In Bil'in it was not as usual as the new regional commander is experimenting. It was also "The Earth Day" - the yearly commemoration of the Israeli Palestinian struggle against the confiscation of lands in the North of Israel (Sahnin) for the building of the Jewish town of Carmiel 31 years ago. (As part of the Zionists effort to keep the Jewish majority in the North of Israel). Thus, it was a bigger demonstration than usual - few hundreds, with lot of participants from Ramallah - the city of the region. Palestinians, internationals, Israeli anarchists against the wall, and lot of media - including direct live TV of Algazira. On the way to the route of the separation fence, we passed near the border gendarmes provocateurs unit at the outskirt of the village - advanced there to ensure the stone throwing of the village kids.
We continued marching on the kilometer long road to the western lands of the village where the separation fence cut them to enable their confiscation for the building of the settler colonialist town Modi'in Ilit.
This Friday, the surprise was a water canon vehicles that tried with short shots to prevent us from approaching the gate to the route and the other side. It was also the first time the gate was locked to evade the usual struggle to open it... When the short periods of spray of water failed to deter us, the soldiers showered us with shock grenades which triggered the stone throwing of these who do not adhere to the non violent mode.
As usual, the soldiers drove them away - together with the less daring demonstrators, while the nonviolent demonstrators moved to the side for a while... and I found myself standing alone for a while in front of the gate till the other comrades returned. Later it was the push and counter push... and in about half an hour the soldiers "conquered" a stretch of 5 meters.
To day, the first time during the second year of Friday demos, organizers succeeded to draw the commander into agreement that the soldiers and border gendarmes who were fighting the kids at the entrance of the village will withdraw, to enable us to return peacefully to the village.
In Um Salmuna there was no confrontation with the Israeli state force. few hundreds people of Palestinians from the region, international and a big contingent of anarchists against the wall congregated near the building area of the separation fence. To prevent confrontation there were not works there. After the Muslims noon prayer all the demonstrators marched on the main road blocking for a while the traffic of the near by Jewish colonial settlements.
The demonstration in Budrus was the hottest one. few hundred demonstrators - Palestinians, Internationals, AATW, and media, marched towards the separation fence. When they arrived at the gate to the West, it was not protected - the soldier were far from it, so the people forced it open. The Israeli state force rushed to the gate - dispersing the people there with shooting of their arsenal. Then the people regrouped and speeches were carried. At the end of the demonstration, to make the people disperse faster, and to punish them for the opening of the gate, the army shoot the people again.
In Kafin, congregated about 900 people for the Ard Day = Earth Day. Palestinians, Internationals AATW people and Media... When the marchers arrived at the separation fence, the state force blocked their way with some pushes. Towards the end, some stone throwers did their thing - and state force responded with some shooting of rubber coated bullets.
Media report on two demonstrators slightly wounded and one border gendarme too, in Bil'in demo, and three demonstrators wounded in Budrus.
Related links: http://ainfos.ca http://matzpen.org http://shalif.com/anarchy/glimpses/glimpses.html
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle against the wall expand from Bil'in to Um Salmuna 28-3-2007
Salmuna 28-2 2-3 2007 The struggle against the separation fence in the region of Um Salmuna (south of Bethlehem's) was started weeks ago. Preparation for the hot struggle when the actual construction of the separation fence in the region took place. Including contacts with activists of Bil'in struggle, a big demonstration and a conference of local activists and those of Israeli anarchists against the wall, a big delegation of people of the region to the Bil'in two years celebration/ demo a week ago.... The days of th actual building of the fence arrived, and the intense struggle with them. Following is a report of activity of two days ago copied from the AATW website (http://awalls.org/six_demonstrators_arrested_after_blocking_bulldozers_in_um_salmuna)
Six demonstrators arrested after blocking bulldozers in Um Salmuna 28/02/2007
Fifty Palestinians, Israelis and international activists managed to stop construction today during a demonstration against the wall. This is the second day in a row demonstrators confront army and police in an attempt to save village land from being destroyed for the wall. Three people were arrested yesterday – the village's mayor and an assistant of his, who were released a few hours later, and the mayor's son, who still remains in custody.
At about 10 am the demonstrators marched towards the works, passed the armed security men, who aimed live ammunition at the protesters. Demonstrators then climbed the bulldozers, successfully bringing all work in the site to a halt for over two hours. After a large force of police and army arrived at the scene, demonstrators agreed to shortly move away from the bulldozers, so that workers fix a water pipe they had damaged as a result of work on the wall, and cut the village's water supply.
As soon as it became clear that construction work on the wall continues, demonstrators returned to block the bulldozers.
Four Israeli anarchists and two internationals were subsequently arrested, and taken to a police station in a nearby settlement. They were all released a few hours later, on condition that they do not come near the path of the wall in Um Salmuna for 15 days
---------------------------------
Today, was another demonstration in Um Salamuna. Following is the invitation for it: I just heard from O. that the folks in Um Salamuna are planning an action for tomorrow. Unlike yesterdays' heroic action (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php) this one sounds a little less ambitious.
People who want to come can meet at the central bus station near the service taxis at 10 am. There will probably be transportation for 5 people to go. For more details please call O.
-----------------------------------------
Um Salmuna 2-3-07; Walk away from shame by kobi snitz
A wide strip of upturned earth cut across the hills where the bulldozers were working the previous day. Speakers climbed on top of a bolder up and delivered speeches, which required no metaphors. The land, the points of guns and the large settlement on the opposite hill all painted a self-explanatory picture. Click on image for a larger version
They will uproot and we will sow, they will kill but we will live soldiers put down your guns You can walk away from the shame of pointing them at unarmed people.
This scene took place today on the lands of Um Salamuna, near Bethlehem Where Work on the wall on the village's lands near Wadi Nis started recently and was immediately met with courageous resistance. On Tuesday the people of the village stopped the bulldozers and on Wednesday they were joined by a group of Israelis and internationals (israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6124/index.php) and did the same again.
