During the week AAtW activists participated in the ongoing struggle against transfer in the Jerusalem region; with the villagers of Saffa efforts to work their land near the colonial settlement Bat Ain; In Bil'in efforts to confront the state forces intrusion to the village at nights (probably as a training activity to special forces) in order to harass the people and arrest youth. We also participated (and smell tear gas) in a mid week demonstration against the separation fence in Ni'ilin. AAtW activist also participated during the week in the efforts to thwart the new immigration police harassments of the African refugees who stay in Tel Aviv.
BIL'IN
For few weeks already the Israeli state forces invade the village at night - few times a week, terrorizing the sleeping village and arrest village youth suspected as stone throwers in the Friday demonstrations. AAtW activists were staying nights in the village and participated in the confronting the invading state forces to restrict their harassment.
"A large force of more than 80 soldiers, border policemen and policemen invaded Bilin around 4 am tonight. They had entered four houses and eventually arrested only 2 people: an American activist and a 17 year old youth from the village. Israeli and international presence had been proven very effective in reducing violence and arrests. Since further invasions are expected, help is needed tonight (and probably in the following days). If you can come tonight, please call Y."
On another night:
"Explosions Pierce the Quiet of Bi'lin
On July 7th at 3:30, soldiers disrupted the tranquility of Bi'lin by forcing their way into several houses. Israeli soldiers came with a list of 10 names for arrest. When Palestinian, international, and Israeli activists arrived at the scene they were subjected to violence and intimidation by the Israeli occupation forces. One activist with the International Solidarity Movement had non-violently blocked the entrance to one of the doors when he was attacked by soldiers, forced to the ground, and subjected to pain compliance. He was then arrested and carried by a group of soldiers into a military jeep. When activists and community members responded, they were beaten back with batons and forced to dodge a large number of percussion grenades.
Meanwhile, activists tried blocking the jeeps from leaving by erecting makeshift barricades in the street. The Israeli occupation forces responded with a number of percussion grenades and then rammed their jeeps through. They forced their way up the street and to several other houses. While there, they arrested a young man and issued nine summons to families of youths who were not present. This was done without explanation or warning. In the process of storming other houses, the soldiers were again confronted by activists and community members who refused to be dispersed even after repeated percussion and flash bang grenade attacks by soldiers. The jeeps had to make an escape through a second set of erected barricades and they exited into the night with their victims inside."
Links to video:
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=162&Itemid=1"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko9uoacB3YE&feature=player_embedded
"We are having a legal workshop in Bil'in tomorrow Tuesday at 19:00
If you can help with a ride please call me L."
"Tonight, Israeli & international activists were present in Bilin, following a series of army mass night raids. Tonight (Tuesday-Wednesday), the army did not invade the village. Today too, we shall join our friends in Bilin. Please contact Y. – 054-xxxxx, if you wish to join."
"International and Israeli supporters joined the villagers of Bil'in and marched from the village center after the Friday midday prayers. The protesters demanded the halt of Israeli illegal settlements and construction of the wall."
The army seemed to be too mild to be true. Only few tear gas grenades were thrown on us while we congregated at the gate to the route of the separation fence. After many weeks we could not do it - they even tolerated the entrance of few scores of us to the route of the separation fence and touch the electronic fence... Then came the surprise they prepared for us: a water cannon posited in advance where we could not see it, suddenly approached us and started to spray us with the skunk odor water - tested on us about a year ago. The smell adhere to the body and clothes and can take weeks to get rid of its remnants. This time they put less amount of it in the water - in an experimental test of its being effective in smaller doses.
Two of the comrades - one of the village activists and one of the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative - who were not deterred by the skunk smelling stinking water and stayed at the route of the separation fence, were arrested and taken to a far away police station.
The Israeli was released on Sunday down with five thousands bail and ban on visiting the occupied areas of 1967 for a whole month. The Palestinian comrade was taken to the Ofer concentration camp and will have a hearing Monday noon.
MEDIA: A Bil'in feature on FOX News. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BsoDJBPq6Q
NI'ILIN
More than 200 people marched in the village of Nilin against the Israeli apartheid wall.
The Israeli army almost did nothing and responded very little. Even when parts of the razor wire bordering the route of the electronic separation fence were cut and damage was made to the fence itself. Few armed force disguised as Palestinians snatched two of the demonstrator and arrested them.
Video clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci57m5gTzIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfN4N6IOisI
UM SALMUNA + Nahalin
Due to the persecuting of the main activists (one still in jail and others are on bail with restrictions preventing them from participating in the Friday demonstrations) participation was smaller than usual.
"Today some 60 Palestinians, Israelis and internationals gathered for a morning demonstration in Ma'asara / Um Salmuna. Due to the early hour there were no soldiers present at the entrance to the village, and so demonstrators marched on the main road towards the agricultural lands where the Apartheid Wall is being built. The protest march was, however, brutally stopped by Israeli Occupation soldiers and police. Demonstrators were pushed of the road, and ordered to return to the village. After speeches were made in Arabic, English and Hebrew were made activists turned around in order to continue the demonstration in the regular location, at the entrance to the village. However, once there the army officer declared the entire area a close military zone, and while pushing people around made threats of arrest. The demonstration was shortly ended, with zero arrests made.
Following this, activists from the village and their supporters traveled to the near by village of Nahalin, were a first popular demonstration was to take place against the laying down of a new power line for surrounding settlements on village lands. The village's popular committee says that the work that has already started is illegal, as well as harmful to the village due to the vast number of trees to be uprooted, and legal measures are being taken to stop it. However, a demonstration did not take place as someone in the village has died the previous night. We believe demonstrations in the area will begin in weeks to come."
UM AL FAHEM (Israel)
Women from Umm el Fahem's popular committee against house demolitions are inviting us to join them in a women's demonstration this Saturday, following recent house demolitions and racist statements on annexation of more lands for Jewish settlements in Wadi Ara. The demo will start at around five or six, so please mark your agendas. There will also be another meeting to organize this action on Wednesday, 12:00, there. Let me know if you want to come. More info to come.
E
Monday, July 13, 2009
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle against the separation fence, transfer and occupation till the victory
Monday, July 6, 2009
Palestine-Israel, The Israeli Anarchists Against the Wall are still in the front of the joint struggle against the occupation.
For more than a year Bil'in is not the only persisting popular struggle. The activists of the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative joined this week the expanding popular struggle of the Palestinians in Bil'in, Ni'ilin, Um-Salmuna, Saffa, the Jordan valley, Izbet Tabib, Bnei Zid, and the Jerusalem region. In addition to rising the moral, some successes were achieved. The joint struggle get lot of publicity in the Israeli and the international media. (Just do an internet search of the phrase "Anarchists Against the Wall" and see the tens of thousands of links found.)
BIL'IN
Some 20 Israelis and 50 internationals joined several dozens of Palestinians for the weekly demo in Bil'in. The demonstrators marched toward the wall singing and chanting against the Israeli occupation and the wall. Some of the internationals, due to pressure from the people who had organized their visit, did not march with the demonstrators, but only watched them from the side and stayed behind. As in the last two weeks, the military was not as aggressive as in previous months, and shot relatively small amounts of gas, which increased as the demo went on. When some demonstrators managed to open the gate and get between the fences, the soldiers threw shock grenades at them, but did not shoot rubber bullets. The army did, however, shoot gas grenades directly at the ambulance that cam to evict victims of gas inhalation, and used the multiple gas canister cannon when the ambulance was still turning around to head back. Three people suffered direct hits of gas grenades and few needed treatment for gas inhalation.
Naomi Klein in Bil'in 26-6-09 - link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8TX0TXcds
Link for video: Bil'in 26-6-09, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCKwzJQS6Wk
Bil'in 3.7.2009 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0BjohYpfWE
NI'ILIN
Dozens of demonstrators gathered this Friday in Ni'ilin. For the third week in a row, the demonstrators managed to arrive at the fence. As in the previous two weeks, some of the demonstrators even managed to cut some of the barb wire surrounding the fence.
The military and border police forces shot tear gas canisters & grenades at the demonstration. Several demonstrators and a journalist suffered direct tear gas canisters hits. Snipers were spotted aiming at some of the demonstrators, though haven't fired eventually.
Ni'ilin 3-7-09 - link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEWqOsPLqnA
UM SALMUNA
Some 100 Palestinian, Israeli and international demonstrators marched in protest of the building of the Apartheid Wall on the lands of Um-Salmuna and Ma'asara. The demonstration, which commemorated the anniversary of the foundation of the "Palestinian National Initiative" party, was met (as always) with about 30 soldiers who put barbed wire on the road leading from the village to the agricultural land where the wall is to be built.
