبر الخبراء «الإسرائيليون» أن خطر مثل هذه الحرب هو الذي جعلهم عام 2010 يطلبون من الأميركيين الإسراع بالتفكير بكيفية تغيير النظام في سورية، لكنهم يقولون اليوم إن الوضع الذي سيرثونه من الحرب الفاشلة على سورية سيجعل مخاطر 2010 مجرد نزهة أمام مخاطر 2020، فروسيا باتت هنا ترسم حدود الخريطة وتشكل سقفاً لها، وإيران تضاعفت مقدراتها ولها كل يوم سلاح جديد، من الصواريخ الباليستية والدبابات والطائرات، والجيش السوري وحزب الله قوة عظمى تتنامى، وهو جيش الحروب البرية الأول في الشرق الأوسط والسير الأميركي بمفهوم الانخراط طلباً للتعاون مع روسيا في الحرب على الإرهاب سيعني شيئاً واحداً مهما طال الزمن، تعويم الدولة السورية كما عوّم التفاهم على الملف النووي الإيراني الدولة الإيرانية، عاجلاً أم آجلاً.

– رسمت «إسرائيل» استراتيجيتها على قاعدة إبطاء الحركة الأميركية نحو تسوية سياسية في سورية، فأوفدت محمد بن سلمان ومن خلفه انتحاريي دمشق ليقول لواشنطن، حرب الشمال على داعش شيء قد تستدعي تحالفاتها وخصوماتها، لكن حرب الجنوب شيء آخر فهي حربكم وحربنا على النفوذ الإيراني يجب ألا تتوقف بداعي تسهيل حرب الشمال. وبالمقابل ذهب بنيامين نتنياهو إلى موسكو لاستباق الزمن الروسي الآتي، والحصول على هوامش حركة عسكرية في سورية، وفقاً لمعادلة ما لا نفعله اليوم لن نستطيع فعله غداً، ولمّا عرض نياته أمام الرئيس الروسي سمع دعوته لصرف النظر عن العبث العسكري داخل سورية، والاستثمار على معادلة أن التعامل مع دولة سيّدة عدوة تحكمه ضوابط تبقى أفضل لمفهوم الأمن الاستراتيجي من العبث بالفوضى التي تمنح أرباحاً ظرفية، لكنها تمنح القوى غير النظامية أرباحاً استراتيجية لتغيير الأوضاع لأنها لا تحتاج إلا للزمن وشرعية التحرك. وهذا ما يمنحه العبث «الإسرائيلي» جنوب سورية لحزب الله. لكن نتنياهو لم يكن يريد مفاوضة موسكو بل الاكتفاء باعتبار انه أعطاها علماً، وهذه «إسرائيل»، يكفي أن تفعل ذلك.

– عاد نتنياهو وبدأت التحضيرات لضربات تستهدف حزب الله جنوب سورية، وكان لا بد من اختبار نتائج زيارة موسكو، ولمدى قدرة الجيش السوري على تكرار التعامل مع دخول طائرات «إسرائيلية» الأجواء السورية، بإطلاق صواريخ متطوّرة على هذه الطائرات، كما حدث قبل أربعة شهور، وألزم إسرائيل بتضييق هوامشها باللجوء للغارات من الأجواء اللبنانية بمدى سقفه ستون كيلومتراً، وإطلاق صواريخ من الأراضي المحتلة بالمدى ذاته تقريباً، فتزامن التوغّل «الإسرائيلي» في الأجواء السورية مع قيام الطائرات الأميركية بغارة على مواقع لتنظيم القاعدة غرب حلب، مستخدمة طائرات من قاعدة الملك خالد في السعودية، ومعلوم أن المسار فوق الأردن يستدعي إعلام «الإسرائيليين»، بعد الحصول على موافقة الروس للمرور الآمن في الأجواء السورية، والمعلوم أكثر أن التعاون الأميركي «الإسرائيلي» الأردني السعودي لا يحتاج لبراهين، فلا شيء يمنع أن تكون الغارة الأميركية قد جرى توقيتها على الساعة «الإسرائيلية»، فتستخدم الطائرات «الإسرائيلية» الممر الجوي ذاته الذي تسلكه الطائرات «الأميركية» وفي التوقيت ذاته.

– المهم في الاختبار هي النتائج التي ترتّبت عليه، فالبيانات «الإسرائيلية» تكشف أن الذي سقط في قرى إربد هي بقايا صاروخ حيتس، كان يلاحق الصواريخ السورية التي استهدفت الطائرات المشاركة في الغارة، ما يؤكد أن مسار الطائرات «الإسرائيلية» كان فوق الأردن وليس فوق لبنان، والمعلن «إسرائيلياً» أن صاروخ حيتس فشل في إسقاط الصواريخ السورية التي أكملت إلى أجواء القدس وأريحا وسقطت هناك بواسطة شبكة الباتريوت الأميركية، ما يعني أن صاروخ حيتس الذي تعتمد عليه «إسرائيل» في القبة الحديدة قد أُسقط من الخدمة، وأن الصواريخ السورية وقد أطلقت من جوار حمص، ويبدو أنها كانت أربعة صواريخ، اثنان أصابا الطائرتين المغيرتين، وإثنان قاما بمطاردة طائرتي الحماية، بلغت أجواء القدس ما يعني أن مداها قارب الخمسمئة كيلومتر ما يجعلها من الأطرزة الأشدّ حداثة، وأن ما قالته «إسرائيل» تخفيفاً للذعر أنها صواريخ سام خمسة هو بنسبة معيّنة تلاعب على الكلمات فالأس أس 300 هو نوع من السام خمسة، وكذلك الأس أس 400، وهذا يعني أن ما قاله الخبراء «الإسرائيليون» على شبكات التلفزة وفي الصحافة «الإسرائيلية»، أن زمن التفوق الجوي الإسرائيلي قد انتهى هو الأهم.