Today the village mounted a large demonstration with about 300 people from the villages in the area as well as a bus of students from Bethlehem. Several Israelis and internationals from the Anarchists against the wall, PSP and Taayush, also joined the demonstration. The turnout showed some very positive signs, most of the people came from Wadi Nis and Um Salamuna and 300 people is a large number for two villages of about 1000 each, to turn out. In addition, many women participated in the demonstration and outside support in the form of the students from Bethlehem who carried the flag of ‘al Mubadara' (the Palestinian national initiative). The leader of the Mubadara, Mustapha Barguthy also attended the demonstration along with activists from the Hebron area.
The bulldozers were not in sight today although apparently they did work at a distance. The demonstration marched along the main road and took control of the flow of traffic in both directions. Civilian cars were allowed to pass but army jeeps were forced to wait for the procession to slowly make its way. After the speeches, the marchers took the road again and returned to the village on their own time.
The next few weeks will be critical for the struggle in the area; the organizers in the village are calling for daily actions to stop the bulldozers, starting on Sunday. Israelis and internationals are asked to help with these actions. If they are successful and a sustained struggle takes hold in the area it will contribute to the goal, which Barguthy described at the meeting after the demonstration. He described a picture of dozens of Bili'ns around the west bank demonstrating together. Israelis and internationals should try to find the resources to support such a struggle if it starts.
See pictures at:
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6132/index.php
-----------------------------------------
Following the demonstration of today, another call was issued:
After a busy week that included three different actions in the village(a small and violent one on Tuesday, a direct action on Wednesday (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php), and a 300 people one today), the people of Um Salmuna have called for Israelis and internationals to join them in the struggle against the apartheid wall that is being build on their land, this is a critical time for the struggle over there because the wall is being built everyday and it's important for us to go there and stop the construction works while it's happening, it looks like there's going to be actions there during the week, hopefully a few times a week, next week it is planned to be on Sunday and Monday.
please call B. if u can come .
============================
In Bil'in it was the 108th Friday demonstration against the separation fence and the occupation. The following report is available with pictures on the web site of the anarchists against the wall initiative, members of it participated in the demo. http://awalls.org/12_year_old_underwent_surgery_after_being_shot_in_the_head_from_close_range_in_bilin_demo
12 year old underwent surgery after being shot in the head from close range in Bil'in demo at: 02/03/2007
Over 600 demonstrators from all over the West Bank marched in Bil'in today, accompanied by Israelis and internationals. The DFLP (Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) marked its 38th anniversary by joining the demonstration. The hundreds who came to participate charged the demonstration with new energies. The army, however, presented nothing new, reacted to an extravagant spirit of liberty by even greater use of violence than normally. Twenty one demonstrators were injured in varying degrees of severity, including four that had to be hospitalized. One of them, twelve-year old Mahmoud Yusef Abu Rahme was shot in the forehead, suffered a broken skull and underwent a lifesaving operation in Sheikh Zaid hospital in Ramallah.
A rally celebrating the 38th anniversary of the left wing DFLP faction was held in the village, where hundreds from all over the West Bank gathered. After a long hour of speechifying, customary in such events, demonstrators started marching towards the wall, and were blocked by soldiers standing in front of the gate.
The soldiers immediately began pushing and shoving the demonstrators, which was answered by a barrage of stones so short that the demonstration managed to gather again in front of the gate a few seconds later.
It took no more than a few minutes for the soldiers to start pushing and hitting demonstrators with their batons. Wagee Burnat of Bil'in was injured above his eyebrow from a baton charge. Wagee's injury was immediately followed by the use of teargas, which provoked stone throwing, and was followed by scores of rubber bullets and teargas projectiles being shot.
Ten minutes later, demonstrators who were pushed to a small hill on the side of the gate succeeded in regathering in front of the gate. While most protesters were centered around the gate, climbing it, trying to pass and chanting slogans, another group was standing in front of a line of soldiers a few meters
into the village, trying to prevent them from shooting.
Then, at some point, 16-year old Fares Abu Ghosh said something to a soldier and walked away after the soldier had threatened to arrest him. As he was walking away, and with absolutely no apparent reason, the soldier shot him three times with rubber bullets in his hip and arms from about 10 meters. The boy's father then ran towards the soldier, pushing and hitting him. This was used by the army as an excuse to start shooting at everything and everyone once more.
As soldiers were shooting indiscriminately, wounded demonstrators were brought to a makeshift infirmary. As the injured were being treated, whizzing bullets whistled by the paramedics. An elderly DFLP guy, a veteran of many years of struggle, who had been forced to exile during the first intifada, shouted to the soldiers: "You can shoot our bodies, but you could never kill our spirit".
Six demonstrators arrested after blocking bulldozers in Um Salmuna 28/02/2007
Fifty Palestinians, Israelis and international activists managed to stop construction today during a demonstration against the wall. This is the second day in a row demonstrators confront army and police in an attempt to save village land from being destroyed for the wall. Three people were arrested yesterday – the village's mayor and an assistant of his, who were released a few hours later, and the mayor's son, who still remains in custody.
At about 10 am the demonstrators marched towards the works, passed the armed security men, who aimed live ammunition at the protesters. Demonstrators then climbed the bulldozers, successfully bringing all work in the site to a halt for over two hours. After a large force of police and army arrived at the scene, demonstrators agreed to shortly move away from the bulldozers, so that workers fix a water pipe they had damaged as a result of work on the wall, and cut the village's water supply.
As soon as it became clear that construction work on the wall continues, demonstrators returned to block the bulldozers.
Four Israeli anarchists and two internationals were subsequently arrested, and taken to a police station in a nearby settlement. They were all released a few hours later, on condition that they do not come near the path of the wall in Um Salmuna for 15 days
---------------------------------
Today, was another demonstration in Um Salamuna. Following is the invitation for it: I just heard from O. that the folks in Um Salamuna are planning an action for tomorrow. Unlike yesterdays' heroic action (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php) this one sounds a little less ambitious.
People who want to come can meet at the central bus station near the service taxis at 10 am. There will probably be transportation for 5 people to go. For more details please call O.
