Latest news with #IssaAmro
Middle East Eye
4 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Hebron locals denounce sheikhs' plan to declare independence and recognise Israel
Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron have disavowed a proposal by five purported local "sheikhs" to sever ties with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and establish an "emirate of Hebron" which would recognise the state of Israel. The outrage was sparked by a Wall Street Journal article reporting that "five sheikhs" from Hebron penned a letter to the Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, backing Israel as a Jewish state and proposing to establish their own emirate and join normalisation agreements with Israel. The letter further suggested the creation of an Israeli-West Bank industrial zone and pledged "zero tolerance" for "terrorism by Palestinian workers". "Accepting Israel as a Jewish state goes further than the Palestinian Authority ever has, and sweeps aside decades of rejectionism," the report said. According to the report, the initiative was helmed by Wadee' al-Jaabari, who local city residents and its political leadership claim is unknown to them, and backed by "four other leading Hebron sheikhs". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Palestinian city residents, including Jaabari's extended family members, roundly condemned the proposal, saying that its authors do not represent them. Hebron-based activist and journalist Issa Amro said that the proposal and its authors are "complete fabrications". "The so-called 'Hebron sheikhs' in this WSJ piece are complete fabrications - anonymous figures with zero political presence, social standing, family ties and community recognition," he told Middle East Eye. 'This isn't journalism - it's inventing Palestinian 'leaders' to fit an artificial narrative while real Hebronites endure occupation' - Issa Amro, Hebron activist "No media, no clans, no Palestinian factions acknowledge them because they simply don't exist as consequential actors. This isn't journalism - it's inventing Palestinian 'leaders' to fit an artificial narrative while real Hebronites endure occupation," he added. Local political figures also expressed surprise at the report, noting that the authors of the letter had no real influence in the city and that Jaabari in fact lives in Jerusalem. Jaabari's own family issued a statement denouncing the plan, saying that it "in no way represent the position of our respected family and does not reflect the will of its members". "The Jaabari family has always been – and remains – part of the Palestinian national fabric, justly struggling for freedom and independence. We reject all attempts to normalise the occupation or grant it legitimacy." The family told Haaretz that Jaabari "is known for his ties to settlers and Israeli institutions, which primarily serve his personal and business interests", and that his initiative enjoys "no public support". In a post on X, Amro said the WSJ report "names no verifiable sources and ignores documented power structures" and constitutes "either shockingly poor journalism or deliberate misinformation". "At a time when Hebron faces very real challenges - from expanding settlements to military closures - this fictional narrative does a grave disservice to readers and Palestinians alike," he said.
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
We must match the courage of Issa Amro in standing up to Israel and settlers
Issa Amro's article is as devastating as it is galvanising (I told the truth about the West Bank and was threatened and assaulted. Now I'm relying on you to act, 3 June). His courage in standing up to the illegal actions of Israel settlers and the state of Israel is inspirational. If individuals who have no protection dare to speak up and defend themselves against decades of oppression and dehumanisation, risking their lives and those of their loved ones, surely our governments have a duty to act, not just issue words of condemnation. These words still fall short of calling appalling acts like starving civilians genocide, and calling the decades of policies and violence against Palestinians ethnic cleansing. Our governments have the power to make a difference, but still they provide arms to and stand by a state that violates international law. All of us who numb ourselves to reports of the numbers of innocent people murdered (though it is not called that either) will have to live with the knowledge that we didn't do enough. We must protest, inform ourselves about which companies are complicit and boycott them. I am hanging my head in shame that I voted for this government. I am astounded, disgusted and BlakeHove, East Sussex
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Activist in Louis Theroux Settlers documentary ‘targeted in revenge raid'
