Palestinian woman collapses as Israeli soldiers attempted to strip-search her

A Palestinian woman was to the Hebron Governmental Hospital, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, on Friday after she collapsed when Israeli soldiers attempted to strip-search her.

The woman was identified as Wisal Al Rajabi, 35. She was hospitalized after suffering a nervous breakdown, when the soldiers took her to a tent in order to strip search her.

The incident took place at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque (The Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron. 

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/61582

Settlers attack Palestinian homes in Hebron

A group of fundamental Israeli settlers attacked on Friday evening a number of Palestinian homes in Tal Romedia neighborhood, in the southern West bank city of Hebron.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/61587

Long Shadow of 1929 Hebron Massacre

Hajj Yussef is one of the Palestinian Arabs who saved Jews during the massacre

“Jews in the old city were mostly shopkeepers, doing business. We used to visit each other,” he says speaking through an interpreter. “We used to go to each others’ places for tea. They were our Palestinian Jews, they spoke Arabic and they dressed like us Arabs.”

“Jews lived here peacefully with their Arab neighbours,” confirms Mr Arnon. “Jews here were not involved in any politics. They did not have any self-defence. And this wonderful life finished with a tragedy.”

For full article, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8219864.stm

Testimony: Settlers assault pregnant woman with sticks and stones, April ’09

Roqaya al-Hazalin, 23

Being pregnant, I couldn’t run fast. After about one hundred meters, the settlers caught me. One of them hit me in my right arm and left leg with his stick. The other settler threw a stone at me, which hit me in the left leg. Then one of them pushed me, and I fell onto some thorns. My arm and leg hurt a lot. When I fell, the two settlers left me and ran toward the farmers and other shepherds. I remained there, crying. I was in terrible pain.

After a few minutes, Amneh and Khadrah ran over to me and helped me get up. They lifted me up with the help of the children and laid me on the donkey that we had brought with us, and  returned me to the village. I was in such great pain that I thought my arm has been broken. I was still crying when we reached the village. An Israeli ambulance came and the medical team gave me first-aid. Then the Israeli police and two army jeeps of the Civil Administration arrived. I told them what happened. Around 11:00 A.M., a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance came and took me to ‘Aliyah Government Hospital, in Hebron.

For full testimony, visit http://www.btselem.org/English/Testimonies/20090410_Settlers_assault_pregnang_woman_near_Um_al_Kheir_witness_al_Hazalin.asp

1 April 2009: Policeman who killed Palestinian sentenced to 8½ years in prison, in incident exposed by B’Tselem

Lazla and three other policemen threw Abu Hamdiya from a jeep moving at high speed after they had abducted, beaten, and abused him. His head struck the pavement with great force, killing him. The policemen also abused other Palestinians in Hebron. The entire affair was exposed by B’Tselem and the Palestinian human rights organization al-Haq.

It is questionable whether a sentence of 8½ years is compatible with the gravity of the offense. However, bringing the policeman to justice, even if only partially, is a rare instance in which the justice system in Israel has met its obligation to hold security forces accountable for illegally harming Palestinians. As a rule, the authorities refrain from enforcing the law on soldiers and police officers who commit crimes of violence against Palestinians. Presumably, the tragic results of this case, together with the high profile it was given by the media, led the authorities to deviate from their custom and prosecute the policemen.

For full article, visit http://www.btselem.org/English/Beating_and_Abuse/20090401_Abu_Hamdiyeh_Appeal_verdict.asp

The incident began on 30 December 2002, at about 8:00pm when a Border Police jeep stopped next to Imran Abu Hamdiyeh, who was with his friends outside his house in Hebron. Eyewitnesses told B’Tselem that border policemen got out of the jeep, put Abu Hamdiya inside the vehicle and drove off. A few of Abu Hamdiya’s friends headed toward Hebron’s industrial area, a place where they knew Border Police officers beat Palestinians. About forty minutes after the policemen grabbed Abu Hamdiya, his friends found his body at the industrial area, lying by the side of the road.