-----------------------------------------
Um Salmuna 2-3-07; Walk away from shame by kobi snitz
A wide strip of upturned earth cut across the hills where the bulldozers were working the previous day. Speakers climbed on top of a bolder up and delivered speeches, which required no metaphors. The land, the points of guns and the large settlement on the opposite hill all painted a self-explanatory picture. Click on image for a larger version
They will uproot and we will sow, they will kill but we will live soldiers put down your guns You can walk away from the shame of pointing them at unarmed people.
This scene took place today on the lands of Um Salamuna, near Bethlehem Where Work on the wall on the village's lands near Wadi Nis started recently and was immediately met with courageous resistance. On Tuesday the people of the village stopped the bulldozers and on Wednesday they were joined by a group of Israelis and internationals (israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6124/index.php) and did the same again.
Today the village mounted a large demonstration with about 300 people from the villages in the area as well as a bus of students from Bethlehem. Several Israelis and internationals from the Anarchists against the wall, PSP and Taayush, also joined the demonstration. The turnout showed some very positive signs, most of the people came from Wadi Nis and Um Salamuna and 300 people is a large number for two villages of about 1000 each, to turn out. In addition, many women participated in the demonstration and outside support in the form of the students from Bethlehem who carried the flag of ‘al Mubadara' (the Palestinian national initiative). The leader of the Mubadara, Mustapha Barguthy also attended the demonstration along with activists from the Hebron area.
The bulldozers were not in sight today although apparently they did work at a distance. The demonstration marched along the main road and took control of the flow of traffic in both directions. Civilian cars were allowed to pass but army jeeps were forced to wait for the procession to slowly make its way. After the speeches, the marchers took the road again and returned to the village on their own time.
The next few weeks will be critical for the struggle in the area; the organizers in the village are calling for daily actions to stop the bulldozers, starting on Sunday. Israelis and internationals are asked to help with these actions. If they are successful and a sustained struggle takes hold in the area it will contribute to the goal, which Barguthy described at the meeting after the demonstration. He described a picture of dozens of Bili'ns around the west bank demonstrating together. Israelis and internationals should try to find the resources to support such a struggle if it starts.
See pictures at:
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6132/index.php
-----------------------------------------
Following the demonstration of today, another call was issued:
After a busy week that included three different actions in the village(a small and violent one on Tuesday, a direct action on Wednesday (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php), and a 300 people one today), the people of Um Salmuna have called for Israelis and internationals to join them in the struggle against the apartheid wall that is being build on their land, this is a critical time for the struggle over there because the wall is being built everyday and it's important for us to go there and stop the construction works while it's happening, it looks like there's going to be actions there during the week, hopefully a few times a week, next week it is planned to be on Sunday and Monday.
please call B. if u can come .
============================
In Bil'in it was the 108th Friday demonstration against the separation fence and the occupation. The following report is available with pictures on the web site of the anarchists against the wall initiative, members of it participated in the demo. http://awalls.org/12_year_old_underwent_surgery_after_being_shot_in_the_head_from_close_range_in_bilin_demo
12 year old underwent surgery after being shot in the head from close range in Bil'in demo at: 02/03/2007
Over 600 demonstrators from all over the West Bank marched in Bil'in today, accompanied by Israelis and internationals. The DFLP (Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) marked its 38th anniversary by joining the demonstration. The hundreds who came to participate charged the demonstration with new energies. The army, however, presented nothing new, reacted to an extravagant spirit of liberty by even greater use of violence than normally. Twenty one demonstrators were injured in varying degrees of severity, including four that had to be hospitalized. One of them, twelve-year old Mahmoud Yusef Abu Rahme was shot in the forehead, suffered a broken skull and underwent a lifesaving operation in Sheikh Zaid hospital in Ramallah.
A rally celebrating the 38th anniversary of the left wing DFLP faction was held in the village, where hundreds from all over the West Bank gathered. After a long hour of speechifying, customary in such events, demonstrators started marching towards the wall, and were blocked by soldiers standing in front of the gate.
The soldiers immediately began pushing and shoving the demonstrators, which was answered by a barrage of stones so short that the demonstration managed to gather again in front of the gate a few seconds later.
It took no more than a few minutes for the soldiers to start pushing and hitting demonstrators with their batons. Wagee Burnat of Bil'in was injured above his eyebrow from a baton charge. Wagee's injury was immediately followed by the use of teargas, which provoked stone throwing, and was followed by scores of rubber bullets and teargas projectiles being shot.
Ten minutes later, demonstrators who were pushed to a small hill on the side of the gate succeeded in regathering in front of the gate. While most protesters were centered around the gate, climbing it, trying to pass and chanting slogans, another group was standing in front of a line of soldiers a few meters
into the village, trying to prevent them from shooting.
Then, at some point, 16-year old Fares Abu Ghosh said something to a soldier and walked away after the soldier had threatened to arrest him. As he was walking away, and with absolutely no apparent reason, the soldier shot him three times with rubber bullets in his hip and arms from about 10 meters. The boy's father then ran towards the soldier, pushing and hitting him. This was used by the army as an excuse to start shooting at everything and everyone once more.
As soldiers were shooting indiscriminately, wounded demonstrators were brought to a makeshift infirmary. As the injured were being treated, whizzing bullets whistled by the paramedics. An elderly DFLP guy, a veteran of many years of struggle, who had been forced to exile during the first intifada, shouted to the soldiers: "You can shoot our bodies, but you could never kill our spirit".
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Palestine-Israel, the joint struggle against the separation fence and occupation - Bil'in & Um Salmuna 24 Mar 2007
The struggle in Um Salmuna and the near by region south of Bethlehem is slowly developing. This Friday about 200 Palestinians, Internationals, and Israelis from the anarchists against the wall initiative, demonstrated at Um Salmuna. This time, the demonstration did not include direct action against the fence. In Bil'in, the 111th Friday demonstration included the usual participants from the village, from the region, Internationals, Israelis of AATW, and media workers. This Friday, as usual, when we left the village on the road to the route of the fence, we passed near the border gendarmes prevaricator's unit that took positions among the outskirt buildings of the village, to provoke the stone throwing of the kids... and insulted them. When after a one kilometer march we came near the gate to the route of the separation fence and beyond it to the lands of the village West of it, we were surprised: the gate was not fortified by armored cars or spools of razor wire. The meaning was discovered soon. When the first people of the demonstration approached the gate, the soldiers standing there showered us with shock grenades, and threw tear gas canisters on the people who were at the tail of the demonstration.