An activist who featured in Louis Theroux's BBC documentary about the West Bank has allegedly had his home raided in 'revenge' for his participation in the film. Issa Amro was one of the Palestinians featured in Theroux's controversial documentary, The Settlers, which sought to shine a light on radical members of the Jewish settler community and violence perpetrated towards nearby Palestinians. The film, which aired in late April, follows the scandal of another BBC documentary 'Gaza, how to survive a warzone', which was revealed to have used the son of a Hamas minister as a narrator. Mr Amro said that his home was raided by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) over the weekend and that his son had been harassed by members of the settler community. He said that Israeli soldiers appeared at his Hebron home, in the southern West Bank, without a warrant and attacked him, a friend, and damaged his property. A spokesman for the IDF said soldiers had acted to 'disperse a confrontation between Palestinian residents and Israeli civilians'. Oscar-winner arrested Since the beginning of the war which followed the October 7 massacre in 2023, IDF personnel in the West Bank are more likely to come from settler communities. In March, Hamdan Ballal, who won the Oscar for Best Documentary for his portrayal of settler violence in the West Bank, was allegedly beaten by local settlers before being arrested and humiliated by the IDF – although the army said they had arrested local Palestinians for acts of violence. He claimed he heard soldiers mention the Oscar during the alleged ordeal. Mr Amro said: 'It's very dangerous to speak out about the things I talk about. My friends warn me all the time, 'Issa, you're going to get yourself killed'. 'But I am afraid about the future. It's getting more dangerous here. I felt it was really important to be a part of this.' Teenage son harassed The new BBC film is a follow-up to Theroux's 2011 documentary The Ultra-Zionists. In it, he interviewed Daniella Weiss, known as the 'godmother' of the settler movement, which seeks to develop Jewish communities in areas outside the internationally recognised boundary of Israel. Some in Israel and the international Jewish community have said it gives a one-sided impression of the settler movement and the violence in the West Bank. Since the broadcast of the documentary, Mr. Amro has reported experiencing 'harassment,' which included being needlessly forced to go through police metal detectors multiple times at security checkpoints. He also claimed that, last Friday, settlers approached his 13-year-old son near the family home and attempted to forcibly take him towards a settlement. Israeli Police said: 'In general, any incident brought to our attention is reviewed according to police procedures and the law.
Arab News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Israeli soldiers raid home of Palestinian activist featured in Louis Theroux documentary
LONDON: Israeli soldiers have raided the home of Issa Amro, a prominent Palestinian activist featured in Louis Theroux's recent BBC documentary 'The Settlers,' in what he described as a retaliatory move for his appearance in the film. Amro, co-founder of the non-violent group Youth Against Settlements, posted videos on social media showing confrontations with Israeli soldiers at his home in Hebron, as well as footage of Israeli settlers entering the property. 'The soldiers raided my house today, they wanted revenge from me for participating in the BBC documentary 'the settlers', after the army left the settlers raided my house, they injured one activist and cut the tree, they stole tools and the garbage containers,' he said in a post on X. The incident comes as Israel intensifies its military operations in the West Bank, even as global attention remains focused on its war in Gaza. Human rights groups have long accused Israeli settlers — often accompanied or protected by soldiers — of conducting near-daily raids on Palestinian communities to intimidate residents and seize land. The soldiers raided my house today, they wanted to revenge from me for participating in the @BBC documentary ' the settlers' , after the army left the settlers raided my house, they injured one activist and cut the tree, they stole tools and the garbage containers. The Israeli… — Issa Amro عيسى عمرو (@Issaamro) May 3, 2025 Despite repeated condemnation by the international community, attacks by settlers and security forces have grown more frequent and more violent, forcing many Palestinians to abandon their homes. Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law. The expansion of settlements has drawn comparisons from rights organizations to the apartheid system once seen in South Africa. Amro, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, appeared in 'The Settlers,' a follow-up to Theroux's 2012 documentary 'The Ultra Zionists.' In the new film, he guides Theroux through Israeli-occupied Hebron, where around 700 settlers live under heavy military protection among a Palestinian population of roughly 35,000. The documentary not only examines the daily realities of life under occupation but also explores the religious and ideological motivations driving the settler movement. Amro said Israeli police threatened him with arrest and told him not to file a complaint. In one video posted on X, he confronts balaclava-wearing soldiers and asks why their faces are covered. One responds: 'You know exactly why.' . @Issaamro who featured in The Settlers has posted videos of his latest harassment by settlers and soldiers. Our team has been in regular contact with him since the documentary and over the last 24 hours. We are continuing to monitor the situation. — Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) May 4, 2025 Theroux commented on X that his team is in regular contact with Amro and is 'continuing to monitor the situation.' The incident echoes a similar case in March, when Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' was assaulted outside his home in Susya, a village in the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank, before being briefly detained. Ballal later claimed he was beaten while in custody and described the attack as 'revenge for our movie.' In a statement, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces denied Amro's claims, saying: 'As the videos clearly show, the soldiers present on May 3 in the Hebron area were there to disperse the confrontation between Palestinian residents and Israeli civilians.'
