Palestine-Israel, My subjective report on the joint struggle against the separation fence and occupation 8-2-08

This Friday the anarchists against the wall participated in two demonstrations: one, in the traditional of Bil'in (Ramallah region) - the 156th, and the other in Al Khader (Bethlehem region). In Bil'in, the new Israeli regional commander continued with the deescalation. This Friday he even let us open the double gates leading to the route of the separation fence without retaliation. When the youngsters started to throw stones after the demonstration ended the state force did not use it as excuse to shower the nonviolent demonstrators with tear gas. Even in the confrontation with the youngsters, though the state force did use rubber coated bullets and tear gas, it was clear the new policy was to de-escalate.

Al Khader is a new site of persistent joint demonstrations of Palestinian villagers, international activists, and Israelis of the anarchists against the wall initiative, against the separation fence and occupation. Following is a call for joining the demonstration:

Nonviolent Anti-Wall Protest in Al-Khader near Bethlehem

Bethlehem – Palestine / Friday February 8th, 2008 - The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonization in Al-Khader is organizing a nonviolent demonstration to protest the construction of the annexation wall in the town of Al-Khader, located south of Bethlehem. The protestors will also call for an end to the killing of children, thousands of whom have fallen victim to the 40 year old Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian Territories.

The construction of the wall in this town will expropriate more than 20000 dunams (5000 acres) of the town's land, which will make life intolerable for this predominantly agricultural community.

The demonstration will start Friday February 8, 2008 at 11:30 in the main road (Jerusalem-Hebron road). The Friday Prayer will take place on the main street, and the march will continue on to the construction site near bypass road 60.

We invite you to join us in this joint struggle for peace and justice.

For more information, please contact, for English; Samer Jaber, For Arabic; Bassam Ghneim

Note: if the weather become rainy, the demonstration postpone to next Friday.

In the demonstration, when hundreds of people marched after the prayer and arrived at the barbed wire spool the state force put to block them, tear gas and shock grenades with rubber coated bullets were used to deter the people.