– الخلاصات البعيدة المدى، أن «إسرائيل» التي فقدت التفوق البري والتفوق البحري تفقد التفوق الجوي، وأن روسيا في قلب الحرب، وقبل أن تنتهي لن تمنح «إسرائيل» ضمانات التحرك في الأجواء السورية، وأن القيادة السورية لديها الإرادة ولديها القدرة على إرباك «إسرائيل» استراتيجياً وجعلها دولة عاجزة عن التفكير بحرب ولو محدودة، من دون المخاطرة بمواجهة تخرج عن السيطرة.

– إسرائيل تعترف بكل ذلك، فلا بأس أن يخرج غداً بعض العرب، ومنهم سوريون ولبنانيون، يمنح «إسرائيل» قوة قاهرة في الحرب لا تدعيها، ونفوذاً سياسياً دولياً من أميركا إلى روسيا تشتهيه ولا تطاله، كما حدث بعد الهزيمة «الإسرائيلية» في حرب تموز 2006، ففؤاد السنيورة صفة وليس شخصاً.

– مَن سيسأل بعد اليوم عن حق الردّ القموه حجراً.

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River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

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«Israel’s» Main Goal in Syria: Curbing Hezbollah, Iran Influence in Golan

Local Editor

In addition to the internal issues, the “Israeli” entity may be dragged into regional developments at any time.

The incident last Friday, in which Syria fired an anti-aircraft missile at “Israeli” warplanes after “Israeli” airstrikes in Syria, reminded the “Israeli” media about the ongoing war in that country.

That war is the main, but not the only, arena for the larger struggle among forces in the region. The two main sides are the Iranian-led axis and the Saudi-led alliance of Arab regimes. Tehran has an advantage on nearly every front. The “Israeli” entity is a secondary player. Its focus is on trying to curb Iranian influence on the front that is most important to it, the border with Syria in the Golan Heights.

The entity is particularly troubled by developments in Syria and Lebanon. As Tehran and Damascus are discussing a long-term lease of space in the Latakia port to Iran, the “Israeli” entity fears the delivery of weapons delivered to Hezbollah.

The “Israeli” entity was forced to admit its airstrikes in Syria last week. However, despite the Russian foreign ministry summoning the “Israeli” ambassador for clarifications, the entity’s message was firm: it will continue its strikes out of fear from Hezbollah and to prevent it from obtaining weapons, including rockets, missiles, drones and chemical weapons.

The reserve-duty generals Amos Yadlin and Giora Eiland argued in two separate articles in the “Israeli” Yedioth Ahronoth daily this week that foiling alleged arms smuggling is secondary to the entity’s main goal of thwarting Iran’s and Hezbollah’s presence in the Golan Heights.

Yadlin, presumably reflecting the position of the military establishment, believes “a reassessment is needed” of the benefits of the effort to keep weapons out of the hands of Hezbollah [by striking convoys and arms depots in Syria] versus the risk of escalation posed by these actions.

Yadlin said that while the entity should uproot the group’s infrastructure in the Golan Heights, the most important strategic goal in the north is to prevent Iran from establishing a base in Syria, using its contacts in Moscow and in Washington.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, speaking at the same event, focused on the northern front.

He said that in a future war with Hezbollah, the “Israeli” entity could target Lebanese state institutions, without making a distinction between the government in Beirut and Hezbollah. It looks like a planned “Israeli” trend – renewing threats to wreak widespread destruction in Lebanon in order to deter Hezbollah from operating on the border in wake of its growing successes.

israel | iran | hezbollah | syrian crisis | hizbullah

Source: Haaretz, Edited by website team

24-03-2017 | 1

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Filipino President: The European Union are ‘sons of bitches’

By

Paul Antonopoulos

–

25/03/2017

 BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:54 A.M.) – The President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has called the European Union (EU) “sons of bitches” after calling for the hard line leader to rethink his war on drugs.

During a speech to Chinese businessmen, he highlighted that he did not need the EU to talk about rehabilitation programs which he claimed did not stop drug addicts from committing crimes.

“So we’re getting a relief now from our hardships because a lot of (Chinese) money is coming in. The EU, they communicated to us, and they want a health-based solution for the drugs. These sons of bitches,” he said.

