Israeli police storm wedding party in Jerusalem; and close main West Bank traffic for settlers’ marathon
Armed Israeli Police stormed a wedding party in the Jerusalem neighborhood, provoking scuffles with and assaulting some of the attendees. ■ Israeli army today closed sections of the Ramallah-Nablus Road, also known as Route 60, to empty the road for dozens of illegal Israeli settlers taking part in a marathon at the main traffic artery.
JERUSALEM, October 18, 2019 (WAFA) — Israeli police today overnight stormed a wedding party and assaulted attendees in Sur Baher neighborhood, southeast of Jerusalem, said local sources.
Police stormed a wedding party in the Jerusalem neighborhood, provoking scuffles with and assaulting some of the attendees.
Residents of Sur Baher, estimated around 18,000, are a portion of occupied East Jerusalem’s 435,500 Palestinian population who are frequently targeted by Israeli military raids and home demolitions
While Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of unlicensed building, it builds tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as “residents” whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel’s separation wall.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Israeli forces close main West Bank traffic artery for settlers’ marathon
RAMALLAH, (WAFA) — Israeli forces today closed sections of the Ramallah-Nablus Road, also known as Route 60, to empty the road for dozens of settlers taking part in a marathon at the main traffic artery.
The Israeli military announced that it would erect barriers and close a section of Route 60 from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to allow the settlers’ marathon from the junction of Turmus Ayya village, north of Ramallah, to the junction of Zaatara village.
WAFA correspondent noted that Israeli forces sealed off the main entrance of Salfit and prevented Palestinians from using the main roads to secure the settlers’ marathon.
The marathon caused a heavy traffic jam for Palestinian traffic as Route 60 is the main road for Palestinians traveling from the southern West Bank and the center and north.
Palestinian traffic has to take alternative longer detours, including some unpaved, in order to reach their destinations.
Since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Palestinians have not been able to travel freely on Route 60, which is spotted with Israeli checkpoints when the road passes from areas under Palestinian control to areas under Israeli military control.
In addition to the checkpoints, Israel has established several ‘bypass roads’, enabling Israeli traffic to bypass areas of Route 60 that passed through Palestinian jurisdiction.
Israeli severely restricts Palestinians’ freedom of movement through a complex combination of approximately 100 fixed checkpoints, flying checkpoints, settler-only roads and various other physical obstructions.
K.F.