Few people responded for only a few seconds with few stones, but then it was much quieter. The soldiers tried to block the people of the tail of the demo and those who retreated for a while, from approaching the gate. They also tried - mostly by pushing and some shock grenades to prevent us - in the front, from crossing the gate. Some more daring comrades did cross the not fortified gate, to be assaulted by the soldiers near by. Few, including a female comrade were forced back behind the gate. Three were detained... with one who succeeded to escape and two others who were freed immediately after the demonstration was declared ended by the organizers.
Few were injured a bit near the fence and also some kids who confronted the border gendarmes provocateurs.
Few people responded for only a few seconds with few stones, but then it was much quieter. The soldiers tried to block the people of the tail of the demo and those who retreated for a while, from approaching the gate. They also tried - mostly by pushing and some shock grenades to prevent us - in the front, from crossing the gate. Some more daring comrades did cross the not fortified gate, to be assaulted by the soldiers near by. Few, including a female comrade were forced back behind the gate. Three were detained... with one who succeeded to escape and two others who were freed immediately after the demonstration was declared ended by the organizers.
Few were injured a bit near the fence and also some kids who confronted the border gendarmes provocateurs.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Palestine-Israel, The 110th Friday demo in Bil'in and still surprises occur... 16 Mar 2007
It was in those in-between-winter-and-spring cool and cloudy days threatening to rain but do not do it. As usual, we started at noon the Friday march from the center of the village towards the route of the separation fence - robing more than half the lands of the village, for expanding a settler colonialist town already built on lands robed from Bil'in and neighboring villages. We were as usual Palestinians from the village (mainly) and from the region; internationals; Israelis from the anarchists against the wall initiative (and others); and some media workers of wide spectrum. As usual, we seen on the way to the fence (about a kilometer from the built area of the village) the border gendarmes dispersed among the houses at the outskirts of the village, biting the village kids that prefer to confront them there instead of joining the non violent demo marching towards the route of the fence.
Chanting and singing... carrying flags and placards we approached the route of the separation fence. There a surprise was waiting to us. A tactic of the Israeli state forces that was stopped months ago, to diminish the friction with us, was renewed. (It seems a previous commander of the region who returned after being replaced by others, feel the urge for revenge after he failed to back his announced claim that the Friday demonstrations in Bil'in will be put end to by him.) Instead of standing behind the gate to the route of the fence, they stretched a spool of razor wire across the road and its two sides - 10 meters from the gate to the separation fence and across it to the village lands west of it. A line of armed soldiers tried hard to "protect" the ten meters strip from our "invasion".
The confrontation there was immanent as we could not allow the advance occupying - even if only 10 meters. The state force made it a question of honer to protect this temporary occupied strip... but they were restricted by strict orders not to injure too hard the "holy Jews" (and thus all the others in the demo too) that even when confronting the state must be treated as the tradition demand. (About three years ago, Israeli soldier shoot on command and injured a demonstrator of the anarchists against the wall in the leg with live ammunition.... and the chief commander of the army yielded to public scandal and visited the injured person in hospital to apologize.)
The strict restriction of use of force when Jews are involved is the only reason that after 110 Friday demonstrations in Bil'in and other direct actions there, still no Israeli and no Palestinian was killed there yet. Though many were injured by rubber coated bullets and tear gas grenades shoot at them. Few, including Israelis suffered irreversible damage after being shoot at their heads.
And so, after 10 minutes of physical confrontation we forced our way through the ten meters strip, with sporadic clashes initiated by some of the state force people. During about 40 minutes of confrontation two Palestinians and two Israelis were detained, and few were moderately injured. Often, when a soldier became overly aggressive, the warning "you are being videotaped/photographed" calmed him a bit.
In spite of the use soldiers did with shock grenades, the youth who do not adhere to the non violent mode of struggle, they refrained from stone throwing till a member of the village popular comity declared the end of the demonstration. As usual, the soldiers used this opportunity to attack and try to drive away fast the nonviolent demonstration - that we could not allow them, so we continued the demonstration - ridiculing the soldiers and their commanders that they only succeeded to conquer back the ten meter strip near the gate.
After a while, we decided to return to the village, and on our way, the soldiers vented their revenge by shooting at us some tear gas canisters (who were not really effective due to the direction of the wind.
When we arrived at the fringe of the built are of the village we had to do evading movements as we passed in the region where the border gendarmes were confronting with tear gas and rubber coated bullets the stone throwers.
After an hour of taking our time in the center of the village - waiting for the release of of the 4 detained and socializing with the village activists, we traveled back to the near by Israel.
After humiliating treatment and threats, one of the Israelis and the two Palestinians were release. The other Israeli comrade was taken to a near by police station to appear tomorrow evening before a magistrate - after two soldiers gave a false testimony blaming him for attacking them.
Chanting and singing... carrying flags and placards we approached the route of the separation fence. There a surprise was waiting to us. A tactic of the Israeli state forces that was stopped months ago, to diminish the friction with us, was renewed. (It seems a previous commander of the region who returned after being replaced by others, feel the urge for revenge after he failed to back his announced claim that the Friday demonstrations in Bil'in will be put end to by him.) Instead of standing behind the gate to the route of the fence, they stretched a spool of razor wire across the road and its two sides - 10 meters from the gate to the separation fence and across it to the village lands west of it. A line of armed soldiers tried hard to "protect" the ten meters strip from our "invasion".