“They want us to build clinics, then instead of arresting, putting them in prisons, just like in other countries, you go there and if you want shabu, they will inject you and give you shabu and you go out,” he said, referring to the methamphetamine used in the Philippines.

“Our people will just go there and consume every chemical until kingdom come, until they are crazy… who will answer for these?”

His angry response came as the EU criticized the “many extrajudicial killings” occurnig in the Philippines.

The President then went onto praise China for its no-strings-attached loans and aid.

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Jewish perpetrator of bomb hoaxes was engaged in false flag terrorism for a period of ‘two or three years’

Source

ed note–‘2 or 3 years’, and Israel wasn’t able to find him until the FBI stepped in?

Israel knew all along but allowed this to move forward, because the perp was likely part of Mossad, hence the cover story that he had been declared ‘ineligible’ for military service in the IDF.

Trump has just put an armlock on Netanyahu in a major way, because now that this has made the news, Trump has an open road for revealing similar events that have taken place in the past and with an American public all-too-eager to hear about it.

Seems there may have been a prediction like this made a year or so back, to wit–

‘…The ‘celebrating Muslims in Jersey City, New Jersey’ meme was/is just one of several ‘surprises’ that Trump is capable of pulling out of his black bag of political magic tricks. After all, how difficult would it be for him to begin other discussions–as LOUD and as controversial as the previous one–around events such as Israel’s attack on the USS LIBERTY, the Lavon Affair, the assassinations of 2 brothers named Kennedy, the bombing of the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, Jonathan Pollard, Monica Lewinsky, etc, etc, etc?…

…or, better yet, even for him to offer a retraction and an apology, something along the lines of–

‘I, Donald J. Trump, do hereby retract my original statement that there were ‘thousands of Muslims’ celebrating in Jersey City, New Jersey on the morning of 9/11. My staff, after looking into the matter and speaking with law enforcement officials who were involved directly with the events of that day, have learned that in fact it was not Muslims who were celebrating that day, but rather 5 Israeli intelligence officers who were then arrested, held for questioning for more than 2 months and then sent back to Israel, after which time they admitted on Israeli TV that they were sent to America to ‘document the event’. I sincerely apologise if my comments offended anyone in the Islamic community.’

And all can be assured that something along these lines was/is precisely what Trump was/is prepared to do, and that in some fashion–back door or otherwise–he is allowing the goombahs making up the organized Jewish power structure working against his candidacy know that this might be the next ‘surprise’ coming out of his black bag of political magic tricks if certain concessions favorable to him are not met…’

Haaretz

A resident of Israel in his late teens with both American and Israeli citizenship is suspected of being behind a host of fake bomb threats directed at Jewish institutions and other targets worldwide.

The cyberattack unit of Israel’s fraud squad arrested the Jewish suspect, 19, on Thursday in wake of information it received from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law-enforcement authorities abroad. Police seized computers and other items that allegedly allowed him to perpetrate the threats in a manner that made it difficult for the police to locate him.

A gag order was lifted on Thursday in the case, which the Israel Police have dubbed Case 801. The suspect will remain in custody for seven more days, the court decided.

Attorney Galit Bash, who represents the suspect, said that “this is a young man without a criminal record who from a young age suffers from severe medical problems. There is concern that his medical condition affects his cognitive functioning.

“Therefore, we asked the court to order that the young man be referred for a medical examination. The court accepted our claims and instructed the police to examine the young man’s medical condition.”

The suspect was brought before Judge Amit Michles, who said that “I believe there is reasonable suspicion to link the suspect to actions attributed to him.

“The main thing is that a reasonable suspicion already exists at this stage that convincingly links the suspect to the calls that have been attributed to him, known as ‘swats,’ to different institutions around the world, some of which have led to panic.”

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Thursday the arrest in Israel reflected the government’s determination not to tolerate hate crimes.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans, and we will not tolerate the targeting of any community in this country on the basis of their religious beliefs,” Sessions said in a statement. “I commend the FBI and Israeli National Police for their outstanding work on this case.”

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt also responded to the arrest.

“While the details of this crime remain unclear, the impact of this individual’s actions is crystal clear: These were acts of anti-Semitism. These threats targeted Jewish institutions, were calculated to sow fear and anxiety, and put the entire Jewish community on high alert.”

The suspect has lived in Israel many years. The army refused to draft him after finding him unfit for service. The suspect’s motive is unknown, but police accuse him of hundreds of incidents involving threats to institutions around the world, including Israel, over a period of two or three years.

Some five computers were confiscated as well as other equipment, including antennas he used to access other people’s networks and to commit the alleged crimes undetected. This initially threw off the police and it led them to question others whose networks were used. Eventually, the police created a profile of the suspect and the technology to find him. Police say that he attempted to grab the gun of an officer who came to his home to arrest him.

The suspect is not cooperating with police and has refused to grant permission to have his computers searched. He is said to have been home-schooled by his parents and never to have been educated outside the home.

Police are accusing the suspect of extortion through threats and of false reporting spreading panic. The incidents include alleged calls placed to shopping malls, airports and various Jewish institutions. Investigators are also attempting to determine if the suspect received any money in connection with of the threats attributed to him.