In their speeches, several demonstrators addressed the soldiers in Arabic, English and Hebrew, explaining to them that they are supporting illegal acts of settlement, water theft and land appropriation, and paying tribute to all the children of the village who have been imprisoned by the army, including one popular committee member, Hassan Bargia. During the speeches in English and Hebrew, high ranking officers who were at the scene switched on the sirens of all army and border police jeeps, so that soldiers will not be able to hear or be influenced by the demonstrators' calls towards them – to refuse, and join the peaceful movement for the end of the occupation.
Also present and the demonstration was an Israeli Samba band, teaching some of the village children how to drum, and played together.
JORDAN VALLEY
During the week:
This Afternoon army and civil governance people arrived at Al-Malikh in the Jordan valley and announced that all of them (30 families, over 200 people including children. sick, old and babies) must leave.
Army claimed that it is for a military drill and will be allowed to return 24 hours later, but it is like that it will use it to ruin their houses and/or evicted.
The people there has asked the assistance of Israelis - if you can come tonight or tomorrow, please call
Media: "See what a miracle: early evening the harsh decree was canceled. The intervention of the activists of Betselem, Road Blocks Watch, Active Stills, Anarchists Against the Wall*, and the United Nation coordination office for humanitarian issues (OCHA), caused the canceling of the calamity."
IZBET TABIB
AAtW was invited for a meeting: "Is there anyone who can make it to a meeting in Izbet Tabib tomorrow afternoon ? If so please let me know."
BNEI ZID
Meeting concerning water supply
In too many places across the West Bank there's an substantial water supply problem. Bnei Zid and six neighboring Palestinian villages in the Ramallah area have suffered insufficient water supply over the years due to Israeli controls of water distribution.
This year the problem has become unbearable. Since the beginning of April, over the last three months, water supply is almost completely cut off to these Palestinian villages, which include some 20,000 inhabitants. The villages share the water of a single source (located next to settlement Bet Arye) with three settlements. According to locals the three settlements get 90% of the water, while the other 10% is shared by the seven Palestinian villages. As a result villagers must buy their own water. Some people can afford it, while others have to beg.
The meeting concluded with an acknowledgement of the urgent need to act together with all relevant organizations. The village wants to have a demo, and asked for aid to purchase water for 50 families. We also discussed media action and advocacy to embassies and international organizations.
We start acting today through an action team coordinated by Y. A. If you're interested, please contact Yuval.
JERUSALEM REGION
Lately. One of the focuses of struggle against the pressure for transfer of Palestinians in the Jerusalem region is in Seikh Jarrah neighborhood.
Israeli and international activists joined the families threatened with eviction.
SAFFA
Yanay Israeli blog about Saffa:
http://www.notes.co.il/yanay/index.asp
Due do the recurring disturbances by the military to the farmers of Saffa, we will again head there the coming Saturday [4th of July]. There's also an option of arriving earlier.
The protracted struggle of the Palestinian farmers to cultivate their lands near the colonialist settlement Bat Ain continued. State forces had to yield a bit and the farmers were allowed some hours of work in their orchards.
The AAtW continued joining them including this Saturday, in spite of the efforts of state forces to block us from joining the farmers in order to repel the assaults of the settlers.
Saffa 27-6-09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PUpmUMG_pA
BIL'IN
Some 20 Israelis and 50 internationals joined several dozens of Palestinians for the weekly demo in Bil'in. The demonstrators marched toward the wall singing and chanting against the Israeli occupation and the wall. Some of the internationals, due to pressure from the people who had organized their visit, did not march with the demonstrators, but only watched them from the side and stayed behind. As in the last two weeks, the military was not as aggressive as in previous months, and shot relatively small amounts of gas, which increased as the demo went on. When some demonstrators managed to open the gate and get between the fences, the soldiers threw shock grenades at them, but did not shoot rubber bullets. The army did, however, shoot gas grenades directly at the ambulance that cam to evict victims of gas inhalation, and used the multiple gas canister cannon when the ambulance was still turning around to head back. Three people suffered direct hits of gas grenades and few needed treatment for gas inhalation.
Naomi Klein in Bil'in 26-6-09 - link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8TX0TXcds
Link for video: Bil'in 26-6-09, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCKwzJQS6Wk
Bil'in 3.7.2009 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0BjohYpfWE
NI'ILIN
Dozens of demonstrators gathered this Friday in Ni'ilin. For the third week in a row, the demonstrators managed to arrive at the fence. As in the previous two weeks, some of the demonstrators even managed to cut some of the barb wire surrounding the fence.
The military and border police forces shot tear gas canisters & grenades at the demonstration. Several demonstrators and a journalist suffered direct tear gas canisters hits. Snipers were spotted aiming at some of the demonstrators, though haven't fired eventually.
Ni'ilin 3-7-09 - link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEWqOsPLqnA
UM SALMUNA
Some 100 Palestinian, Israeli and international demonstrators marched in protest of the building of the Apartheid Wall on the lands of Um-Salmuna and Ma'asara. The demonstration, which commemorated the anniversary of the foundation of the "Palestinian National Initiative" party, was met (as always) with about 30 soldiers who put barbed wire on the road leading from the village to the agricultural land where the wall is to be built.
In their speeches, several demonstrators addressed the soldiers in Arabic, English and Hebrew, explaining to them that they are supporting illegal acts of settlement, water theft and land appropriation, and paying tribute to all the children of the village who have been imprisoned by the army, including one popular committee member, Hassan Bargia. During the speeches in English and Hebrew, high ranking officers who were at the scene switched on the sirens of all army and border police jeeps, so that soldiers will not be able to hear or be influenced by the demonstrators' calls towards them – to refuse, and join the peaceful movement for the end of the occupation.
Also present and the demonstration was an Israeli Samba band, teaching some of the village children how to drum, and played together.
JORDAN VALLEY
During the week:
This Afternoon army and civil governance people arrived at Al-Malikh in the Jordan valley and announced that all of them (30 families, over 200 people including children. sick, old and babies) must leave.
Army claimed that it is for a military drill and will be allowed to return 24 hours later, but it is like that it will use it to ruin their houses and/or evicted.
The people there has asked the assistance of Israelis - if you can come tonight or tomorrow, please call
Media: "See what a miracle: early evening the harsh decree was canceled. The intervention of the activists of Betselem, Road Blocks Watch, Active Stills, Anarchists Against the Wall*, and the United Nation coordination office for humanitarian issues (OCHA), caused the canceling of the calamity."
IZBET TABIB
AAtW was invited for a meeting: "Is there anyone who can make it to a meeting in Izbet Tabib tomorrow afternoon ? If so please let me know."
BNEI ZID
Meeting concerning water supply
In too many places across the West Bank there's an substantial water supply problem. Bnei Zid and six neighboring Palestinian villages in the Ramallah area have suffered insufficient water supply over the years due to Israeli controls of water distribution.
This year the problem has become unbearable. Since the beginning of April, over the last three months, water supply is almost completely cut off to these Palestinian villages, which include some 20,000 inhabitants. The villages share the water of a single source (located next to settlement Bet Arye) with three settlements. According to locals the three settlements get 90% of the water, while the other 10% is shared by the seven Palestinian villages. As a result villagers must buy their own water. Some people can afford it, while others have to beg.
The meeting concluded with an acknowledgement of the urgent need to act together with all relevant organizations. The village wants to have a demo, and asked for aid to purchase water for 50 families. We also discussed media action and advocacy to embassies and international organizations.
We start acting today through an action team coordinated by Y. A. If you're interested, please contact Yuval.
JERUSALEM REGION
Lately. One of the focuses of struggle against the pressure for transfer of Palestinians in the Jerusalem region is in Seikh Jarrah neighborhood.
Israeli and international activists joined the families threatened with eviction.
SAFFA
Yanay Israeli blog about Saffa:
http://www.notes.co.il/yanay/index.asp
Due do the recurring disturbances by the military to the farmers of Saffa, we will again head there the coming Saturday [4th of July]. There's also an option of arriving earlier.
The protracted struggle of the Palestinian farmers to cultivate their lands near the colonialist settlement Bat Ain continued. State forces had to yield a bit and the farmers were allowed some hours of work in their orchards.
The AAtW continued joining them including this Saturday, in spite of the efforts of state forces to block us from joining the farmers in order to repel the assaults of the settlers.
Saffa 27-6-09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PUpmUMG_pA
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Palestine-Israel, The Joint struggle against the separation fence and beyond, expand
Though not yet a regular weekly actions, the Anarchists against the Wall activists were invited by grass roots Palestinian activists to actions and meetings for organizing at Nahalin, Beit Jala, and Bidu. We also participated in the regular weekend actions. Friday we were in Bil'in (where a press conference with Naomi Klein "No Logo" preceded the demo. We were also in Ni'ilin, and Um Salmuna. On Saturday AAtW activists participated in the weekly action to facilitate the efforts of the Saffa villagers to cultivate their lands that are near the Bat Ain settlement. The need for that aid is because the Bat Ain settler colonialists, with the aid of state forces, try to prevent the cultivation of the land in preparation to robing the land adjacent to the settlement.