The confrontation there was immanent as we could not allow the advance occupying - even if only 10 meters. The state force made it a question of honer to protect this temporary occupied strip... but they were restricted by strict orders not to injure too hard the "holy Jews" (and thus all the others in the demo too) that even when confronting the state must be treated as the tradition demand. (About three years ago, Israeli soldier shoot on command and injured a demonstrator of the anarchists against the wall in the leg with live ammunition.... and the chief commander of the army yielded to public scandal and visited the injured person in hospital to apologize.)
The strict restriction of use of force when Jews are involved is the only reason that after 110 Friday demonstrations in Bil'in and other direct actions there, still no Israeli and no Palestinian was killed there yet. Though many were injured by rubber coated bullets and tear gas grenades shoot at them. Few, including Israelis suffered irreversible damage after being shoot at their heads.
And so, after 10 minutes of physical confrontation we forced our way through the ten meters strip, with sporadic clashes initiated by some of the state force people. During about 40 minutes of confrontation two Palestinians and two Israelis were detained, and few were moderately injured. Often, when a soldier became overly aggressive, the warning "you are being videotaped/photographed" calmed him a bit.
In spite of the use soldiers did with shock grenades, the youth who do not adhere to the non violent mode of struggle, they refrained from stone throwing till a member of the village popular comity declared the end of the demonstration. As usual, the soldiers used this opportunity to attack and try to drive away fast the nonviolent demonstration - that we could not allow them, so we continued the demonstration - ridiculing the soldiers and their commanders that they only succeeded to conquer back the ten meter strip near the gate.
After a while, we decided to return to the village, and on our way, the soldiers vented their revenge by shooting at us some tear gas canisters (who were not really effective due to the direction of the wind.
When we arrived at the fringe of the built are of the village we had to do evading movements as we passed in the region where the border gendarmes were confronting with tear gas and rubber coated bullets the stone throwers.
After an hour of taking our time in the center of the village - waiting for the release of of the 4 detained and socializing with the village activists, we traveled back to the near by Israel.
After humiliating treatment and threats, one of the Israelis and the two Palestinians were release. The other Israeli comrade was taken to a near by police station to appear tomorrow evening before a magistrate - after two soldiers gave a false testimony blaming him for attacking them.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Palestine-Israel, the joint struggle continue: Bil'in - 109th Friday demo; Um Salmuna; Jafa.... 10 Mar 2007
In Bil'in it was like a well rehearsed ritual. A march at Friday noon from the center of the village on the road leading to the route of the separation fence, used for robbing more the village lands located west of it - for building the settler town on it. As usual, it was Palestinians from the village and from the region - including people from the Ramalla city; Internationals; Israelis from the anarchists against the fence initiative; and media. As usual, we marched with flags and placards - chanting and singing. As usual we passed at the fringe of the village the state force provocation unit "inviting" there the village kids for confrontation with stones versus rubber coated bullets and tear gas. As usual, the nonviolent demonstration continued the one kilometer march to the blocked gate to the route of the separation fence and to the western lands beyond it.
As usually the low intensity confrontation started there with the Israeli state forces - words mainly but also efforts to cross the blocked gate which few activist half successfully did... only to be blocked behind the gate.
As usually, When we just arrived there, some belligerent youth tried to assault the state force at the gate by stones and sticks... but this time were restrained by the activists of the village comity - preventing them to give the state force to disperse the demo immediately. After a while, the state force escalated the confrontation near the gate - throwing shock grenades on us - which brought immediately the stone throwing of youth from the fringe of the demo who just waited for an excuse - only half respecting the non violent mode of the demo.
As usually, the state force assaulted both the stone throwers and the non violent demonstrators... As usually, after driving away the stone throwers the soldiers tried - in vain, to drive us away too. As usual the confrontation between them and us continued with medium level of violence of the state force. As usual some of us were injured including two Israeli comrades who were taken by us to an Israel hospital for treatment and checking.
After a while the village comity declared the end of the demo and we returned to the village - passing peacefully through the confrontation zone between the village kids and the state force, as the kids took a pause in their stone throwing so we will not be injured by them or the state force.
At that point there were already 11 of the kids injured by rubber coated bullets.
A poetic justice: One of the Israeli state forces broke his leg while chasing a demonstrator near the blocked gate. Another of the state force - from among the provocateurs unit at the fringe of the village was injured by a stone thrower.
See picture and a different report at: http://www.awalls.org/16_injured_4_hospitalized_in_bilin_weekly_demo ----------------------------------------------------------
Um Salamuna: Protest Stalls Work On The Fence Author Reven
Last Friday, Um Salamuna hosted another demonstration against construction of the fence on it's lands, as a part of the expanding popular campaign.
Three hundred participants marched onto the construction site where Friday prayers were held, mostly residents of Um Salamuna and the nearby Wadi Nis, along with a few international and Israeli activists [some of the anaechists against the wall initiative]. Following the prayer, as speeches were made reiterating the purpose of the upcoming action, the large military and police presence began distancing the bulldozers from the demonstration's projected path.
As the demonstration got underway, quickly marching up the hill in pursuit of the bulldozers, a group of soldiers in riot gear attempted to stop the group by blocking the road. Reacting quickly, demonstrators sat down in a show of non-violence. The bulldozers were again moved to a new location in a scramble to continue raizing the lands in preperation for the fence. Eventually the soldiers were forced to allow the protest to proceed.
About 50 meters up the path the scene repeated, only that by this time the bulldozers had reached the end of the road, at this point moving them became complicated. Recognizing their success in disrupting work the demonstrators were quick to stand up this time around. A local elder insisted that the soldiers allow the demonstration to continue to the end of the path. Another speech was made in front of the soldiers as the bulldozers again crambled to continue their work, and eventually the demonstration continued back towards the village through the fields, in a celebratory mood.
This week the group gathered in the Wadi Nis diwan for a communittee gathering including refreshments and a lively debate concerning a range of issues surrounding the struggle against the wall. This meeting, like others that have followed the local demonstrations, reflect the organizers' commitment to a non-violent popular struggle and demonstrate their skills for expanding it futher. Speakers also often recalled the importance of solidarity work by Israeli and international activists, reminding us of the challenges ahead, and strengthening our hands.