The police also detained his father for questioning.

The Israel Police initially struggled to locate the suspect but then received several reports of threats from 16 Jewish centers in nine U.S. states – Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and North Carolina. The FBI began investigating. Delta Airlines also received a threat about a bomb on one of its planes, causing it to halt flights to check their aircraft and forcing a plane already in the air to land.

The FBI handed over the information to the Israel Police after finding that these threats too had originated from Israel. Using innovative technology, the police were able to identify the suspect’s home.

The Rishon Letzion Magistrate’s Court is expected to extend his custody on Thursday.

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Comments of the Russian MID on the EU authority on human rights

March 22, 2017

The EU has long lost its moral right to act as an authority on human rights issues

The following statement is an important step taken by the MID. Until recently, they refrained from directly pointing out that the European nations that are orchestrating the anti-Russian campaign are the same nations that participated in the  war on the USSR in 1941-1945. Some of them sent their armies to invade Russia and to burn Russian towns and villages and to hang Russians women and children, some of them were busy producing tanks, ammunition and ropes, while others were treating the injured invaders and financing the war.

Let’s list the crimes of the Western nations against the Russians every time we write about their political representatives, governments and military alliances.

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Today marks the 74th Anniversary of the horrific #Khatyn massacre, Ukrainian nationalists & Nazis burned 150 people alive #WeRemember

5:54 PM – 22 Mar 2017

 Comment by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information and Press Department on a declaration by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union on Crimea and the European Parliament resolution on Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia and situation in Crimea

March 20th, 2017

We were perplexed by the March 18 declaration by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union on Crimea, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia. Apparently, Brussels remains detached from reality and refuses to acknowledge the obvious, positive changes in the lives of the people in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, which are now part of the Russian Federation.

Instead of repeating unsubstantiated assertions by Kiev regarding alleged “human rights violations” and the “annexation of Crimea,” European officials wishing to receive objective information regarding the situation in Russia’s Crimea would do better to visit the peninsula and see with their own eyes what is happening there, as many unbiased public and political figures from EU member countries have already done.

The EU invokes international law but seems to forget about its gross violations in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and, for that matter, Ukraine, with the goal of toppling unwanted regimes in which its member countries took an active part. The EU has yet to respond adequately to the regular marches and rallies of Waffen-SS veterans in Latvia, which not only insult the memory of millions of victims, but also ignore the rulings of the Nuremberg Tribunal, as well as the UN General Assembly resolutions on inadmissibility of the glorification of Nazism.

Fabrications about “threats to international security” and the “ongoing militarisation” of Crimea also come as a surprise. The EU prefers not to notice the deployment of US missile defence elements in Romania and Poland, the ever more frequent NATO exercises in the Black Sea, and the increased NATO military presence in Eastern Europe, which have a negative impact on the security situation in Europe, including the Black Sea region.

The attempt to portray the EU’s blanket discriminatory restrictive measures against Crimeans as part of the “policy of non-recognition” of the reunification of Crimea with Russia appears cynical. In the context of EU visa policies, they are reminiscent of “visa reprisals” and run counter to a range of norms of international law. The same applies to the EU’s appeals to UN member states to impose sanctions on Russia.

The adoption by the European Parliament on March 16 of the resolution on Ukrainian Political Prisoners in Russia and Situation in Crimea once again demonstrates a prejudiced approach to human rights. Clearly, the EU has long lost its moral right to act as an authority on human rights issues. For the sake of dubious political expediency, Brussels prefers to turn a blind eye to the actions of the Kiev regime and the Ukrainian nationalists blocking water and energy supplies to Crimea, non-payment of pensions and benefits, as well as the blocking of railway links with southeastern Ukraine, not to mention the numerous migrant issues in the EU itself, including the disappearance of migrant children and violations of their rights, the status of “non-citizens” in Latvia and Estonia, growing racism and xenophobia throughout the European Union, and the blatant human rights violations in the course of involvement of a number of EU countries in the infamous secret CIA prisons. Those are the cold hard facts. However, MEPs in their resolutions on Crimea prefer to see only the mythical deterioration of the situation of the Crimean Tatar population, despite the fact that real progress in restoring its rights was made only after reunification of the peninsula with Russia.

To reiterate, Crimea and Sevastopol are an integral part of the Russian Federation, and methods of political or economic pressure, to which the European Union persistently resorts, are futile efforts and will not change this fact.

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Weekly report on israel’s terrorism against the State of Palestine (16-22 March 2017)

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory 

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

(16-22 March 2017)

• Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
• 3 civilians, including a child, and 2 Israeli activists, were wounded.

• Israeli warplanes targeted two training sites for the Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

• House Demolitions on grounds of collective punishment.

• Israeli forces closed with cement the family house of Fadi Qunbor in al-Mukaber Mount, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.

• Israeli forces continued to target the border areas in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 4 sheep.

• Israeli forces conducted 70 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one was conducted in the southern Gaza Strip.
• 58 civilians, including 8 children, were arrested in the West Bank.
• 5 of them, including 3 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs.
• Among those arrested was a PLC Member.

• Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• Two barracks for livestock and horses were demolished

• Israeli forces continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
• Israeli settlers uprooted 75 olive seedlings, south of Nablus.

• Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 10^th

• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (16-23 March 2017).

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian children and wounded 3 others, including a child, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  Meanwhile, they wounded two Israeli activists in the West Bank.  In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to chase Palestinian fishermen in the sea and open fire at the farmers in the border areas.  Moreover, the Israeli warplanes carried out many airstrikes against training sites belonging to the Palestinian armed groups.

In the West Bank, in a new crime of using excessive force, on 17 March 2017, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, a Palestinian child and seriously wounded another.  The shooting occurred from a distance of 10 meters after two boys threw two Molotov Cocktails at an Israeli military vehicle stationed near the Israeli watchtower established at the entrance to the camp. The Israeli soldiers opened fire at the Palestinian civilians who hurried to rescue the two children in order to hinder saving their lives.

On the same day, Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian civilian when they raided Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus, so a number of Palestinian children and youngsters gathered to throw stones at the Israeli vehicles.

On the same day as well, two Israeli activists were wounded while participating in Kafr Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqilya.

In the Gaza Strip, in a new crime of excessive use of force, on 22 March 2017, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and seriously wounded a young man after firing artillery shells at them when both civilians were near the border fence with Israel in al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City.  PCHR’s investigations emphasized that the shelling incident violates the principle of necessity and distinction, the use of force was excessive, especially the victims were only civilians and unarmed.

In the context of airstrikes, on 16 March 2017, Israeli warplanes carried out 2 airstrikes against two training sites belonging to the Palestinian armed groups, north and west of the Gaza Strip.  As a result, the two sites sustained damages.  The airstrikes caused strong explosions that rocked the area, so civilians, especially women and children, were terrified.  However, no casualties were reported.

In the context of targeting border areas, On 18 March 2017, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip an Israel, fired an artillery shell at a vacant land, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  As a result, 4 sheep grazing in the area were killed.

On the same day, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands in the villages of Khuza’ah and ‘Abasan.  No casualties were reported.

On 19 March 2017, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at agricultural lands in al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.  No casualties were reported.

In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, On 17 March 2017, Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah shore opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boat sailing there.  However, no casualties were reported.

On 22 March 2017, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia village in the northern Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats and chased them. However, neither casualties nor material damages were reported.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 70 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and limited on into the Gaza Strip. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 58 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children. Five of them, including 3 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem. Among those arrested was a Member representing Hamas in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) identified as Mohammed al-Tol (60).

In the Gaza Strip, on 22 March 2017, Israeli forces moved into the eastern side of al-Qararah village, northeast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They leveled the lands adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel after which they redeployed along the border fence.

House Demolitions on grounds of collective punishment

On 22 March 2017, Israeli forces moved into al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, and stationed in al-Qunbor neighborhood.  They surrounded a house belonging to the family of Fadi Qunbor, and then a cement mixing truck arrived and poured cement inside the house.  The 2-stroey house used to shelter his wife and 4 children.  It should be mentioned that Israeli forces killed the aforementioned civilian on 08 January 2017 when he ran over a number of soldiers in a bus station near “Armon HaNetziv” settlement, which is established on the above-mentioned village lands.  As a result, a number of the soldiers were killed while the Israeli authorities so far keep al-Qunbor’s body in custody and refuse to hand it for burial.

Creating Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem:

In the context of house demolitions, on 11 March 2017, the Israeli Municipality demolished two barracks for horses and livestock belonging to Ayoub Shkeirat and Bassam Shkeirat in the village of Al-Mukaber Mount under the pretext of building without a permit.

Settlement Activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property:

In the context of Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property, on 16 March 2017, Israeli settlers from “Yitsihar” settlement and under the Israeli forces’ protection attacked Burin Secondary School, south of Burin village, south of Nablus village, and threw stones at the school outside walls and iron fence.

On 17 March 2017, Israeli settlers uprooted 75 olive seedlings from a land belonging to Haitham Abu Kafanah in al-Wad area in the north-western side of al-Sawiyah village, south of Nablus.

On 18 March 2017, Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron, threw stones at a vehicle belonging to ‘Aref Jaber (48) from Jaber neighbourhood.  As a result, the car’s windscreen was broken.

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 2 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 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons.  Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians.

