Druze Arabs on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights hold an anti-election protest outside a municipal polling station in Majdal Shams, October 30, 2018.
Hundreds of Druze Arabs, some carrying Syrian flags, gathered outside the gates of a polling station on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, trying to block their townspeople from voting in municipal elections.
Israeli police wearing helmets and carrying tear gas launchers cleared a path for would-be voters outside the balloting centre in Majdal Shams.
The town is the largest Druze community in the area of mountainous plateau that Israel captured from Syria in a 1967 war, unilaterally annexing it in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally.
Israeli forces rounded up 12 Palestinians in overnight raids across the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli military on Tuesday.The individuals were arrested for “suspected involvement in popular terrorist activities”, the army said in a statement, without elaborating on the nature of these activities.The Israeli army frequently carries out wide-ranging arrest campaigns across the occupied West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.According to Palestinian figures, some 6,500 Palestinians continue to languish in Israeli detention facilities, including scores of women and hundreds of minors.Israel martyrs Palestinian amid protests in GazaPLO suspends recognition of Israel
Israel arrests 12 Palestinians in West Bank raids
"The Golan’s identity is Arab and Syrian," chanted the protesters as they put a banner on the entrance reading: "No to elections."
Inside the building election officials sat in mostly empty rooms with blue ballot boxes bearing Israeli insignia.
Some voters made it past the protest.
"It’s my right to vote. I’m free to choose the right person," said one man as he emerged from the polling station carrying a child. Glancing at the crowd, he refused to give his name.
The Israeli army martyred a Palestinian man on Sunday in the northern coastal area of the Gaza Strip amid ongoing demonstrations against Israel's air, land, and sea blockade.Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for Palestine’s Health Ministry, said in a written statement that Mohammad abu-Ibadah, 27, was shot dead by the Israeli army during today’s demonstration.Gaza’s National Committee for Breaking the Siege launched the event from the Gaza Strip’s northern coast, not far from the heavily fortified Gaza-Israel buffer zone.It was the 13th time this year Gaza activists held the event, in which boats slowly approach the maritime border before hastily retreating in the face of intense machine-gun fire.Israel first imposed its Gaza blockade in 2006 after Palestinian movement Hamas, which supports armed resistance against Israel’s decades-long occupation, swept Palestinian legislative polls.The following year, Israel ratcheted up the blockade after Hamas seized the entire Gaza Strip -- which it still holds today -- from rival Palestinian faction Fatah.Still in effect, the blockade has crippled Gaza’s economy, depriving the enclave’s more than 2 million inhabitants of many basic commodities.PLO suspends recognition of Israel
Israel martyrs Palestinian amid protests in Gaza
The Druze are a fiercely independent Arab minority who practice an offshoot of Islam. Around 22,000 Druze live on the Israeli-occupied Golan.
Israel, seeking to further integrate them, has offered citizenship but most Druze rejected it. Many regard themselves as Syrian, even after more than half a century of life under Israeli rule.
After an election eve town centre meeting and march featuring dozens of rainbow Druze flags, the community’s elders issued a prohibition against candidates standing and people voting, threatening to make outcasts of anyone who took part.
The Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said late Monday it is suspending its recognition of Israel until it recognizes a state of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to Palestine’s official Wafa news agency.Following a two-day meeting in Ramallah, the council said the PLO and Palestinian Authority will also end security coordination and suspend economic agreements as set out under the 1994 Paris Economic Protocol. It also decided to revoke the validity of the Oslo Accords.The council said the decision was made “in light of Israel’s continued denial of the signed agreements”.The decision must be approved by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO Executive Council.The council also called on Palestinian group Hamas to adhere to all agreements that have been reached under Egypt's mediation to prevent divisions between Palestinian factions.A delegation from Egypt’s intelligence service arrived in the Gaza Strip last Wednesday to continue talks with Hamas leaders.The Egyptian delegation has been engaging in shuttle diplomacy between the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel for several days, during which they have been meeting with officials of Hamas, Fatah and the Israeli government.The talks are being held with a view to reaching a truce between Hamas and Israel on one side and achieving reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions.Wednesday's visit is the third by the Egyptian delegation to the Gaza Strip within a week.On Oct. 3, a Hamas delegation concluded a four-day visit to Cairo, where they held talks with Egyptian officials on the truce and Palestinian reconciliation.The rift between Fatah and Hamas has prevailed since the latter won an overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections in 2006 and seized control of Gaza after deadly infighting a year later.PLO urges ICC probe into Gaza child killings by Israel
PLO suspends recognition of Israel
"Candidates and those who come to vote will have a religious and social prohibition put upon them," said Sheikh Khamis Khanjar. "What bigger punishment is there than this?"
Many Druze have enjoyed economic prosperity on the other side of the front line from their brethren in war-torn Syria.
"When you are in a state that is giving you all your rights, why wouldn't you vote," said Sahar Said Ahmed as she watched the election eve protest in a town square dominated by the statue of a Druze leader who fought French forces during the colonial era.
Outside the polling station Druze religious elders wearing their distinctive maroon and white caps urged youths not to confront the police. One concern was that the issue of taking part in Israeli elections was dividing the community.
"For more than 50 years Israel has been trying to sow disputes by divide and rule and it is happy at the differences that are surfacing," said Moenis Abdullah.