52 25/07/2010, Israeli occupation forces renewed orders which extended the closure of these institutions.48 10 ‐ Attacks on Journalists In 2010, Israeli occupation authorities stepped up their prosecution of Palestinian journalists and Palestinian news organizations while engaged in their work, including calling attention to Israeli violations against Palestinian citizens and making public the suffering and persecution to which Palestinians were and still are being exposed. This is an attempt by Israel to ensure the policy of gagging, and preventing the dissemination of an image which reveals the reality about what is taking place in Palestine, and this includes serious violations of the rights of the Palestinian people and their continued suffering at the hands of the occupation forces and the settlers. The year has seen the arrest of more than (30) journalists who have been investigated and their equipment confiscated. Some (53) journalists were injured while covering clashes and peaceful marches. During 2010, Israel maintained the closure of the doors of Al‐Aqsa Mosque and its premises before Jerusalemite journalists and prevented them from entering it and taking photos.49 11 ‐Settlements and House Demolition The cessation of settlement constituted a Palestinian demand for the continuation of the Israeli‐Palestinian peace negotiations. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has rejected the continuation of negotiations without a complete cessation of settlements. Through international pressure headed up by the United States of America, the Israeli Government agreed to a moratorium on settlement for three months, but the announced cessation of settlement was a formality only. Israel continued with building settlements and the expansion of settlements using unconvincing arguments, exemplified in terms of completing construction or due to a natural increase of population. With Israel reneging on its pledges to halt settlement activity, the (PLO) had no choice but to halt negotiations. The PLO called on the international community to extract a resolution from the Security Council underlining the need to stop settlements. The PLO President announced that no negotiations would be possible without first temporarily calling a halt to the settlements.50 48 http://www.wafa.ps/arabic/index.php?action=detail&id=96677 http://www.irtvu.com/ar/?c=content&id=7192 50 http://arabic.cnn.com/2010/middle_east/12/9/abbas.mubarak/index.html 49