BIL'IN
Last Monday June 22, 2009 the trail of the court in Canada had been started in Quebec against the two Canadian companies (Green Park and Green Mount) the first session of the trail took place till last Thursday. Representatives of Bilin Popular committee and Bilin village are attending these trails.
Thursday morning. 25-6-2009 . Broke into a large force of military occupation the village of Bil'in.Where they searched more than a dozen houses. They also kidnapped two.
This did not prevent the preparation for the Friday press conference and the demonstration against the separation fence and occupation.
On Friday, "some 150 Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals demonstrated today in the West Bank village of Bil'in against the Apartheid Wall and the settlements built on Palestinian land.
Prior to the demonstration a press conference took place, where a representative of the village's popular committee, a member of the Palestinian Boycott National Committee and world renowned Canadian journalist and author Naomi Klein spoke of the local struggle, of the village's new court case in Canada against Canadian companies building the new neighborhoods on Bil'in land, on the boycott, and of the inability to detach art and politics.
Following the press conference and the Friday prayer demonstrators marched towards the illegal fences build on the village's agricultural lands, and were met with an unprovoked tear-gas attack by the Israeli Occupation Forces. The demonstration went on for about an hour, facing levels of violence that were lower than the usual, perhaps due to Klein's visit, or to Israeli attempts to impress US President Obama to "prove" Israeli interest in peace. The demonstration ended as the IOF used [again] its new tear gas canon, shooting 25 gas canisters in a second.
No serious injuries were noted.
UM SALMUNA / MAASARA
"Some 10 Israelis and 30 internationals joined a few dozen Palestinians for the weekly demo in Maasara/Um Salmona. The demo marched towards the barbed wire set by the army (which advances Salami-style into the village from time to time) carrying a huge Palestinian flag. The demonstrators stood at the barbed wire, and chanted and made speeches in Arabic, English and Hebrew, led in part by Um Hassan, who took the place of her arrested and court-order-restrained sons.
When the soldiers started harassing a couple of photographers standing at the vine plot next to the barbed wire some protesters went to sit there in protest. A few minutes later the army declared a closed military zone and threatened arrests. The army then detained the most outspoken international activist, and after the demonstration was declared over, also an Israeli demonstrator, who demanded the release of the detained international, and who had gotten on the officer's bad side by making a highly impressive speech to the soldiers linking the oppression of Israeli workers and Palestinian villagers. The soldiers pushed the demonstrators who remained in the area into the village, and then backed off, released the detainees, and left the village.
NI'ILIN
Ni’lin demonstrates against the Apartheid Wall 26 June 2009
Approximately one hundred and fifty Palestinian, Israeli and international protesters gathered in the hot sun for the weekly demonstration in Nilin. They marched together towards the separation barrier, chanting and waving Palestinian flags.
As the demonstrators reached the wall and started cutting the razor wire on the walls edge, Israeli armed forces opened fire with teargas. Their jeeps fired multiple rounds of teargas in an effort to blanket the whole area and they continued firing until the demonstration dispersed. Several of the protesters suffered from the effects of teargas, but no one was badly injured. The protest lasted for about one hour and a half and protesters succeeded in removing parts of the razor wire and damaging the fence.
Ni'ilin Friday 26.6.2009 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c95L_IYlYXY
SAFFA
"This coming Saturday (early in the morning), as in every Saturday in the last couple of months, we will go to the village Khirbet Saffa to join local farmers at work. For those who don't know, during the last couple of months there have been repeated attempts by farmers to work their lands. These attempts were repeatedly confronted with closed military zone warrants accompanied with arrests and army violence as well as, in the last couple of weeks, violence from the settlers of the adjacent Bat Ayin.
The situation turned worse this week when, during the night between Sunday and Monday, some 130 trees (mostly vines and plums) were set on fire, uprooted and cut down in the plot of our friend Ahmed Slaivi. Tomorrow (Thursday) evening a meeting is scheduled with Saffa farmers, but they have already told us they intend to return to work their lands on Saturday, and invite everyone to join. People who would like more information are welcome to call B."
Links to documentation about Saffa struggle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuMC5vkHUU&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0PWVkpv29g&feature=channel
Saturday:
"27 June 2009: Israeli forces arrest 24 solidarity activists and 2 hired Palestinian Israeli drivers in the West Bank village of Saffa.
At 7.30am, 35 Israeli and 10 international solidarity activists joined 3 Palestinian families from Beit Ummar to harvest their land. As the group tried to go down to their lands, 50 soldiers and border policemen stopped them.
Before reaching the land, Israeli forces arrested 10 Israeli and international activists, under the premise that Saffa was under a Closed Military Zone*. The army was aggressive towards the group and used violence against them.
After pushing the group, border policemen arrested another 9 activists.
Yousef Abu Maria from the Palestine Solidarity Project [who ave just lately released from a long שdministrative imprisonment], had his leg broken from the use of excessive force. Israeli soldiers tried to arrest him, but the solidarity activists negotiated for the soldiers to release him and allow him to be taken by an ambulance from the Palestinian Red Crescent. He is currently being treated at a Hebron hospital.
A female Israeli activist from Tayyoush was also injured and is currently at an Israeli hospital seeking treatment for a potentially broken hand.
As 2 cars with hired drivers were leaving the area with other activists, Israeli forces stopped them and arrested 5 more activists and the 2 Palestinian Israeli drivers.
The arrested were taken to the Israeli prison in the illegal settlement of Gush Etzion.
The arrested activists are members from Palestine Solidarity Project, Tayyoush, Anarchists Against the Wall, and the International Solidarity Movement. They have been accompanying Palestinian farmers to document and deter violence from Israeli forces as the farmers harvest their land.
----------------------------------------
*Israeli forces have declared the area in Saffa a Closed Military Zone (CMZ), in direct violation of an Israeli Supreme Court decision. The Israeli Supreme Court determined that Closed Military Zones cannot be issued on Palestinian agricultural land, cutting off Palestinian farmers, for prolonged periods of time. However, Israeli forces have been regularly declaring a Closed Military Zone on farm land in Saffa since 2 April 2009.
Saffa today - Media reports
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/1/1510076
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3737627,00.html
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1095955.html
BIL'IN
Last Monday June 22, 2009 the trail of the court in Canada had been started in Quebec against the two Canadian companies (Green Park and Green Mount) the first session of the trail took place till last Thursday. Representatives of Bilin Popular committee and Bilin village are attending these trails.
Thursday morning. 25-6-2009 . Broke into a large force of military occupation the village of Bil'in.Where they searched more than a dozen houses. They also kidnapped two.
This did not prevent the preparation for the Friday press conference and the demonstration against the separation fence and occupation.
On Friday, "some 150 Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals demonstrated today in the West Bank village of Bil'in against the Apartheid Wall and the settlements built on Palestinian land.
Prior to the demonstration a press conference took place, where a representative of the village's popular committee, a member of the Palestinian Boycott National Committee and world renowned Canadian journalist and author Naomi Klein spoke of the local struggle, of the village's new court case in Canada against Canadian companies building the new neighborhoods on Bil'in land, on the boycott, and of the inability to detach art and politics.
Following the press conference and the Friday prayer demonstrators marched towards the illegal fences build on the village's agricultural lands, and were met with an unprovoked tear-gas attack by the Israeli Occupation Forces. The demonstration went on for about an hour, facing levels of violence that were lower than the usual, perhaps due to Klein's visit, or to Israeli attempts to impress US President Obama to "prove" Israeli interest in peace. The demonstration ended as the IOF used [again] its new tear gas canon, shooting 25 gas canisters in a second.
No serious injuries were noted.
UM SALMUNA / MAASARA
"Some 10 Israelis and 30 internationals joined a few dozen Palestinians for the weekly demo in Maasara/Um Salmona. The demo marched towards the barbed wire set by the army (which advances Salami-style into the village from time to time) carrying a huge Palestinian flag. The demonstrators stood at the barbed wire, and chanted and made speeches in Arabic, English and Hebrew, led in part by Um Hassan, who took the place of her arrested and court-order-restrained sons.
When the soldiers started harassing a couple of photographers standing at the vine plot next to the barbed wire some protesters went to sit there in protest. A few minutes later the army declared a closed military zone and threatened arrests. The army then detained the most outspoken international activist, and after the demonstration was declared over, also an Israeli demonstrator, who demanded the release of the detained international, and who had gotten on the officer's bad side by making a highly impressive speech to the soldiers linking the oppression of Israeli workers and Palestinian villagers. The soldiers pushed the demonstrators who remained in the area into the village, and then backed off, released the detainees, and left the village.