Related
* http://awalls.org
* http://activestills.org
See pictures at:
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6166/index.php
As usually the low intensity confrontation started there with the Israeli state forces - words mainly but also efforts to cross the blocked gate which few activist half successfully did... only to be blocked behind the gate.
As usually, When we just arrived there, some belligerent youth tried to assault the state force at the gate by stones and sticks... but this time were restrained by the activists of the village comity - preventing them to give the state force to disperse the demo immediately. After a while, the state force escalated the confrontation near the gate - throwing shock grenades on us - which brought immediately the stone throwing of youth from the fringe of the demo who just waited for an excuse - only half respecting the non violent mode of the demo.
As usually, the state force assaulted both the stone throwers and the non violent demonstrators... As usually, after driving away the stone throwers the soldiers tried - in vain, to drive us away too. As usual the confrontation between them and us continued with medium level of violence of the state force. As usual some of us were injured including two Israeli comrades who were taken by us to an Israel hospital for treatment and checking.
After a while the village comity declared the end of the demo and we returned to the village - passing peacefully through the confrontation zone between the village kids and the state force, as the kids took a pause in their stone throwing so we will not be injured by them or the state force.
At that point there were already 11 of the kids injured by rubber coated bullets.
A poetic justice: One of the Israeli state forces broke his leg while chasing a demonstrator near the blocked gate. Another of the state force - from among the provocateurs unit at the fringe of the village was injured by a stone thrower.
See picture and a different report at: http://www.awalls.org/16_injured_4_hospitalized_in_bilin_weekly_demo ----------------------------------------------------------
Um Salamuna: Protest Stalls Work On The Fence Author Reven
Last Friday, Um Salamuna hosted another demonstration against construction of the fence on it's lands, as a part of the expanding popular campaign.
Three hundred participants marched onto the construction site where Friday prayers were held, mostly residents of Um Salamuna and the nearby Wadi Nis, along with a few international and Israeli activists [some of the anaechists against the wall initiative]. Following the prayer, as speeches were made reiterating the purpose of the upcoming action, the large military and police presence began distancing the bulldozers from the demonstration's projected path.
As the demonstration got underway, quickly marching up the hill in pursuit of the bulldozers, a group of soldiers in riot gear attempted to stop the group by blocking the road. Reacting quickly, demonstrators sat down in a show of non-violence. The bulldozers were again moved to a new location in a scramble to continue raizing the lands in preperation for the fence. Eventually the soldiers were forced to allow the protest to proceed.
About 50 meters up the path the scene repeated, only that by this time the bulldozers had reached the end of the road, at this point moving them became complicated. Recognizing their success in disrupting work the demonstrators were quick to stand up this time around. A local elder insisted that the soldiers allow the demonstration to continue to the end of the path. Another speech was made in front of the soldiers as the bulldozers again crambled to continue their work, and eventually the demonstration continued back towards the village through the fields, in a celebratory mood.
This week the group gathered in the Wadi Nis diwan for a communittee gathering including refreshments and a lively debate concerning a range of issues surrounding the struggle against the wall. This meeting, like others that have followed the local demonstrations, reflect the organizers' commitment to a non-violent popular struggle and demonstrate their skills for expanding it futher. Speakers also often recalled the importance of solidarity work by Israeli and international activists, reminding us of the challenges ahead, and strengthening our hands.
Related
* http://awalls.org
* http://activestills.org
See pictures at:
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6166/index.php
Friday, March 2, 2007
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle against the wall expand from Bil'in to Um Salmuna 28/2;2/3 2007
The struggle against the separation fence in the region of Um Salmuna (south of Bethlehem's) was started weeks ago. Preparation for the hot struggle when the actual construction of the separation fence in the region took place. Including contacts with activists of Bil'in struggle, a big demonstration and a conference of local activists and those of Israeli anarchists against the wall, a big delegation of people of the region to the Bil'in two years celebration/ demo a week ago.... The days of th actual building of the fence arrived, and the intense struggle with them. Following is a report of activity of two days ago copied from the AATW website (http://awalls.org/six_demonstrators_arrested_after_blocking_bulldozers_in_um_salmuna)
Six demonstrators arrested after blocking bulldozers in Um Salmuna 28/02/2007
Fifty Palestinians, Israelis and international activists managed to stop construction today during a demonstration against the wall. This is the second day in a row demonstrators confront army and police in an attempt to save village land from being destroyed for the wall. Three people were arrested yesterday - the village's mayor and an assistant of his, who were released a few hours later, and the mayor's son, who still remains in custody.
At about 10 am the demonstrators marched towards the works, passed the armed security men, who aimed live ammunition at the protesters. Demonstrators then climbed the bulldozers, successfully bringing all work in the site to a halt for over two hours.
After a large force of police and army arrived at the scene, demonstrators agreed to shortly move away from the bulldozers, so that workers fix a water pipe they had damaged as a result of work on the wall, and cut the village's water supply.
As soon as it became clear that construction work on the wall continues, demonstrators returned to block the bulldozers.
Four Israeli anarchists and two internationals were subsequently arrested, and taken to a police station in a nearby settlement. They were all released a few hours later, on condition that they do not come near the path of the wall in Um Salmuna for 15 days
---------------------------------
Today, was another demonstration in Um Salamuna. Following is the invitation for it: I just heard from O. that the folks in Um Salamuna are planning an action for tomorrow. Unlike yesterdays' heroic action (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php) this one sounds a little less ambitious.
People who want to come can meet at the central bus station near the service taxis at 10 am. There will probably be transportation for 5 people to go. For more details please call O.
-----------------------------------------
Um Salmuna 2-3-07; Walk away from shame by kobi snitz
A wide strip of upturned earth cut across the hills where the bulldozers were working the previous day. Speakers climbed on top of a bolder up and delivered speeches, which required no metaphors. The land, the points of guns and the large settlement on the opposite hill all painted a self-explanatory picture. Click on image for a larger version
They will uproot and we will sow, they will kill but we will live soldiers put down your guns You can walk away from the shame of pointing them at unarmed people.
