The settlement movement in Israel and extremist jihadist groups among the Palestinians wield far greater political influence than their numbers warrant, and thus far have succeeded to dash any prospect for peace, justifying their refusal to accommodate the other. The labeling measures will apply to regional goods like produce, wine, honey, olive oil, and cosmetics – an estimated $50 million worth of goods produced in the settlements a year.
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I looked him in the eye and asked, “Are you telling me that this one decision could pressure the Israeli government to put an end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?” “The European Union has made a decision to label only Israel, and we are not prepared to accept the fact that Europe is labelling the side that is being attacked by terrorism”.
In 1946, there were small Jewish settlements throughout Palestine.
The Commission, meanwhile, maintains that the mandate is purely “technical, not political”, and that the distinction is not meant as a punishment.
Palestinian medical authorities say two Palestinians have been killed and 200 others injured on a daily basis since skirmishes have broken out between Israeli military forces and Palestinian protesters early last month.
They also said the mosque itself is under threat from Israel, who they accuse of wanting to physically divide the compound between Muslims and Jews.
A Palestinian protester uses a sling shot to hurl stones at Israeli troops during clashes after the funerals of Ahmed Abu al-Aish, 28, and Laith Manasrah, 21, from Qalandia refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, November 16, 2015. It is the holiest site in Judaism and was home to the biblical Jewish Temples.
“We had people in Washington, D.C.at the White House and wherever Benjamin Netanyahu appeared, demonstrating, demanding that the Obama, the USA government cut all aid to Israel, instead of continuing to be the main patron for Israel”.
Salah’s deputy, Kamal Khatib, said the party condemned the Paris attacks and charged Israel with exploiting the timing to “punish the Islamic Movement”. Salah’s calls to protect Al-Aqsa resonate with large segments of the public, even those who are not religious, said Shaul Bartal, an expert on Palestinian affairs at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University.
Responding on Facebook, the Jerusalem Post reported Salah posted, “Oh Muslims, Oh Arabs, Oh Palestinians everywhere, we will remain as we were, the protectors of Jerusalem and blessed al-Aqsa Mosque until we meet Allah”.
Netanyahu contends that the Islamic Movement’s northern section, which unlike its southern branch refuses to recognize Israel’s legitimacy, has encouraged assaults on Israelis.
The movement also helped form groups of male and female activists, known as “Morabitoun” – loosely translated as defenders of Islamic lands – who spend hours each weekday at the shrine trying to disrupt visits by Jews.
Although the Netanyahu government denies any connection between the occupation and the violent frenzy sweeping the region, most Israelis and moderate Palestinians are alarmed about the possibility that ISIS will find, if it hasn’t already, fertile ground among radical Palestinians who detest the Israeli occupation and their own leaders more than they loathe ISIS. Police at times have blocked busloads of Islamic Movement supporters from Jerusalem. The group’s leaders, known for their fiery rhetoric, have spearheaded accusations that Israel is plotting to take over a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem.
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Given Israeli surveillance and prosecution of citizens suspected of abetting the Palestinian attacks, one expert on Israeli Arab opinion also cast doubt on the need for the crackdown. Last month he deployed reservists across Jerusalem and Israel, and erected 14 new checkpoints inside of Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