NI'ILIN
Ni’lin demonstrates against the Apartheid Wall 26 June 2009
Approximately one hundred and fifty Palestinian, Israeli and international protesters gathered in the hot sun for the weekly demonstration in Nilin. They marched together towards the separation barrier, chanting and waving Palestinian flags.
As the demonstrators reached the wall and started cutting the razor wire on the walls edge, Israeli armed forces opened fire with teargas. Their jeeps fired multiple rounds of teargas in an effort to blanket the whole area and they continued firing until the demonstration dispersed. Several of the protesters suffered from the effects of teargas, but no one was badly injured. The protest lasted for about one hour and a half and protesters succeeded in removing parts of the razor wire and damaging the fence.
Ni'ilin Friday 26.6.2009 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c95L_IYlYXY
SAFFA
"This coming Saturday (early in the morning), as in every Saturday in the last couple of months, we will go to the village Khirbet Saffa to join local farmers at work. For those who don't know, during the last couple of months there have been repeated attempts by farmers to work their lands. These attempts were repeatedly confronted with closed military zone warrants accompanied with arrests and army violence as well as, in the last couple of weeks, violence from the settlers of the adjacent Bat Ayin.
The situation turned worse this week when, during the night between Sunday and Monday, some 130 trees (mostly vines and plums) were set on fire, uprooted and cut down in the plot of our friend Ahmed Slaivi. Tomorrow (Thursday) evening a meeting is scheduled with Saffa farmers, but they have already told us they intend to return to work their lands on Saturday, and invite everyone to join. People who would like more information are welcome to call B."
Links to documentation about Saffa struggle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuMC5vkHUU&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0PWVkpv29g&feature=channel
Saturday:
"27 June 2009: Israeli forces arrest 24 solidarity activists and 2 hired Palestinian Israeli drivers in the West Bank village of Saffa.
At 7.30am, 35 Israeli and 10 international solidarity activists joined 3 Palestinian families from Beit Ummar to harvest their land. As the group tried to go down to their lands, 50 soldiers and border policemen stopped them.
Before reaching the land, Israeli forces arrested 10 Israeli and international activists, under the premise that Saffa was under a Closed Military Zone*. The army was aggressive towards the group and used violence against them.
After pushing the group, border policemen arrested another 9 activists.
Yousef Abu Maria from the Palestine Solidarity Project [who ave just lately released from a long שdministrative imprisonment], had his leg broken from the use of excessive force. Israeli soldiers tried to arrest him, but the solidarity activists negotiated for the soldiers to release him and allow him to be taken by an ambulance from the Palestinian Red Crescent. He is currently being treated at a Hebron hospital.
A female Israeli activist from Tayyoush was also injured and is currently at an Israeli hospital seeking treatment for a potentially broken hand.
As 2 cars with hired drivers were leaving the area with other activists, Israeli forces stopped them and arrested 5 more activists and the 2 Palestinian Israeli drivers.
The arrested were taken to the Israeli prison in the illegal settlement of Gush Etzion.
The arrested activists are members from Palestine Solidarity Project, Tayyoush, Anarchists Against the Wall, and the International Solidarity Movement. They have been accompanying Palestinian farmers to document and deter violence from Israeli forces as the farmers harvest their land.
----------------------------------------
*Israeli forces have declared the area in Saffa a Closed Military Zone (CMZ), in direct violation of an Israeli Supreme Court decision. The Israeli Supreme Court determined that Closed Military Zones cannot be issued on Palestinian agricultural land, cutting off Palestinian farmers, for prolonged periods of time. However, Israeli forces have been regularly declaring a Closed Military Zone on farm land in Saffa since 2 April 2009.
Saffa today - Media reports
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/1/1510076
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3737627,00.html
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1095955.html
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Palestine-Israel, Another week of intensive joint struggle against the separation fence and occupation - FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PALESTINIANS
Gaza, East Jerusalem, Bil'in, Ni'ilin, Um Salmuna, Azun, Saffa - these are not just points on the map but fields of struggle. It seems that after military activities and the armed struggle calmed a bit, the the political arena is approaching a crisis... and the nonviolent popular struggle collect momentum. Bil'in which was for the first two years of struggle nearly the only persistent arena of nonviolent popular struggle against the occupation and the separation fence - is not alone. However, it is still in the center of local and international attention. It inspire other regions and villages to adopt the style - some after joining the demonstrations in Bil'lin and meetings with the local and AAtW activists.
GAZA
The "coalition of women" which organized the 10 days of actions against the siege and blockade of Gaza, sent to the various mailing lists of the left (including our list) a warm thank you - naming the people that were involved in the project (half of whom are of the Anarchists Against the Wall AAtW initiative).
gaza.coalitionofwomen.org
BIL'IN
Physicians for Human rights are organizing a first-aid workshop for protesters. it will be held in Bil'in, on Saturday, the 11th of July, between 10:30 and 14:30.
the workshop will be held by several prominent Israeli doctors, board members of PHR, together with doctors and medics from the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committes (UPMRC), and will be held in Hebrew and Arabic. This is meant to be a joint workshop, and we are encouraged to participate. PHR will be in touch with Ni'lin to see if they are into coming as well.
This Friday demonstration was different from these of the last months.
We had nearly two car loads of Israelis of the AAtW from Jerusalem, who joined a bit smaller than usual Tel Aviv and Neve Shalom contingent of 15 only... who joined a dozen international and dozens of Bil'in villagers.
We marched as usual with chanting and a bit of dancing from the center of the village up to the gate in the separation fence.
There, we had the first surprise. The state force swarming the big concrete blocks on the elevation behind the gate were not seen in their position. When we reached the gate, there was not the usual shower of tear gas.
When few activists opened the external gate fortified with barbed wire, still nothing. Not even when some approached the electronic fence and put there on fire a used car tier... In response to an intensive stone throwing barrage the soldiers came with shields and stood along the electronic fence - no shock grenades on the activists who stood there, and no shower of tear gas on the stone throwers.
Few times, the border police unit came running and throw some tear gas canisters that did not deter the stone throwers.
As if in demonstration of indifference the police and army cars left their position behind the fence and went away.
Just to adhere to the protocol the border police near the big concrete blocks fired some tear gas grenade from their positions.
After a long while, when people and photographers started to return to the village the tear gas machine gun shoot a barrage of tear gas and most participants went away leaving some stone throwers kids behind.
The riddle was solved when it was even more extremely out of the usual in Ni'ilin, and the mild style was found to be staged for a big media recording.
Video clip of Friday 19.6.09 demonstration at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udmVhEbMdTQ
NI'ILIN
As per the Friday tradition, following lunchtime prayers a group of approximately 150 protesters set out to the route of the fence. Ni’lin residents were joined by 10 Israelis and about 20 internationals. The protesters reached the southern section of the fence, that cuts the village off from its olive groves, for the benefit of the Hashmona’im settlement, and were held up at the barbed-wire fence which prevents access to the route. With the help of bolt-cutters, the Shabab, (local youth) proceeded to take direct action (however symbolic) against the fence that was erected against their will in order to plunder their land. About 70 meters of barbed wire were thus dismantled, and the easy access to the electronic fence (rendered defenseless by the topographically-inferior route in this area, clearly exposing the state’s lies to the high court) enabled those members of the shabab with good aim to destroy some of the poles that contain the electronic equipment.
All through this, a group of soldiers and border police looked idly on, and did not intervene, as they usually do, by attacking the protesters. This raised some eyebrows, and the question was solved when a group of journalists and photographers showed up on the soldiers’ side. It seems that the army had staged a media event in order to demonstrate the leniency it employs during these protests, which begged the question of why has such a kind and lenient approach to policing led to the deaths of 5 protesters in Ni’lin in the last year. Some military jeeps then drove along the fence route, to serve as a convenient target for the stones of the Shabab, and the lenses of the media. After a couple of volleys of teargas fired from the jeep-top launchers, and a few gas grenades launched feebly, but by the book, by some soldiers (presumably to make the show a little less obvious), the demonstration dispersed, and most protesters went back to the village to participate at a wedding that to be held that evening.
Another Friday 12.6.2009 Ni'ilin video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqTtPiAqGMY
MA'ASARA (Um Salmuna etc.)
Monday, AAtW activists participated in the celebration in Beit Umar of the freedom of Mussa Abumaria - a central activist of the struggle against the separation fence in the region who was many months in Israeli administrative detention. At the evening there was a n organizational meeting:
1. media: we are trying to coordinate with the media (getting contacts with Palestinian media, and outside - of course each of us is recommended to translate the report and spread it in his own country) in order our report to be spread asap and to be reliable.