This scene took place today on the lands of Um Salamuna, near Bethlehem Where Work on the wall on the village’s lands near Wadi Nis started recently and was immediately met with courageous resistance. On Tuesday the people of the village stopped the bulldozers and on Wednesday they were joined by a group of Israelis and internationals (israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6124/index.php) and did the same again.
Today the village mounted a large demonstration with about 300 people from the villages in the area as well as a bus of students from Bethlehem. Several Israelis and internationals from the Anarchists against the wall, PSP and Taayush, also joined the demonstration. The turnout showed some very positive signs, most of the people came from Wadi Nis and Um Salamuna and 300 people is a large number for two villages of about 1000 each, to turn out. In addition, many women participated in the demonstration and outside support in the form of the students from Bethlehem who carried the flag of ‘al Mubadara’ (the Palestinian national initiative). The leader of the Mubadara, Mustapha Barguthy also attended the demonstration along with activists from the Hebron area.
The bulldozers were not in sight today although apparently they did work at a distance. The demonstration marched along the main road and took control of the flow of traffic in both directions. Civilian cars were allowed to pass but army jeeps were forced to wait for the procession to slowly make its way. After the speeches, the marchers took the road again and returned to the village on their own time.
The next few weeks will be critical for the struggle in the area; the organizers in the village are calling for daily actions to stop the bulldozers, starting on Sunday. Israelis and internationals are asked to help with these actions. If they are successful and a sustained struggle takes hold in the area it will contribute to the goal, which Barguthy described at the meeting after the demonstration. He described a picture of dozens of “Bili'ns” around the west bank demonstrating together. Israelis and internationals should try to find the resources to support such a struggle if it starts. Click on image for a larger version
See pictures at:
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6132/index.php
-----------------------------------------
Following the demonstration of today, another call was issued:
After a busy week that included three different actions in the village(a small and violent one on Tuesday, a direct action on Wednesday (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php), and a 300 people one today), the people of Um Salmuna have called for Israelis and internationals to join them in the struggle against the apartheid wall that is being build on their land, this is a critical time for the struggle over there because the wall is being built everyday and it's important for us to go there and stop the construction works while it's happening, it looks like there's going to be actions there during the week, hopefully a few times a week, next week it is planned to be on Sunday and Monday.
please call B. if u can come .
============================
In Bil'in it was the 108th Friday demonstration against the separation fence and the occupation. The following report is available with pictures on the web site of the anarchists against the wall initiative, members of it participated in the demo. http://awalls.org/12_year_old_underwent_surgery_after_being_shot_in_the_head_from_close_range_in_bilin_demo
--------------------------
12 year old underwent surgery after being shot in the head from close range in Bil'in demo at: 02/03/2007
Over 600 demonstrators from all over the West Bank marched in Bil'in today, accompanied by Israelis and internationals. The DFLP (Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) marked its 38th anniversary by joining the demonstration. The hundreds who came to participate charged the demonstration with new energies.
The army, however, presented nothing new, reacted to an extravagant spirit of liberty by even greater use of violence than normally. Twenty one demonstrators were injured in varying degrees of severity, including four that had to be hospitalized. One of them, twelve-year old Mahmoud Yusef Abu Rahme was shot in the forehead, suffered a broken skull and underwent a lifesaving operation in Sheikh Zaid hospital in Ramallah.
A rally celebrating the 38th anniversary of the left wing DFLP faction was held in the village, where hundreds from all over the West Bank gathered. After a long hour of speechifying, customary in such events, demonstrators started marching towards the wall, and were blocked by soldiers standing in front of the gate.
The soldiers immediately began pushing and shoving the demonstrators, which was answered by a barrage of stones so short that the demonstration managed to gather again in front of the gate a few seconds later.
It took no more than a few minutes for the soldiers to start pushing and hitting demonstrators with their batons. Wagee Burnat of Bil'in was injured above his eyebrow from a baton charge. Wagee's injury was immediately followed by the use of teargas, which provoked stone throwing, and was followed by scores of rubber bullets and teargas projectiles being shot.
Ten minutes later, demonstrators who were pushed to a small hill on the side of the gate succeeded in regathering in front of the gate. While most protesters were centered around the gate, climbing it, trying to pass and chanting slogans, another group was standing in front of a line of soldiers a few meters into the village, trying to prevent them from shooting.
Then, at some point, 16-year old Fares Abu Ghosh said something to a soldier and walked away after the soldier had threatened to arrest him. As he was walking away, and with absolutely no apparent reason, the soldier shot him three times with rubber bullets in his hip and arms from about 10 meters. The boy's father then ran towards the soldier, pushing and hitting him. This was used by the army as an excuse to start shooting at everything and everyone once more.
As soldiers were shooting indiscriminately, wounded demonstrators were brought to a makeshift infirmary. As the injured were being treated, whizzing bullets whistled by the paramedics. An elderly DFLP guy, a veteran of many years of struggle, who had been forced to exile during the first intifada, shouted to the soldiers: "You can shoot our bodies, but you could never kill our spirit".
Six demonstrators arrested after blocking bulldozers in Um Salmuna 28/02/2007
Fifty Palestinians, Israelis and international activists managed to stop construction today during a demonstration against the wall. This is the second day in a row demonstrators confront army and police in an attempt to save village land from being destroyed for the wall. Three people were arrested yesterday - the village's mayor and an assistant of his, who were released a few hours later, and the mayor's son, who still remains in custody.
At about 10 am the demonstrators marched towards the works, passed the armed security men, who aimed live ammunition at the protesters. Demonstrators then climbed the bulldozers, successfully bringing all work in the site to a halt for over two hours.
After a large force of police and army arrived at the scene, demonstrators agreed to shortly move away from the bulldozers, so that workers fix a water pipe they had damaged as a result of work on the wall, and cut the village's water supply.
As soon as it became clear that construction work on the wall continues, demonstrators returned to block the bulldozers.
