The Christian and Islamic holy sites spread all over the occupied Palestinian State (oPS) have been aggressively attacked by Israeli settlers’ groups who live in the illegal Israeli settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem in the past few months. These attacks highlight the hate-motivated ‘crimes’ committed by settlers and vary in type, starting from storming Mosques, Churches and Monasteries, performing Talmudic rituals at some Mosques, writing Anti Muslim and Anti Christian slogans on the walls of these sites, as well as destroying their contents and several attempts to set these holy sites on fire. These attacks are considered a setback to the efforts being exerted to bring peace to the Occupied Palestinian State and end the occupation. The following is a list of Israeli settlers’ attacks that targeted Holy sites in the oPS.
On the 12th of January, a group of Israeli settlers stormed Deir Istiya village in the eastern of Salfit city, and wrote anti-Palestinian slogans on the wall of Ben Abid Al-Mutaleb mosque in the village.
On the 5th of February, a number of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Nabi Salih village in the northern of Ramallah city and tried to torch the contents of Tamim Ben Awis Al-Dari Mosque. Settlers also caused damages to the contents of the Mosque.
On the 8th of February, a group of Israeli settlers carried out a “price-tag” attack against a Christian Greek Monastery southwest the Old city of Jerusalem, covering the monastery with anti-Christian slogans such as “death to Arabs”, in addition to slashing the tires of two vehicles owned by the monastery.
Upon Israeli settlers’ request, , the Israeli Central Court issued on the 24th of February an order to hinder the mosque’s muezzin (prayer caller) from calling for prayers in a Mosque in Burin village south Nablus city.
On the 20th of February, a group of Israeli settlers stormed Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque “Rachel Tomb” in the northern of Bethlehem city, and performed Talmudic rituals in the place.
On the 21st of February, the Israeli settlers wrote ‘Price –Tag’ slogans (anti-Christian slogans) on the wall of the Baptist Church in Jerusalem city, and slashed the tires of three vehicles belonging to the church.
On the 29th of February, a group of Israeli settlers accompanied by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Al-Nabi Younis Mosque in Halhul town in the northern of Hebron city, and performed Talmudic rituals inside the mosque. As a result, clashes erupted between Palestinian citizens and the IOA, where the latter closed the area.
On the 25th of March, more than 20 Israeli settlers performed Talmudic rituals nearby the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city; Settlers also stormed Bab Al-Rahma cemetery, and destroyed a number of stones (graves) at the cemetery.
On the 28th of March, more than 100 Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli Occupation Army stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque from Baba Al-Magharbeh (Al Mughrabi Gate), and tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
On the 9th of April, around 90 Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, and tried to perform Talmudic rituals inside the mosque celebrating The Feast of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew). The Israeli settlers also toured and danced at the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
On the 18th of May, tens of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) invaded the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, and performed Talmudic rituals. Its worth mentioning that settlers were headed by Ehud Barak, the Israeli ministry of Defense and an Israeli press group where the latter took photos of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the court yard of Al Aqsa Mosque. The reason behind this gathering is to celebrate the 45th anniversary of occupying East Jerusalem, when Israel took control of the whole city at the end of the Six-Day war (1967 war).
On the 19th of June, a group of Israeli settlers torched a mosque in Jab’a village northeast of Jerusalem city, and wrote anti-Palestinian slogans on its wall; such as: Ulpana war referring to Ulpana neighborhood in Beit Ill settlement which the Israeli government decided to evacuate the five buildings constituting the neighborhood.
On the 26th of June, tens of Israeli settlers stormed the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, and carried out provocative actions against visitors.
On the 4th of July, the Israeli settlers torched Al-Latroun Monastery in the western of Jerusalem city, and wrote anti-Christian slogans on its walls.
On the 12th of June, more than 30 Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque from Bab Al-Magharbeh (Al Mughrabi Gate), and performed religious rituals. On the same day, another Israeli settlers group wrote anti-Palestinian and Anti Muslim slogans on the wall of Suleiman Al-Farisi Mosque in Abdo area south of Hebron city and tried to torch the Mosque after storming and desecrating it.
On the 2nd of October, more than 30 Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city and practiced religious rituals celebrating the ‘Sukkot’ holiday. An the same time, A number of Israeli Settlers sprayed anti-Christian slogans on the walls of a Franciscan Dormition monastery located in the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. ‘Jesus, son of a…’ and ‘price tag,’ slogans were tagged with blue paint on the church’s gate.
On the 8th of October, group of 50 Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army stormed Al-Rahma court yard in Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, and practiced religious rituals. Its worth to mention that the Israeli Occupation Army hindered Palestinian citizens’ from being in the area.
On the 17th of October, around 20 Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army tried to storm Al-Jame’ Al-Qabli (Al Qabali Mosque) at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city to perform religious rituals.
On the 28th of October, thousands of Israeli settlers performed Talmudic and religious rituals at Bilal ben Rabah Mosque “Rachel Tomb” in the northern of Bethlehem city. It’s worth mentioning that the Israeli Occupation Army closed the area and hindered Palestinian citizens from accessing it under the pretext of providing protection to Israeli settlers in the area.
On the 4th of November, a group of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army and headed by Head of Likud party, Moshe Falken, stormed the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city.
On the 7th and 14th of November, thousands of Israeli setters escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army stormed Joseph’s tomb in the eastern of Nablus City and performed Talmudic rituals. The Israeli Occupation Army closed the area and declared it “closed military area”.
On the 19th of November, a group of Israeli settlers from Yetzhar settlement torched the entrance of “Al-Ribat” Mosque in ‘Urif village in the southern of Nablus city.
On the 3rd and 10th of December, around 25 Israeli settlers accompanied by the Israeli Occupation Army toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, where some of them tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the court yard.
On the 12th of December, a number of Israeli settlers sprayed anti-Christian slogans such as; price tag on the walls of a Christian monastery located nearby As-Saqir garden in Jerusalem city and slashed tires of three vehicles belonging to the Monastery.
On the 13th of December, Tens of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Joseph tomb in Nablus city.
On the 13th of December, a group of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, and tried to perform Talmudic rituals.
On the 19th of December, a group of Israeli Settlers along with the Israeli Intelligence Police officers stormed and toured in the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city.
On the 21st of December, hundreds of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed An-Nabi Thi Al-Kifl tomb, Al-Nabi Thi Al-Non tomb, and Salah Al-Dyin Al-Ayoubi tomb in Kifl Haris village in the northern of Salfit city, and performed religious rituals.
On the 23rd of December, a group of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) performed Biblical rituals in Ribat Al-Kurd area in the western wall of Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem city.
On the 31st of December, a group of Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army (IOA) stormed the court yard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem city, and tried to perform Talmudic rituals.
To conclude
The successive Israeli governments work hard to intensify settlers’ presence in the West Bank and Jerusalem city in particular, by expanding existing Israeli settlements, erecting more outposts and confiscating more Palestinian lands for that purpose. As it seems, these successive governments also give settlers support to uphold the territory they occupy under whatever claim; and settlers gain more sustainability as a result of this direct Governmental support; and thus, there is no doubt that Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian Holy sites come in the framework of Israel’s policy of judiazing the Palestinian territory and ripping off Palestinians their legitimates rights.