Details

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

Thursday, 16 March 2017

• At approximately 00:30, Israeli warplanes targeted a site affiliated with Palestinian armed groups, southwest of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The attack rocked the area and resulted in material damages at the site. The attack also caused fear among children and women, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Surif village, northwest of Hebron, and stationed in Baten al-Hawa area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Sharif al-Hih (25) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses, after which they arrested 3 civilians namely Mo’ath Khaled Ahmed Daraghmah (27), Loai Rashed Abdul Razeq Daraghmah (28) and Mohammed ‘Azem Daraghmah (20). The soldiers also raided and searched a house belonging to Moneer Basel Sawaftah (24) to arrest him, but he was not at home. Therefore, the soldiers arrested his mother and brothers as hostages until Moneer turned himself in at “Tayasir” checkpoint, east of the city. Basel Theeb Abdullah Sawaftah (54), Moneer’s father, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“At approximately 03:00 on Thursday, 16 March 2017, I walk up on the sound of footsteps around my house, so I went to the living room in the second floor. Suddenly the door was opened and I heard a voice telling me: IDF, raise your hands. A number of soldiers then entered the living room as I turned on the lights. A soldier asked me who is in the house and ordered me to call for them to come. They then gathered us in the living room and asked me about my son Moneer (24). When I told the soldier that Moneer was not at home, he said that I have 10 minutes to bring him or he will damage the house contents. I told him that Moneer’s cell phone is not with him, but he did not care. Only 10 minutes later, the soldiers brought my sons, Qassam (26) and Mohammed (22), handcuffed. The Israeli soldiers then started to search the house and damage its contents until 05:00. An officer threatened me to arrest my wife Ebtesam Fayez Daraghmah (42) and my son Mohammed, but I told him to arrest me because we have a 2-year-old toddler, who needs his mother. The officer did not care and then arrested my wife and sons and gave me until 06:00 to bring Moneer to the abovementioned checkpoint. Few minutes after the Israeli forces left, Moneer came back and I told him what happened. He decided to turn himself in for his mother. Moneer, his uncle and I went to the abovementioned checkpoint where the soldiers arrested him and released his mother.”

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Tammon village, southeast of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Abullah Jehad Tawfiq Bani ‘Oudah (28).

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Zeta Jama’in village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Suleiman Eslam Saleh Zetawi (25).

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron, and stationed in ‘Aziz Valley area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Zaid Ahmed al-Masri (37) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp, south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested 3 civilians namely Ayman Ahmed Abu ‘Arab (41), his son Ahmed (20) and Yazan Abu Shalabayah (20).

• At approximately 12:15, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at a training site for al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas Movement), opposite to the Equestrian Club, southwest of Beit Lahia village in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, the attack that rocked the area in the northern Gaza Strip, caused fear among women and children, but no casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah; Birzeit village and al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah; al-Samou’i and Beit Ummer, al-Rayhiyah and Tawous villages in Hebron.

Friday, 17 March 2017

• At approximately 08:50, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off Rafah shore, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus. A number of child youngsters gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers. The soldiers fired lived bullets at the youngsters in response. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian sustained a live bullet wound to the right foot and was taken to Rafedia Hospital. His condition was classified as minor.

• In a new crime of excessive use of force, Israeli forces stationed at al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron killed a Palestinian child and seriously wounded another.

According to PCHR’s investigations and statements of eyewitnesses, at approximately 20:00, a number of children and youngsters were wandering in al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron adjacent to Bypass Road (60) where an Israeli watchtower is established. Two children approached the watchtower and threw Molotov Cocktails at a military vehicle stationed there. In the meantime, 3 soldiers stationed in a tinplate cabin at the entrance to the camp. When the soldiers stepped out, the two children ran away. The soldiers then fired 4 live bullets at them.  As a result, Murad Yusuf Mohammed Abu Ghazi (17) was hit with a bullet that entered his heart and exited his chest.  Ghazi ran for more than 40 meter and then fell on the ground. Meanwhile, Saif Saleem Rushdi (14) was hit with a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest. Saif ran about 200 meters until he fell on the ground. A number of the neighborhood residents rushed to save Abu Ghazi’s life, but the soldiers opened fire at them to prevent them from reaching Abu Ghazi. After that, Dr. Jawad Abu ‘Awad and another civilian were able to reach him and took him to Dr. Ismail Abu Mahfouth Clinic while Abu Ghazi was still bleeding. The doctors could not offer first aid, so they transferred him via a private car on the road leading to Sa’ir village.  The entrance of the camp was closed, so they had to drive about 8 kilometers until they found a PRCS ambulance. The ambulance then transferred the two children to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron. Abu Ghazi was announced dead, but Rushdi was admitted to the OR to undergo an urgent surgery. He is still in the intensive care unit. Eyewitnesses said to PCHR that the shooting was direct from less than 10 meters.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Qalqiliyah, Hablah, south of the city, al-‘Ouja village, north of Jericho, ‘Ein Yabrud village, northeast of Ramallah and al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of the city.

Saturday, 18 March 2017

• At approximately 09:50, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell towards a vacant land adjacent to Abu Haloub agricultural land, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. The land is located about 2000 meters away to the southern side of the border fence. As a result, 4 sheep belonging to Mohammed Mat’an Suleiman Beli (60) died while grazing out of his farm, but neither casualties nor material damages were reported.

• At approximately 14:00, following the funeral procession of Morad Abu Ghazi, who was killed the previous day by the Israeli forces, dozens of angry young men from al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers. The Israeli soldiers fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the young men in response. As a result, a number of young men suffered tear gas inhalation. After that, the Israeli forces raided and searched the houses overlooking the camp and topped their roofs. Some of the houses’ owners were identified as Khader Sa’id Jawbrah, Ahmed Abdul Razeq Abu Kheiran, Na’im Hasan Jawabrah and Jawad Abdul Fattah Jawabrah.