Four Israeli anarchists and two internationals were subsequently arrested, and taken to a police station in a nearby settlement. They were all released a few hours later, on condition that they do not come near the path of the wall in Um Salmuna for 15 days
---------------------------------
Today, was another demonstration in Um Salamuna. Following is the invitation for it: I just heard from O. that the folks in Um Salamuna are planning an action for tomorrow. Unlike yesterdays' heroic action (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php) this one sounds a little less ambitious.
People who want to come can meet at the central bus station near the service taxis at 10 am. There will probably be transportation for 5 people to go. For more details please call O.
-----------------------------------------
Um Salmuna 2-3-07; Walk away from shame by kobi snitz
A wide strip of upturned earth cut across the hills where the bulldozers were working the previous day. Speakers climbed on top of a bolder up and delivered speeches, which required no metaphors. The land, the points of guns and the large settlement on the opposite hill all painted a self-explanatory picture. Click on image for a larger version
They will uproot and we will sow, they will kill but we will live soldiers put down your guns You can walk away from the shame of pointing them at unarmed people.
This scene took place today on the lands of Um Salamuna, near Bethlehem Where Work on the wall on the village’s lands near Wadi Nis started recently and was immediately met with courageous resistance. On Tuesday the people of the village stopped the bulldozers and on Wednesday they were joined by a group of Israelis and internationals (israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6124/index.php) and did the same again.
Today the village mounted a large demonstration with about 300 people from the villages in the area as well as a bus of students from Bethlehem. Several Israelis and internationals from the Anarchists against the wall, PSP and Taayush, also joined the demonstration. The turnout showed some very positive signs, most of the people came from Wadi Nis and Um Salamuna and 300 people is a large number for two villages of about 1000 each, to turn out. In addition, many women participated in the demonstration and outside support in the form of the students from Bethlehem who carried the flag of ‘al Mubadara’ (the Palestinian national initiative). The leader of the Mubadara, Mustapha Barguthy also attended the demonstration along with activists from the Hebron area.
The bulldozers were not in sight today although apparently they did work at a distance. The demonstration marched along the main road and took control of the flow of traffic in both directions. Civilian cars were allowed to pass but army jeeps were forced to wait for the procession to slowly make its way. After the speeches, the marchers took the road again and returned to the village on their own time.
The next few weeks will be critical for the struggle in the area; the organizers in the village are calling for daily actions to stop the bulldozers, starting on Sunday. Israelis and internationals are asked to help with these actions. If they are successful and a sustained struggle takes hold in the area it will contribute to the goal, which Barguthy described at the meeting after the demonstration. He described a picture of dozens of “Bili'ns” around the west bank demonstrating together. Israelis and internationals should try to find the resources to support such a struggle if it starts. Click on image for a larger version
See pictures at:
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/6132/index.php
-----------------------------------------
Following the demonstration of today, another call was issued:
After a busy week that included three different actions in the village(a small and violent one on Tuesday, a direct action on Wednesday (https://israel.indymedia.org/index.php), and a 300 people one today), the people of Um Salmuna have called for Israelis and internationals to join them in the struggle against the apartheid wall that is being build on their land, this is a critical time for the struggle over there because the wall is being built everyday and it's important for us to go there and stop the construction works while it's happening, it looks like there's going to be actions there during the week, hopefully a few times a week, next week it is planned to be on Sunday and Monday.
please call B. if u can come .
============================
In Bil'in it was the 108th Friday demonstration against the separation fence and the occupation. The following report is available with pictures on the web site of the anarchists against the wall initiative, members of it participated in the demo. http://awalls.org/12_year_old_underwent_surgery_after_being_shot_in_the_head_from_close_range_in_bilin_demo
--------------------------
12 year old underwent surgery after being shot in the head from close range in Bil'in demo at: 02/03/2007
Over 600 demonstrators from all over the West Bank marched in Bil'in today, accompanied by Israelis and internationals. The DFLP (Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) marked its 38th anniversary by joining the demonstration. The hundreds who came to participate charged the demonstration with new energies.
The army, however, presented nothing new, reacted to an extravagant spirit of liberty by even greater use of violence than normally. Twenty one demonstrators were injured in varying degrees of severity, including four that had to be hospitalized. One of them, twelve-year old Mahmoud Yusef Abu Rahme was shot in the forehead, suffered a broken skull and underwent a lifesaving operation in Sheikh Zaid hospital in Ramallah.
A rally celebrating the 38th anniversary of the left wing DFLP faction was held in the village, where hundreds from all over the West Bank gathered. After a long hour of speechifying, customary in such events, demonstrators started marching towards the wall, and were blocked by soldiers standing in front of the gate.
The soldiers immediately began pushing and shoving the demonstrators, which was answered by a barrage of stones so short that the demonstration managed to gather again in front of the gate a few seconds later.
It took no more than a few minutes for the soldiers to start pushing and hitting demonstrators with their batons. Wagee Burnat of Bil'in was injured above his eyebrow from a baton charge. Wagee's injury was immediately followed by the use of teargas, which provoked stone throwing, and was followed by scores of rubber bullets and teargas projectiles being shot.
Ten minutes later, demonstrators who were pushed to a small hill on the side of the gate succeeded in regathering in front of the gate. While most protesters were centered around the gate, climbing it, trying to pass and chanting slogans, another group was standing in front of a line of soldiers a few meters into the village, trying to prevent them from shooting.
Then, at some point, 16-year old Fares Abu Ghosh said something to a soldier and walked away after the soldier had threatened to arrest him. As he was walking away, and with absolutely no apparent reason, the soldier shot him three times with rubber bullets in his hip and arms from about 10 meters. The boy's father then ran towards the soldier, pushing and hitting him. This was used by the army as an excuse to start shooting at everything and everyone once more.
As soldiers were shooting indiscriminately, wounded demonstrators were brought to a makeshift infirmary. As the injured were being treated, whizzing bullets whistled by the paramedics. An elderly DFLP guy, a veteran of many years of struggle, who had been forced to exile during the first intifada, shouted to the soldiers: "You can shoot our bodies, but you could never kill our spirit".
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