For full article, visit http://www.dubainews.net/story/485760

Testimony of Ra’id A-Rajbi, age 29, resident of area H2 in Hebron:

The door at the back of the jeep was open and one the officers sitting at the back called to us. Naim got to him first and then the three of us. There were four officers in the jeep. The officer who had talked to me had dark skin and his hair was combed sideways. He talked Arabic and asked, in a polite and calm manner, “Why are you standing here?” We said that there was no curfew and he confirmed. He then asked for our ID’s, looked at them quickly and asked us for our ages. We answered him, and then he ordered Naim, Falah and me to leave and told ‘Imran to stay and to take off his coat. I then tried to interfere and said that ‘Imran’s father had died two days ago. The truth is he died forty days ago. The officer said he won’t harm him and that he just wanted to talk to him. I tried to stay with him, but the policeman ordered me to go away. I turned and walked away and after about five meters I looked back and saw the jeep driving away. I couldn’t see ‘Imran and I’m sure he was on the jeep.

For full testimony, visit http://www.btselem.org/english/Testimonies/20021230_beating_to_death_of_imran_abu_hamdiye_in_hebron_witness_raed_a_rajbi.asp

PCHR Weekly Report: 3 Palestinians injured, 23 abducted this week

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, during the week of 09 – 16 April 2009, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank. Israeli forces abducted 23 Palestinians, including 3 children. 18 were abducted during military invasions in the West Bank, and 5 were abducted at Israeli checkpoints within the West Bank.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/60000

Palestinian shot dead by residents after infiltrating settlement near Hebron

A knife-wielding Palestinian terrorist infiltrated a settlement south of Hebron on Friday morning, and was killed on the spot by residents before he could carry out an attack.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1079047.html

According to reports, the man entered the community with the intent of stabbing local residents.

Two residents who were on security duty confronted the man and questioned him as to his purpose there. In response, the man brandished a knife and attempted to stab them. After a short scuffle, the attacker was shot and killed by one of the men. One of the residents was reportedly very lightly wounded by the terrorist.

For full article, visit http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710713143&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The Israeli military kidnaps four civilians and attack kindergarten near Hebron

Local sources said Israeli troops invaded the village of Beit Ruosh, near Hebron, and searched homes. Troops left the village after kidnapping four teenagers. Another force attacked the village of Saffa, where troops searched homes, storming and ransacking a local kindergarten. The villagers said Israeli troops removed a Palestinian flag on the roof of the kindergarten before leaving.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/59988

Israeli Occupation Army kidnaps two international peace activists in Hebron

Israeli soldiers kidnapped on Saturday afternoon twenty international peace activists in the southern West Bank City of Hebron, and released them later on keeping two in custody.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/59894

A German national and an Italian national were taken by Israeli forces while accompanying farmers at 11am. Both individuals have been taken to the police station at Kyrat Arba. Palestinian farmers in At-Tuwani rely on the presence of International and Israeli human rights workers to mitigate violence from settlers.

As soldiers in the area frequently ignore settler violence and rarely interfere to protect the farmers, international volunteers provide support for the Palestinians. The grazing action began around 8.30 am, and the German and Italian nationals were arrested at 11am.

For full article, visit http://palsolidarity.org/2009/04/6128

Israeli settlers attack a Palestine Ambulance in Hebron old city

The ambulance was moving a patient from the Hebron governmental hospital to her home in Ash-Shuhada Street when the attack occurred, Head of Ambulance and Emergency Services for the Red Crescent Abed Al-Haleem Al-Ja’afra said. The Israeli army was aware that the ambulance would be crossing the normally closed area, and had okayed the move.

For full article, visit http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37054

Witnesses said that as soon as the ambulance arrived, the settlers attacked it with stones, they added that Israeli troops who were in the area did not stop the settlers and even protected them.

The Red Crescent Society added that the patient was moved to alocal hospital but still waiting an army permission to go back home.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/59890