• At approximately 14:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands in Khuza’a and ‘Abasan al-Kabirah, west of the abovementioned border fence. The shooting sporadically continued for more than an hour, but no casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (9) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Dajan, ‘Ourta, Beit Furik and Beta villages in Nablus, al-Samou’i, al-Thaheriyah an Ethna villages in Hebron, Kufur Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah; Yasouf village, east of Salfit an Qarawet Bani Hassan village, west of the city.

Sunday, 19 March 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Moayad Salah Taqatqa (22).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Husan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Hasan Ahmed Sabatin (22) and Yazan Mnawer Sabatin (21).

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Um Salamonah village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging after which they arrested Jamil Ibrahim Taqatqa (18)

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched 3 houses belonging to Mohammed Khaled Abu Helwa (21), Ibrahim Nedal Ibrahim Hattab (21) and Mohammed Nedal Ibrahim Hattab (19) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into the southern area of Hebron. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ma’moun Husain Salah al-Natshah (17) and Mohammed Hesham al-Ja’bari (17) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Samou’i village, south of Hebron, and stationed in Safi neighbourhood near Abu Baker al-Seddiq. They raided and searched a 4-story building inhabited by Mohammed Khader al-Hawamdah and his 3 sons. The Israeli soldiers forced the four families to leave the house while they searched and then started searching it. They then arrested Mohammed and his 4 children; Khalil (33), ‘Ali (29), Yusuf (25) and Ahmed (22).

• At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces accompanied with 2 military jeeps moved into Beta village, southeast of Nablus. They stationed near Beta Secondary School for Boys. A number of students, who were in front of the school, rushed inside it except ‘Enad Raghed ‘Enad al-Jaghub (17), who was slowly walking. A soldier called him and ordered him to set on his knees and put his hands on his head as they approached him, put him on the ground, searched him and took him to a jeep where they handcuffed him. An officer called ‘Enad’s father and introduced himself as “Robin”. He informed ‘Enad’s father that his son is detained for throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers. After an argument between the officer and ‘Enad’s father, the officer beat up the child. After that, the officer re-called the father and ordered him to come to the entrance of the village to take his son. ‘Enad’s father and a group of the village residents went to the abovementioned entrance and took his son. He then transferred him to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus to receive medical treatment for the bruises throughout his body.

• At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at agricultural lands in al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Jenin; al-Thaheriyah an Ethna villages in Hebron.

Monday, 20 March 2017

•  At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu Sunienah neighbourhood, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Naser Mahmoud Abu Sunienah (30) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service, the Shabak, in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into the ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, west of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to Wadi’ ‘Essa Jebril Manasrah (18) and then arrested him.

•  At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Oudai Hasan Abu Haniyah (25) and then arrested him.

• Round the same time, Israeli forces moved in Marj Na’jah village, north of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to Saleh Ibrahim Nemr Sawarkah (23) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Tulkarm, and stationed in al-Karmel neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Thaer ‘Ali Daqamesh (28) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Service, the Shabak, in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into Birzeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Estabraq Yahyah al-Tamimi (22) and then arrested her. It should be noted that Estabraq was a former member of the Student Union in Birzeit University.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Tarqumiya village and Halhoul in Hebron; Shaqba village in Ramallah;  Bedia and al-Zawiyah villages, west of Salfit.

Tuesday, 20 March 2017

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Thaheriyah village, south of Heron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ismail al-Tal (60), a PLC Member representing the Reform an Change Bloc of Hamas Movement, and then arrested him. They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces move into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Murad Suleiman Ibrahim ‘Ata (17).

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Abdul Rahman Fathi Zedan Khazem (22) and Mahmoud Saleh Shraim (20)

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Sharefi al-Najjar and then arrested his son Mokhles (16) and his wife Tamara al-Zain (44).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Mohammed Rashad Husain al- Barghouthi (37), Mohammed ‘Essam al- Barghouthi (20)

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Zababdah village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Mustafa Shrqawi (19) and Hammam Najeh Mur’i Sharqawi (19).

• At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces moved into Kafel Hares village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Khalil Foad Khalil Abu Ya’qoub (22) and Ahmed ‘Ali Saleh (21). They also handed ‘Ali Mahmoud Abdul Hamid al-Qaq (24) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service.

• In the evening, Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Bilal Abdul Majeed Ahmed Hammad (27) and Nader Abdul Ghani Mobarak (54).

• At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Hasan Rebhi Nafe’a (23).

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Samou’i, Surif, Deir al-‘Asal villages and al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron.

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

• In a new crime of excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and seriously wounded a young man after firing artillery shells at them when both civilians were near the border fence with Israel in al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City. PCHR’s investigations emphasized that the shelling incident violates the principle of necessity and distinction during which the use of force was excessive, especially the victims were only civilians and unarmed.