For the idea of a website al-Ma´sara will coordinate with Stop the Wall C.
2.involvement of more people: we focused mainly on women and university students. For the women, the idea is to have a demo of women in al-Ma´sara, that will be organized by Palestinian and Israeli women (Women Coalition for Peace). When and how are to be discussed. For uni students, a meeting will be organized the 25th, time and location to be decided yet.
We discussed also alternative and creative ways to hold future demonstrations, and activities to be done during the coming al-Ma´sara summer camp (mid July till august), with children.
Fryday´s demo:
This Friday there will be planting of olive trees in Artas, in the land that will be confiscated for the construction of the Apartheid Wall. After the activities transportation for al-Ma´sara demo will be provided.
A meeting is going to happen on coming Sunday, 16:00 at Beit Jalla regarding activities in the near future. They would like to have our cooperation on this.
AZUN
Hey, here the details: demo at Azoun Atma Gate to open the gate for non-Azoun residents. Start of demo this Friday at 1pm.
What was presented as an initiative of the local villages popular comities was found to be an initiative of a political party....
"Three cars left Tel Aviv to join a demonstration against the wall that surrounds Azun-Atme. We first met with members of the Qalqilia branch of the Palestinian communist party (PPP). We joined several internationals and were briefed by the locals.
Azun-Atme is entirely surrounded by the separation wall. Entry is permitted only to registered residents of the village. This restriction prevents any economic activity, and severs work and family ties with Qalqilia and the surrounding villages. The fence is a means to "dry out" the village and encourage a population transfer that would allow Israel to take over its land".
Sham politics: The usual authoritarian from up to down
The party members explained that this was a "pilot" demonstration and was therefore to be small in scale, without shabab, without local villagers and avoiding friction with the army. The stated purpose of the organizers was to turn the demo into a weekly protest with the participation of local villagers.
"After being offered coffee, party shirts and hats we left for the demonstration. About 11 Israelis, 8 internationals and 20 Palestinians gathered at the Azun-Atme gate. The army was suspiciously peaceful, the liaison office smiled throughout, no police or border patrol were called and the checkpoint operated smoothly throughout the demonstration. For over half an hour slogans were chanted and speeches made against the separation wall and in favor of Palestinian freedom. After absorbing a dangerous overdose of Palestinian sun the demonstration dispersed without conflicts.
Even stranger than the Bil'in and Ni'ilin state forces behavior this Friday.
SAFFA 20-6-09
Like in recent weeks, this Saturday we will went to Saffa in order
to join the local farmers in their agricultural work.
"Another 'joyful' Saturday withe the settler colonialists of Bat Ain...
It was the sixth consecutive Saturday that Israelis and international activists accompanied the Palestinian farmers in their disparate efforts to pick grapevine leafs at their vineyards. As usual, the settlers harassed them and the state forces expressed their objections to the Palestinians in unpleasant ways.
The day action ended with 7 people detained. They were taken to the Tunnels roadblock, but unexpectedly released there.
The first shock grenade was thrown by the border police gendarmes. Activists were dragged on the ground and were hit.
We succeeded to pick grapevine leaf for the whole 30 minutes..."
Pictures at: http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10900/index.php
Link to video clip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuMC5vkHUU
GAZA
The "coalition of women" which organized the 10 days of actions against the siege and blockade of Gaza, sent to the various mailing lists of the left (including our list) a warm thank you - naming the people that were involved in the project (half of whom are of the Anarchists Against the Wall AAtW initiative).
gaza.coalitionofwomen.org
BIL'IN
Physicians for Human rights are organizing a first-aid workshop for protesters. it will be held in Bil'in, on Saturday, the 11th of July, between 10:30 and 14:30.
the workshop will be held by several prominent Israeli doctors, board members of PHR, together with doctors and medics from the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committes (UPMRC), and will be held in Hebrew and Arabic. This is meant to be a joint workshop, and we are encouraged to participate. PHR will be in touch with Ni'lin to see if they are into coming as well.
This Friday demonstration was different from these of the last months.
We had nearly two car loads of Israelis of the AAtW from Jerusalem, who joined a bit smaller than usual Tel Aviv and Neve Shalom contingent of 15 only... who joined a dozen international and dozens of Bil'in villagers.
We marched as usual with chanting and a bit of dancing from the center of the village up to the gate in the separation fence.
There, we had the first surprise. The state force swarming the big concrete blocks on the elevation behind the gate were not seen in their position. When we reached the gate, there was not the usual shower of tear gas.
When few activists opened the external gate fortified with barbed wire, still nothing. Not even when some approached the electronic fence and put there on fire a used car tier... In response to an intensive stone throwing barrage the soldiers came with shields and stood along the electronic fence - no shock grenades on the activists who stood there, and no shower of tear gas on the stone throwers.
Few times, the border police unit came running and throw some tear gas canisters that did not deter the stone throwers.
As if in demonstration of indifference the police and army cars left their position behind the fence and went away.
Just to adhere to the protocol the border police near the big concrete blocks fired some tear gas grenade from their positions.
After a long while, when people and photographers started to return to the village the tear gas machine gun shoot a barrage of tear gas and most participants went away leaving some stone throwers kids behind.
The riddle was solved when it was even more extremely out of the usual in Ni'ilin, and the mild style was found to be staged for a big media recording.
Video clip of Friday 19.6.09 demonstration at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udmVhEbMdTQ
NI'ILIN
As per the Friday tradition, following lunchtime prayers a group of approximately 150 protesters set out to the route of the fence. Ni’lin residents were joined by 10 Israelis and about 20 internationals. The protesters reached the southern section of the fence, that cuts the village off from its olive groves, for the benefit of the Hashmona’im settlement, and were held up at the barbed-wire fence which prevents access to the route. With the help of bolt-cutters, the Shabab, (local youth) proceeded to take direct action (however symbolic) against the fence that was erected against their will in order to plunder their land. About 70 meters of barbed wire were thus dismantled, and the easy access to the electronic fence (rendered defenseless by the topographically-inferior route in this area, clearly exposing the state’s lies to the high court) enabled those members of the shabab with good aim to destroy some of the poles that contain the electronic equipment.
All through this, a group of soldiers and border police looked idly on, and did not intervene, as they usually do, by attacking the protesters. This raised some eyebrows, and the question was solved when a group of journalists and photographers showed up on the soldiers’ side. It seems that the army had staged a media event in order to demonstrate the leniency it employs during these protests, which begged the question of why has such a kind and lenient approach to policing led to the deaths of 5 protesters in Ni’lin in the last year. Some military jeeps then drove along the fence route, to serve as a convenient target for the stones of the Shabab, and the lenses of the media. After a couple of volleys of teargas fired from the jeep-top launchers, and a few gas grenades launched feebly, but by the book, by some soldiers (presumably to make the show a little less obvious), the demonstration dispersed, and most protesters went back to the village to participate at a wedding that to be held that evening.
Another Friday 12.6.2009 Ni'ilin video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqTtPiAqGMY
MA'ASARA (Um Salmuna etc.)
Monday, AAtW activists participated in the celebration in Beit Umar of the freedom of Mussa Abumaria - a central activist of the struggle against the separation fence in the region who was many months in Israeli administrative detention. At the evening there was a n organizational meeting:
1. media: we are trying to coordinate with the media (getting contacts with Palestinian media, and outside - of course each of us is recommended to translate the report and spread it in his own country) in order our report to be spread asap and to be reliable.
For the idea of a website al-Ma´sara will coordinate with Stop the Wall C.
2.involvement of more people: we focused mainly on women and university students. For the women, the idea is to have a demo of women in al-Ma´sara, that will be organized by Palestinian and Israeli women (Women Coalition for Peace). When and how are to be discussed. For uni students, a meeting will be organized the 25th, time and location to be decided yet.
We discussed also alternative and creative ways to hold future demonstrations, and activities to be done during the coming al-Ma´sara summer camp (mid July till august), with children.
Fryday´s demo:
This Friday there will be planting of olive trees in Artas, in the land that will be confiscated for the construction of the Apartheid Wall. After the activities transportation for al-Ma´sara demo will be provided.
A meeting is going to happen on coming Sunday, 16:00 at Beit Jalla regarding activities in the near future. They would like to have our cooperation on this.
AZUN
Hey, here the details: demo at Azoun Atma Gate to open the gate for non-Azoun residents. Start of demo this Friday at 1pm.
What was presented as an initiative of the local villages popular comities was found to be an initiative of a political party....
"Three cars left Tel Aviv to join a demonstration against the wall that surrounds Azun-Atme. We first met with members of the Qalqilia branch of the Palestinian communist party (PPP). We joined several internationals and were briefed by the locals.
