Under criticism from UNESCO, Israel reportedly removed Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs from its “National Heritage Sites” list—but provocation by far-right settlers seeking to secure the sites as exclusively Jewish sparked violence.
With Khader Adnan still recovering after his 66-day hunger strike against his “administrative detention” by Israel, a Palestinian woman, Hana Yahya al-Shalabi, began her own hunger strike against her detention without charge or trial.
In the worst clash in the recent protests at Jerusalem's Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, Israeli police used tear gas and stun grenade at the entrance of al-Aqsa Mosque. Protests began after right-wing politicians called for closing the site to Muslims.
A 69-year-old Palestinian man was killed in an attack by the Israeli Air Force on tunnels and a weapons depot in Gaza—as managers of the Strip’s only power plant warned of impending blackouts if more fuel is not delivered.
Palestinian detainee Khader Adnan has been on hunger strike since Dec. 17, and Physicians for Human Rights now say that his life is at risk. His protest against administrative detention has sparked solidarity demonstrations across the West Bank.
Leon Panetta says there is “a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran” in the Spring—but the US and Israel postpone their unprecedented joint missile defense exercises in a an apparent bid to avoid further escalating tensions with Iran.
The Zionist propaganda machine is having a field day with the latest call from Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein to “fight the Jews”—as Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman continues to call for “transfer.”
An Israeli government plan to create a greenbelt around Jerusalem is fueling opposition among Palestinians and their supporters., who say the chain of parks is a land grab that consolidates Israel’s grip on disputed East Jerusalem.
In a move assailed by civil rights groups, Israel’s High Court voted to reject a challenge filed against provisions of the Citizenship Law, which bar Palestinians married to Israeli Arabs from receiving citizenship or residency.
Amid growing tensions in the Persian Gulf, the US and Israel are preparing to hold the largest missile defense exercise in the history of the Jewish state. The drill will involve the deployment of thousands of US troops to Israel.
Even as the Israeli government turns more East Jerusalem land over to hardline Jewish settlers, ultra-orthodox Jews clashed with police at Beit Shemesh suburb over a crackdown on their attempts to enforce gender segregation.
