Israel bans imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque from entering
Middle East Monitor / January 20, 2020
Israeli occupation authorities handed over a deportation order on Sunday to Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, banning him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week, Palestinian media reported.
Speaking to journalists, Sabri announced that the Israeli occupation police detained him and investigated him at Al-Qashleh Police Station in...
Divide & Rule – Peretz: ‘We will ostracise Hamas and negotiate with PA’
Middle East Monitor / January 20, 2020
Amir Peretz, head of Israeli Labour-Gesher (now merged with the Meretz party), announced on Sunday that he will ostracise Hamas and only negotiate with the Palestinian Authority (PA), if his party wins the Knesset elections slated for 2 March, Quds Press reported.
During a cultural event held in the...
One-third of Israeli youths do not enlist in army citing ‘mental’ issues
Middle East Monitor / January 20, 2020
The Israeli army has expressed its concerns that one-third of eligible Israeli youths have not enlisted so far this year for reasons related to “mental health”, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday.
The data published by the Israeli newspaper showed that 32.9 per cent of young men...
Israel detains Finnish MP for trying to cross Gaza fence
Middle East Monitor / January 20, 2020
Israeli police on Thursday detained five Finnish citizens, including a member of parliament, for allegedly attempting to cross the fence separating Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to local media, Anadolu reports.
The police detained Anna Kontula, a member of the Finnish parliament, and four...
Italian FM doubts EastMed pipeline project feasible
Middle East Monitor / January 18, 2020
The EastMed pipeline project will fail to be a feasible plan in terms of its cost and construction process, according to Italy’s foreign minister, Anadolu Agency reports.
“It is obvious that the EastMed pipeline project, proposed by Greece, will not be an option in the medium-...
Israeli spyware firm fails to get hacking case dismissed
Oliver Holmes & Stephanie Kirchgaessner
The Guardian / January 16, 2020
Judge orders NSO Group to fight case brought by Saudi activist and pay his legal costs.
An Israeli judge has rejected an attempt by the spyware firm NSO Group to dismiss a case brought against it by a prominent Saudi activist...
Palestinian Civil Society to Austrian Parliament: oppose resolution to criminalize peaceful activism for Palestinian...
Letter by Palestinian civil society organizations
January 2, 2020
Dear Members of the Austrian National Parliament and Political Parties,
We, the undersigned Palestinian civil society coalitions, human rights organizations and labour unions write to you regarding the resolution (141/A(E)) “Condemnation of Antisemitism and the BDS Movement” tabled jointly by all elected political...
Human rights groups urge Israel to halt aerial herbicide spraying along Gaza fence
Middle East Monitor / January 17, 2020
Human rights organisations have urged Israel to immediately halt renewed aerial herbicide spraying along the Gaza Strip perimeter fence, stated legal rights centre Adalah.
Israeli crop dusters flew along the fence on Tuesday “and sprayed chemicals purported to be herbicides”, which was “conducted sporadically for...
Israeli court to keep spyware firm information from public
Middle East Monitor / January 17, 2020
Tel Aviv District Court is allowing a closed-door hearing of the case challenging an Israeli spyware firm, NSO Group, following the ministry’s legal team appeal that it should be held in secret, on national security grounds.
Amnesty International has filed a case against the notorious tech...