Azun-Atme is entirely surrounded by the separation wall. Entry is permitted only to registered residents of the village. This restriction prevents any economic activity, and severs work and family ties with Qalqilia and the surrounding villages. The fence is a means to "dry out" the village and encourage a population transfer that would allow Israel to take over its land".
Sham politics: The usual authoritarian from up to down
The party members explained that this was a "pilot" demonstration and was therefore to be small in scale, without shabab, without local villagers and avoiding friction with the army. The stated purpose of the organizers was to turn the demo into a weekly protest with the participation of local villagers.
"After being offered coffee, party shirts and hats we left for the demonstration. About 11 Israelis, 8 internationals and 20 Palestinians gathered at the Azun-Atme gate. The army was suspiciously peaceful, the liaison office smiled throughout, no police or border patrol were called and the checkpoint operated smoothly throughout the demonstration. For over half an hour slogans were chanted and speeches made against the separation wall and in favor of Palestinian freedom. After absorbing a dangerous overdose of Palestinian sun the demonstration dispersed without conflicts.
Even stranger than the Bil'in and Ni'ilin state forces behavior this Friday.
SAFFA 20-6-09
Like in recent weeks, this Saturday we will went to Saffa in order
to join the local farmers in their agricultural work.
"Another 'joyful' Saturday withe the settler colonialists of Bat Ain...
It was the sixth consecutive Saturday that Israelis and international activists accompanied the Palestinian farmers in their disparate efforts to pick grapevine leafs at their vineyards. As usual, the settlers harassed them and the state forces expressed their objections to the Palestinians in unpleasant ways.
The day action ended with 7 people detained. They were taken to the Tunnels roadblock, but unexpectedly released there.
The first shock grenade was thrown by the border police gendarmes. Activists were dragged on the ground and were hit.
We succeeded to pick grapevine leaf for the whole 30 minutes..."
Pictures at: http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10900/index.php
Link to video clip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuMC5vkHUU
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle continue and so is the international aspect of it.
Just do Google/yahoo Bil'in + village; and on "Anarchists Against the Wall". The numbers doubled the last year. This week the AAtW activists joined others - including the American feminist organization "Code Pink Women for Peace" in the continuous struggle in Jerusalem, West bank, Tel Aviv and Gaza. Friday we were in the weekly demons in Bil'in, Ni'ilin, and Um Salmuna. On Saturday, Saffa again, to help the villagers to cultivate land near the colonialist settlement of Bat Ain and not to let these to grab more of their land. Saturday evening we held another meeting of the activists of AAtW initiative, to discuss 1. Money (debts and ways to cover them) 2. Legal (as state escalate repression lately) 3. Media 4. Future collaboration with organizations 5. Updates from meetings and from work groups.
BIL'IN
Yesterday, once again, demonstrators gathered in the village of Bil'in for the weekly protest against the wall and the settlements. Some 80 Palestinians were joined by roughly the same number of Israelis [of the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative] and internationals, including the Code Pink delegation from the USA, who have completed a week of activity in Israel-Palestine against the occupation and against the siege on Gaza. The delegation reached the villages earlier that day and met with the leaders of the popular committee, who told the delegation of the history of the struggle, and briefed them on how to deal with the foreseen army violence in the demonstration.
A little after noon, once the Friday prayer was over, demonstrators left the village center towards the illegal fence built on village lands, chanting slogans against the occupation and inviting US president Obama to come and see Israel's actions on the ground. The procession carried on in a steady and organized fashion until it reached the gate in the fence, where demonstrators held up their hands, calling upon the soldiers not to shoot upon the unarmed action against an illegal fence, branded such even by the Israeli High Court. In response the soldiers fired countless tear gas canisters, forcing most of the demonstrators to fall back.
The demonstration, however, went on for another hour, as some people tried to reason with the soldiers but were met with no more than tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. In one location a group of Israelis managed to make its way to the fence itself, and turned to the soldiers face-to-face. These, however, refused to talk to demonstrators.
Two protesters were injured and, as usual, me and dozens others suffered from gas inhalation. [More so this week due to unfriendly wind that caused me too to suffocated for few minutes].
NI'ILIN
Last week in Ni'ilin, Akel Srur was murdered by a sniper during the Friday demo. Saturday, we were invited and participated in Aqel's funeral. Link to video of the funeral: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDPoKD6aPL4
As it was important to show our support especially this week - even more than usual. About 20 of our experienced activists mobilized for to this Friday demo.
This Friday, state force were less belligerent as media focus was on Ni'ilin and the general political situation is sensitive. Thus, after a long while the demonstration was relatively peaceful and no one was injured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyY8sJKaCP8&feature=channel
UM SALMUNA
About 80 villagers with few Israelis and many international activists participants, but without the members of the popular comity who are released on bail - restricting them from participation. As state forces commander changed latitude, there was not serious confrontation this Friday demonstration.
See also:
http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10869/index.php
SAFFA
The persistent (Tsumud) struggle to cultivate the fields near the colonialist settlement Bat Ain continue. In spite of the harassment of settlers (who yearn to take the land) and state forces that helps them, comrades traveled there from Tel Aviv, this Saturday too.
Today [Saturday], 3 international activists have been arrested near Chirbet Saffa (In Hebron area), while escorting farmers who have no access to their lands near the violent settlement Bat Ayin. (see article below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0PWVkpv29g
Another video from Saffa today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgviVqzdVrE
Saturday 13th, around 9 PM they will be brought to the Peace court in Jerusalem in the Russian compound in order to extend their arrest or releasing on bail and other restrictions.
--------------------------
Hundreds come to commemorate 42 years of the occupation of Gaza- Tel Aviv, June 6
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/07/18600891.php part 2:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/07/18600908.php
The demonstration in Tel Aviv - link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0McApros4Y
graffiti on the apartheid wall-Palestine+ex soldier t-shirt proud of killing in Gaza
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/07/18600914.php
BIL'IN
Yesterday, once again, demonstrators gathered in the village of Bil'in for the weekly protest against the wall and the settlements. Some 80 Palestinians were joined by roughly the same number of Israelis [of the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative] and internationals, including the Code Pink delegation from the USA, who have completed a week of activity in Israel-Palestine against the occupation and against the siege on Gaza. The delegation reached the villages earlier that day and met with the leaders of the popular committee, who told the delegation of the history of the struggle, and briefed them on how to deal with the foreseen army violence in the demonstration.
A little after noon, once the Friday prayer was over, demonstrators left the village center towards the illegal fence built on village lands, chanting slogans against the occupation and inviting US president Obama to come and see Israel's actions on the ground. The procession carried on in a steady and organized fashion until it reached the gate in the fence, where demonstrators held up their hands, calling upon the soldiers not to shoot upon the unarmed action against an illegal fence, branded such even by the Israeli High Court. In response the soldiers fired countless tear gas canisters, forcing most of the demonstrators to fall back.
The demonstration, however, went on for another hour, as some people tried to reason with the soldiers but were met with no more than tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. In one location a group of Israelis managed to make its way to the fence itself, and turned to the soldiers face-to-face. These, however, refused to talk to demonstrators.
Two protesters were injured and, as usual, me and dozens others suffered from gas inhalation. [More so this week due to unfriendly wind that caused me too to suffocated for few minutes].
NI'ILIN
Last week in Ni'ilin, Akel Srur was murdered by a sniper during the Friday demo. Saturday, we were invited and participated in Aqel's funeral. Link to video of the funeral: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDPoKD6aPL4
As it was important to show our support especially this week - even more than usual. About 20 of our experienced activists mobilized for to this Friday demo.
This Friday, state force were less belligerent as media focus was on Ni'ilin and the general political situation is sensitive. Thus, after a long while the demonstration was relatively peaceful and no one was injured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyY8sJKaCP8&feature=channel
UM SALMUNA
About 80 villagers with few Israelis and many international activists participants, but without the members of the popular comity who are released on bail - restricting them from participation. As state forces commander changed latitude, there was not serious confrontation this Friday demonstration.
See also:
http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10869/index.php
SAFFA
The persistent (Tsumud) struggle to cultivate the fields near the colonialist settlement Bat Ain continue. In spite of the harassment of settlers (who yearn to take the land) and state forces that helps them, comrades traveled there from Tel Aviv, this Saturday too.
Today [Saturday], 3 international activists have been arrested near Chirbet Saffa (In Hebron area), while escorting farmers who have no access to their lands near the violent settlement Bat Ayin. (see article below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0PWVkpv29g
Another video from Saffa today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgviVqzdVrE
Saturday 13th, around 9 PM they will be brought to the Peace court in Jerusalem in the Russian compound in order to extend their arrest or releasing on bail and other restrictions.