Arab News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Palestinian writer wins Pulitzer Prize for Gaza war commentary
Israeli soldiers raid home of Palestinian activist featured in Louis Theroux documentary LONDON: Israeli soldiers have raided the home of Issa Amro, a prominent Palestinian activist featured in Louis Theroux's recent BBC documentary 'The Settlers,' in what he described as a retaliatory move for his appearance in the film. Amro, co-founder of the non-violent group Youth Against Settlements, posted videos on social media showing confrontations with Israeli soldiers at his home in Hebron, as well as footage of Israeli settlers entering the property. 'The soldiers raided my house today, they wanted revenge from me for participating in the BBC documentary 'the settlers', after the army left the settlers raided my house, they injured one activist and cut the tree, they stole tools and the garbage containers,' he said in a post on X. The incident comes as Israel intensifies its military operations in the West Bank, even as global attention remains focused on its war in Gaza. Human rights groups have long accused Israeli settlers — often accompanied or protected by soldiers — of conducting near-daily raids on Palestinian communities to intimidate residents and seize land. The soldiers raided my house today, they wanted to revenge from me for participating in the @BBC documentary ' the settlers' , after the army left the settlers raided my house, they injured one activist and cut the tree, they stole tools and the garbage containers. The Israeli… — Issa Amro عيسى عمرو (@Issaamro) May 3, 2025 Despite repeated condemnation by the international community, attacks by settlers and security forces have grown more frequent and more violent, forcing many Palestinians to abandon their homes. Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law. The expansion of settlements has drawn comparisons from rights organizations to the apartheid system once seen in South Africa. Amro, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, appeared in 'The Settlers,' a follow-up to Theroux's 2012 documentary 'The Ultra Zionists.' In the new film, he guides Theroux through Israeli-occupied Hebron, where around 700 settlers live under heavy military protection among a Palestinian population of roughly 35,000. The documentary not only examines the daily realities of life under occupation but also explores the religious and ideological motivations driving the settler movement. Amro said Israeli police threatened him with arrest and told him not to file a complaint. In one video posted on X, he confronts balaclava-wearing soldiers and asks why their faces are covered. One responds: 'You know exactly why.' . @Issaamro who featured in The Settlers has posted videos of his latest harassment by settlers and soldiers. Our team has been in regular contact with him since the documentary and over the last 24 hours. We are continuing to monitor the situation. — Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) May 4, 2025 Theroux commented on X that his team is in regular contact with Amro and is 'continuing to monitor the situation.' The incident echoes a similar case in March, when Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' was assaulted outside his home in Susya, a village in the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank, before being briefly detained. Ballal later claimed he was beaten while in custody and described the attack as 'revenge for our movie.' In a statement, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces denied Amro's claims, saying: 'As the videos clearly show, the soldiers present on May 3 in the Hebron area were there to disperse the confrontation between Palestinian residents and Israeli civilians.'