According to PCHR’s investigations and the testimony of an eyewitness, at approximately 00:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence off al-Nahdah neighborhood in al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City, fired around 15 artillery shells at 3 Palestinian civilians, who were only 300 meters away from the above-mentioned fence.  According to the eyewitness, those civilians intended to sneak into Israel for work.  The artillery shells directly hit one of them namely Yousif Sha’ban Ahmed Abu ‘Azrah (16), from al-Shabourah refugee camp in Rafah City, to the upper part of his body.  Meanwhile, Mohammed Wahid ‘Atallah al-‘Akar (25), from Yibna refugee camp in Rafah, sustained shrapnel wounds to the chest and abdomen.  The child died on the spot while al-‘Akar was transferred to the European Hospital in Khan Younis due to his serious wounds.  The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Palestinian Liaison told the PRCS they received information from the Israeli Liaison there is a dead body in the aforementioned area.  The PRCS immediately headed to the scene to find the child’s dead body 300 meters away from the fence while they found al-‘Akar lying around 500 meters away from the fence.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Sera village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses then arrested ‘Ali Ahmed Nemer Khetab (20).

•  At approximately 03:15, Israeli forces moved into Beit Sahour and stationed in the area of Engineers” Housing project. They raided and searched a 3-story building inhabited by 2 families of ‘Esam Qamisah (57) and Sami (60) after breaking the main doors. The soldiers locked the 2 families in one room and questioned them. The Israeli forces later withdrew, but no arrests were reported.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Mohammed Saleh Hassunah (50).

• At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Jaftalak village, north of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Abdullah Fouad Tariq (23). Seven hours later, the Israeli forces released him.

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces accompanied with a car of the Civil Administration moved into Kherbet Bzaiq in the northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Mahmoud Mohammed ‘Ali Nassrallah al-Haroub (24). They confiscated a tractor belonging to Mohammed al-Haroub. They also confiscated a car belonging to Hayel Husain Mahmoud Turkman and took both vehicles to “Nahal” military camp in al-Maleh area.

• At approximately 07:15, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee for fear of their lives. The shooting recurred until 09:00, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 07:20, Israeli forces accompanied with military jeeps moved about 100 meters into the east of al-Qararah, north east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They conducted leveling and digging along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel for hours and then redeployed along the abovementioned border.

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

West Bank:

• At approximately 12:40, on Friday, 17 March 2017, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 2 Israeli activists (not identified) were hit with 2 metal bullets to the hand and face.

• Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized demonstrations in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah and al-Nabi Saleh, northwest of the city; at the entrance to al-Jaalzone refugee camp, north of the city; and in Kafer Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, protesting against the annexation wall and settlement activities. Israeli forces forcibly dispersed the protests, firing live and metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also chased the protesters into olive fields and between houses. As a result, many of the protesters suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by the Israeli soldiers.

  House Demolition on Grounds of Collective Punishment

• On Wednesday morning, 22 March 2017, Israeli forces accompanied with large numbers of border guards, police officers and Intelligence officers moved into al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of Jerusalem and stationed in al-Qunbor neighborhood. The soldiers surrounded a house belonging to Fadi Ahmed Hamdan Qunbor and close the roads to it. They also prevented the vehicles and civilians from entering the main street in the neighborhood. Following that, the a cement mixer truck arrived at the area and began pouring the cement inside the abovementioned house. The house is comprised of two floors; the first of which is comprised of a room, bathroom and kitchen while the second is comprised of a living room in which Qanbar’s wife and 4 children (the eldest son is 7 years old and the youngest is 9 months) lived. It should be noted that on 08 January 2017, Israeli forces killed Fadi Qanabr (28) after he ran over Israeli soldiers, who were at a bus station near “Armon HaNetziv” settlement established on the lands of the abovementioned village. He killed a number of them, and his body is still under the Israeli custody.

The Israeli forces previously took punitive measures. In a dangerous precedent, on Tuesday, 10 January 2017, the family of Fadi al-Qunbar received orders to suspend their residencies (withdrawing the blue IDs), in addition to cancelling family reunion applications of other relatives following the run-over attack carried out by Fadi in “Armon Hanatziv” settlement. Fadi’s family said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces raided Fadi’s family house and handed them 12 orders issued by the Israeli Interior Minister to suspend the residency and reunion applications of several family members, The people who received such orders are:

• Menwa Qunbar- Fadi’s mother: A decision to suspend her residency in Jerusalem.
• Suha Qunbar- Fadi’s sister: A decision to suspend her residency in Jerusalem.
• Murad Aweisat- Suha’s husband: A decision to cancel his “reunion” application as well as cancelling the reunion applications and residency of their two children (Nagham 11, and Wadi’a, 17).
• Dia’ Aweisat (21)-Fadi’s nephew (Hind’s son): A decision to suspend his residency and cancel his “reunion” application.
• Manal Qunbar- Fadi’s sister in law (Sami’s wife): A decision to suspend her residency and cancel his “reunion” application.
• Ahmad Hussein Qunbar- Fadi’s cousin.
• Mohammad Hussein Qunbar- Fadi’s cousin.
• Salah Hussein Qunbar- Fadi’s cousin.
• Zakaria Hussein Qunbar- Fadi’s cousin.
• Younes Hussein Qunbar- Fadi’s cousin.

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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