--------------------------
Hundreds come to commemorate 42 years of the occupation of Gaza- Tel Aviv, June 6
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/07/18600891.php part 2:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/07/18600908.php
The demonstration in Tel Aviv - link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0McApros4Y
graffiti on the apartheid wall-Palestine+ex soldier t-shirt proud of killing in Gaza
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/07/18600914.php
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Palestine-Israel, The AAtW join the intensified struggle and the 42th "anniversary" of the 1967 war of occupation
During the week we have been invited to two meetings, one in Biddu and in one in the Kalkilia area (Izbet Tabib). On Thursday we went to Bi'lin for the a demonstration of the 42nd "anniversary" of the 1967 war of occupation. On Friday, we participated in regular demos against the separation fence and occupation in Bil'in, Um Salmuna and Ni'ilin. In Ni'ilin the Israeli state force murdered Yousef Akil Srour (36) - the fifth martyr of this village. On Saturday AAtW comrades tried as usual to join the Saffa villagers trying to cultivate their land in spite of the attacks of the neighboring settler colonialists of Bat Ain. That day, 15 of us came to Ni'ilin for the funeral of Yousef Akil Srour. In Tel Aviv we had a 100 strong block in the demo of 42nd "anniversary" for the 1967 war.
NI'ILIN
Israeli forces kill Palestinian demonstrators in Ni’lin
Friday, 5 June 2009 Israeli forces have killed a demonstrator in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. Israeli army shot Yousef Akil Srour, aged 36 years in the chest with 0.22 caliber live ammunition. He was dead upon arrival to Ramallah Hospital.
Yousef Akil Srour is the 5th Palestinian to be killed by the Israeli army in Ni’lin during a demonstration against the theft of his land for the construction of the Annexation Wall.
Israeli forces also shot Mohammad Mouslah Mousa, aged 15 years, in the lower chest shortly after shooting Srour. He was taken to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah. Another 3 demonstrators were shot too with live ammunition: one in the leg, one in the side and one in the shoulder. Yousef Akil Srour (36), was shot with 0.22 caliber live ammunition in the chest on 5 June 2009 and pronounced dead upon arrival at Ramallah hospital.
In spite of the participation of the Israeli Anarchists Against the Wall in all demonstrations a total of 35 people have already been shot there by Israeli forces with live ammunition (killing three of the five Martyrs). Numerous others were injured by tear gas canisters and rubber coated metal bullets (which penetrate the body when shot from short range). AAtW activists (one of whom had to be operated on in hospital) were not immune from being shot at.
Ni'ilin Friday 5-6-09 - Yusuf Aqel Srur was killed by sniper - link to video
Detailed report and picture of Yousef Akil Srour on:
http://awalls.org/akal_srur_murdered_by_israeli_border_police_sniper_during_the_friday_demonstration_in_nilin
Media article at:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244035008060&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
BIL'IN
Thursday, 4 June 2009 at 11am: The Popular Committees, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, call for a demonstration against the construction of Settlements and the Apartheid Wall.
International activists and few of the AAtW participated in it too.
On Friday we participated as usual in the 224th demo:
R. W reported: "Approximately 20 Israelis and 10 internationals joined several dozens of Palestinians for the weekly demonstration in Bil'in. The demonstration followed yesterday's big demonstration commemorating 42 years since the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The demonstrators marched with huge Fatah and Arafat yellow flags, and were escorted by a pick-up truck with sound gear playing national songs and orchestrating the slogans against the occupation and in praise of Allah. While most demonstrators were still on their way to the fence, the army used their multi-canister cannon to flood the area with gas, immediately turning the demonstration into a clash between the few stone throwing shabab at the front and the army's gas canisters, shock grenades and rubber bullets. The army's ammunition caused several small fires in areas adjacent to the separation fence. The demonstrators tried to change their position according to the wind and army deployment in order to maintain the demonstration. I know of one person injured from a rubber coated metal bullet, one from a direct hit of a gas canister, and several who needed treatment for gas inhalation. When we were about to leave the village, we heard of the murder of the demonstrator Aqel Srur in Ni'lin"
Bil'in Friday 5.6.09 demo video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqR2YKjnQg4
UM SALMUNA (Ma'asara region - south of Bethlehem)
As the belligerent Israeli state force commander was replaced, the demonstration was very peaceful - no beating no tear gas, no shooting and no arrests.
SAFFA
Like every Saturday in the past few weeks, we were going to Saffa
this Saturday to join the local farmer in their work. This Friday the state forces succeeded to block the way of our comrades and arrested few of them.
Detailed report and pictures at:
http://awalls.org/farmers_and_activists_attacked_by_settlers_and_the_army
TEL AVIV
Friday, activists participated in the protest against the Jewish gentrification of Palestinian remnants of Jaffa (annexed to Tel Aviv municipality long ago). On Saturday evening, June 6, 2009, at 6.00 pm, a protest demonstration was planned by a wide anti-occupation coalition - to mark the 42nd anniversary of the occupation and say a loud and clear NO to the plans and policies of the Netanyahu-Lieberman-Barak government.
In the demo, about 100 strong anarchists and oldie antiauthoritarians of the left marched as a block with headed with our banners, our samba drumming band and the clown troop. We We chanted all the way about occupation and the murder in Ni'ilin the day before.
NI'ILIN
Israeli forces kill Palestinian demonstrators in Ni’lin
Friday, 5 June 2009 Israeli forces have killed a demonstrator in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. Israeli army shot Yousef Akil Srour, aged 36 years in the chest with 0.22 caliber live ammunition. He was dead upon arrival to Ramallah Hospital.
Yousef Akil Srour is the 5th Palestinian to be killed by the Israeli army in Ni’lin during a demonstration against the theft of his land for the construction of the Annexation Wall.
Israeli forces also shot Mohammad Mouslah Mousa, aged 15 years, in the lower chest shortly after shooting Srour. He was taken to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah. Another 3 demonstrators were shot too with live ammunition: one in the leg, one in the side and one in the shoulder. Yousef Akil Srour (36), was shot with 0.22 caliber live ammunition in the chest on 5 June 2009 and pronounced dead upon arrival at Ramallah hospital.
In spite of the participation of the Israeli Anarchists Against the Wall in all demonstrations a total of 35 people have already been shot there by Israeli forces with live ammunition (killing three of the five Martyrs). Numerous others were injured by tear gas canisters and rubber coated metal bullets (which penetrate the body when shot from short range). AAtW activists (one of whom had to be operated on in hospital) were not immune from being shot at.
Ni'ilin Friday 5-6-09 - Yusuf Aqel Srur was killed by sniper - link to video
Detailed report and picture of Yousef Akil Srour on:
http://awalls.org/akal_srur_murdered_by_israeli_border_police_sniper_during_the_friday_demonstration_in_nilin
Media article at:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244035008060&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
BIL'IN
Thursday, 4 June 2009 at 11am: The Popular Committees, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, call for a demonstration against the construction of Settlements and the Apartheid Wall.
International activists and few of the AAtW participated in it too.
On Friday we participated as usual in the 224th demo:
R. W reported: "Approximately 20 Israelis and 10 internationals joined several dozens of Palestinians for the weekly demonstration in Bil'in. The demonstration followed yesterday's big demonstration commemorating 42 years since the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The demonstrators marched with huge Fatah and Arafat yellow flags, and were escorted by a pick-up truck with sound gear playing national songs and orchestrating the slogans against the occupation and in praise of Allah. While most demonstrators were still on their way to the fence, the army used their multi-canister cannon to flood the area with gas, immediately turning the demonstration into a clash between the few stone throwing shabab at the front and the army's gas canisters, shock grenades and rubber bullets. The army's ammunition caused several small fires in areas adjacent to the separation fence. The demonstrators tried to change their position according to the wind and army deployment in order to maintain the demonstration. I know of one person injured from a rubber coated metal bullet, one from a direct hit of a gas canister, and several who needed treatment for gas inhalation. When we were about to leave the village, we heard of the murder of the demonstrator Aqel Srur in Ni'lin"
Bil'in Friday 5.6.09 demo video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqR2YKjnQg4
UM SALMUNA (Ma'asara region - south of Bethlehem)
As the belligerent Israeli state force commander was replaced, the demonstration was very peaceful - no beating no tear gas, no shooting and no arrests.
SAFFA
Like every Saturday in the past few weeks, we were going to Saffa
this Saturday to join the local farmer in their work. This Friday the state forces succeeded to block the way of our comrades and arrested few of them.
Detailed report and pictures at:
http://awalls.org/farmers_and_activists_attacked_by_settlers_and_the_army
TEL AVIV
Friday, activists participated in the protest against the Jewish gentrification of Palestinian remnants of Jaffa (annexed to Tel Aviv municipality long ago). On Saturday evening, June 6, 2009, at 6.00 pm, a protest demonstration was planned by a wide anti-occupation coalition - to mark the 42nd anniversary of the occupation and say a loud and clear NO to the plans and policies of the Netanyahu-Lieberman-Barak government.
