Hebron..settlers victim

The violence in Hebron is a never end story. It has started long time ago after the Israeli occupation that took place in 1967. since that time, Israeli authorities took every needed action to enhance and increase the Jewish population and touch by building big settlements and taking many lands that belong to Palestinians by force. When it comes to Hebron, it is always about history and religion for both Jewish and Muslims. The core issue for such conflict is always the old city of Hebron and specifically, the Ibrahim Mosque (according to Jews it is called Abraham cave), which is the heart of the old city. Both sides agree that this place belongs to the prophet Ibrahim (or Abraham). However, both sides claim that the prophet belongs to them. Israeli authorities have already built many settlements in Hebron since 1967 and those settlements are considered as biggest settlements in the West Bank, such as Keryat Arba. In addition, settlers took by force many Palestinian houses inside the old city and created what is known as the Jewish neighbor. Those settlers are mostly trouble makers and they have been abusing the Palestinian population under the protection of the Israeli army. The religious settlers also took by force part of the Ibrahim mosque and turn to a Jewish temple. However, one of the biggest abuse events was the bloody massacre of the Ibrahim Mosque "also called Al- Haram Al – Ibraheme massacre" that was committed by one of Keryat Arba settlers Barokh Goldshtayen in 1995. The settler entered the mosque early morning while the prayers were praying Al – Fajer pray and open shooting on them, killing and injuring most of them. That particular incidence increases hate feelings to those settlers by Palestinians. The sequence of settler's violence against Palestinians in Hebron continued to become a part of the life in Hebron and take so many faces and use hundreds of tools including, burning Palestinians houses, destroying of olive farms, using of guns and weapons against Palestinians, ..etc. recently, the settlers occupied a building in Hebron that belongs to a Palestinian resident by force and kicked out that building residents by force. This incidence took place two weeks ago causing the Palestinians – settlers to reach its fever and resulting in killing of two Palestinians and injuring of tens of them. March last year, in what Israel's High Court of Justice called a quasi-military operation, some 150 students at a yeshiva (a school for Jewish religious study) took over that building on behalf of the settler association. They say it was empty; the owner claims they used force to empty it. Last month the High Court ordered the state authorities to remove the settlers and lock up the building pending a legal ruling on its rightful ownership. That was the main reason behind the conflict fever that was raised recently.

Traveling dream of Gazans

Traveling around for any purpose has become a far away dream for people in Gaza. The story started 2 years ago on 25th June 2006 when the kidnapping incidence of Israeli soldier Shalit took place. After that particular incidence, Israel decided to prevent the European international observers whom were observing the Rafah crossing point according to Rafah crossing agreement that were signed between Israel and PA in September 2005. however, the only window that Gaza has to pass to the world, which is Rafah, was not closed completely. The year 2006 witnessed few opening times coordinated by Egyptian side to allow Palestinian passengers whom came to visit their relatives in Gaza to travel out. Situation had become worse after 14th June 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza Strip ruling. After that date, all parties (PA, Israel, Egypt, and EU) agreed to close Rafah crossing completely claiming that one of the parties, who is PA, is no longer there. All Palestinians in Gaza, including students, sick people, visitors, and others were prevented from traveling out of Gaza Strip. In August 2008, some Palestinian fighters exploded the border wall and made some big holes in it, allowing thousands of Palestinians to cross over and enter Al – Araesh city of Egypt. The situation remained for nearly 10 days with some control and organize by both Egyptians and Hamas police and then it was closed again. Since that time, Rafah crossing was opened few times to allow humanitarian cases, few sick people, and few students to travel. However, thousands of Palestinians are still not allowed to travel, taking into account that Rafah crossing is the only lung that Gaza has to breath. More over, Israeli strong siege ever has make situation more worse, limiting Palestinian options to almost zero, taking into account that only few Palestinians can cross Erez, the Israeli crossing point from Gaza to Israel, whom are only UN and ICRC members and staff, and some of international NGOs members. However, Erez has tend to be a point where used as crossing point for internationals and people whom are not locals. For the time being and perhaps for the near future or even for an unknown period, traveling remains a sort of a dream that may never come true for Gazans.