In the demo, about 100 strong anarchists and oldie antiauthoritarians of the left marched as a block with headed with our banners, our samba drumming band and the clown troop. We We chanted all the way about occupation and the murder in Ni'ilin the day before.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Palestine-Israel, Six years of joint struggle against the separation fence and still going strong
Since spring 2003 Masha joint camp against the separation fence the anarchists against the fence is thriving. In addition to the regular Friday demonstrations against the separation fence in Bil'in, Ni'ilin, and Um Salmuna, we join other initiatives in the Israeli south (Bedouin), West Bank south (Saffa), and the Jerusalem region. Last Fridays around 60 activists were mobilized with the AAtW initiative to the various joint demonstrations.
The focus of the activity was this week too in Bil'in which mourn the murder of Bassem six weeks ago. The popular committee of Bil'in invited us to take part in a commemoration event marking 40 days for the death of Bassem (el Pheel). We also participated in the Thursday planing meeting to mobilize for the big demo in his memory this Friday.
BIL,IN
About 40 Israelis and similar number of internationals converged in Bil'in. After the Friday prayers, the people began the weekly demonstration, which commemorated the martyr Bassem Abu Rahma. Many put on the mask of Bassem on their faces. Some carrying metal shields, with his pictures, in order to protect themselves and others from Israeli fire.
Just when we came near the gate of the separation fence the state force started as usual to shower us with tear gas. As response, few of the youngsters threw back tear gas grenades that failed to explode when first thrown on us. This and the fact that the wind was mostly from the North-East, the state force got lot of tear gas and failed in their efforts to make us stop the demonstration before the village comity anounced the end of it.
Bil'in 29-5-09 link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp34ge6uZNI
Bil'in: http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10829/index.php
NI,ILIN
In the village of Nilin around 150 demonstrators gathered after the Friday praying and start marching toward the fence, when the demonstrators arrived at the fence they were attacked by the army with tear gas and rubber coated bullets. As a result of the army violence clashes between the army and stone throwers started. After couple of hours of clashes from both sides of the fence the demonstration ended.
UM SALMUNA (Ma’asara)
Today, once again, the peaceful protest in this village near Bethlehem was met by Israeli soldiers with guns and a razor wire blocking the road. The razor wire at the exit road of Al Ma'sara set up by the Israeli army denies the people their right to access their land.
This week around 80 people marched to show their support for Al Ma'sara and to defend basic human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Locals were joined by Israelis and internationals as well as two members of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) and a French group of elected members of town councils in Normandy.
The organizers of the protest, the Al-Ma'sara Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, held speeches calling for the urgent need for Israel to oblige to international law and decisions on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Other speeches were held in Arabic, Hebrew and English, in addition to a powerful speech held in French by a member of a mission from Normandy visiting Palestine. The mission aims to promote cooperation between local town councils in France and their Palestinian counterparts.
Men and women, young and old, both villagers and people coming from different parts of the world joined the cheering and chanting for a free Palestine. During the protest, two Palestinian women managed to cross the razor wire military obstacle while others were holding it down. Waving the Palestinian flag they walked down the road that for which they should have the inevitable right to do so. Others were prevented by the Israeli soldiers to cross the razor wire.
SAFFA
2 Palestinians, 5 Israelis Arrested During Farmer Action in Saffa
Saturday, May 30, Palestinian farmers from the Soleiby family were joined by activists from Palestine Solidarity Project, Anarchists Against the Wall, and Ta’ayush to work land near the Bat ‘Ain settlement, in Gush Etzion. Activists have been accompanying farmers in the area recently since an attack on the settlement on April 2 led to settler riots and attacks on farmers. The settlers attacked the Palestinians and the Israelis and the state forces arrested 5 Palestinians and two Israeli activists:
3 Israelis who agree to conditions of two weeks restriction from the demos were released in the police station. The Palestinian teenagers were released too at Saturday night.
"Two of the Israeli activists Amiel V. and Shai G. who refused to accept the restriction conditions remain in jail. They will be taken to the Jerusalem court tomorrow morning. If you can come to the court and show your support it would be very appreciated".
here some link of what happened in saffa today
http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10827/index.php
http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2009/05/31/2-palestinians-5-israelis-arrested-during-farmer-action-in-saffa/
http://ibnezra.wordpress.com/
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/1/1493815&m=1
Sunday: After refusing twice to accept the police conditions, the two Israelis Amiel and Shai were released this morning without any conditions.
------------------------------
Israeli soldiers attack activists and Palestinians in Safa, West Bank-three parts. + weekly demonstration against the wall
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/30/18599416.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/30/18599401.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/31/18599528.php
weekly demonstration against the wall, Friday May 29, Bil'in
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/30/18599429.php
The focus of the activity was this week too in Bil'in which mourn the murder of Bassem six weeks ago. The popular committee of Bil'in invited us to take part in a commemoration event marking 40 days for the death of Bassem (el Pheel). We also participated in the Thursday planing meeting to mobilize for the big demo in his memory this Friday.
BIL,IN
About 40 Israelis and similar number of internationals converged in Bil'in. After the Friday prayers, the people began the weekly demonstration, which commemorated the martyr Bassem Abu Rahma. Many put on the mask of Bassem on their faces. Some carrying metal shields, with his pictures, in order to protect themselves and others from Israeli fire.
Just when we came near the gate of the separation fence the state force started as usual to shower us with tear gas. As response, few of the youngsters threw back tear gas grenades that failed to explode when first thrown on us. This and the fact that the wind was mostly from the North-East, the state force got lot of tear gas and failed in their efforts to make us stop the demonstration before the village comity anounced the end of it.
Bil'in 29-5-09 link to video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp34ge6uZNI
Bil'in: http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10829/index.php
NI,ILIN
In the village of Nilin around 150 demonstrators gathered after the Friday praying and start marching toward the fence, when the demonstrators arrived at the fence they were attacked by the army with tear gas and rubber coated bullets. As a result of the army violence clashes between the army and stone throwers started. After couple of hours of clashes from both sides of the fence the demonstration ended.
UM SALMUNA (Ma’asara)
Today, once again, the peaceful protest in this village near Bethlehem was met by Israeli soldiers with guns and a razor wire blocking the road. The razor wire at the exit road of Al Ma'sara set up by the Israeli army denies the people their right to access their land.
This week around 80 people marched to show their support for Al Ma'sara and to defend basic human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Locals were joined by Israelis and internationals as well as two members of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) and a French group of elected members of town councils in Normandy.
The organizers of the protest, the Al-Ma'sara Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, held speeches calling for the urgent need for Israel to oblige to international law and decisions on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Other speeches were held in Arabic, Hebrew and English, in addition to a powerful speech held in French by a member of a mission from Normandy visiting Palestine. The mission aims to promote cooperation between local town councils in France and their Palestinian counterparts.
Men and women, young and old, both villagers and people coming from different parts of the world joined the cheering and chanting for a free Palestine. During the protest, two Palestinian women managed to cross the razor wire military obstacle while others were holding it down. Waving the Palestinian flag they walked down the road that for which they should have the inevitable right to do so. Others were prevented by the Israeli soldiers to cross the razor wire.
SAFFA
2 Palestinians, 5 Israelis Arrested During Farmer Action in Saffa
Saturday, May 30, Palestinian farmers from the Soleiby family were joined by activists from Palestine Solidarity Project, Anarchists Against the Wall, and Ta’ayush to work land near the Bat ‘Ain settlement, in Gush Etzion. Activists have been accompanying farmers in the area recently since an attack on the settlement on April 2 led to settler riots and attacks on farmers. The settlers attacked the Palestinians and the Israelis and the state forces arrested 5 Palestinians and two Israeli activists:
3 Israelis who agree to conditions of two weeks restriction from the demos were released in the police station. The Palestinian teenagers were released too at Saturday night.
"Two of the Israeli activists Amiel V. and Shai G. who refused to accept the restriction conditions remain in jail. They will be taken to the Jerusalem court tomorrow morning. If you can come to the court and show your support it would be very appreciated".
here some link of what happened in saffa today
http://dada.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10827/index.php
http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2009/05/31/2-palestinians-5-israelis-arrested-during-farmer-action-in-saffa/
http://ibnezra.wordpress.com/
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/1/1493815&m=1
Sunday: After refusing twice to accept the police conditions, the two Israelis Amiel and Shai were released this morning without any conditions.
------------------------------
Israeli soldiers attack activists and Palestinians in Safa, West Bank-three parts. + weekly demonstration against the wall
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/30/18599416.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/30/18599401.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/31/18599528.php
weekly demonstration against the wall, Friday May 29, Bil'in
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/30/18599429.php
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