BEIT-JALLA, BEIT-UMAR, BIL'IN, HEBRON, JERUSALEM: SHEIKH-JARRAH SILWAN, MA'ASARA NABI-SALEH NI'ILIN
Due to the Bil'in fifth international conference in which the Palestinian Prime minister Salam Fayad delivered a long speech, and the intensifying of the joint struggle, it was in the focus of the Palestinian media. In the Israeli media the joint struggle was in the media too, mainly in the context of the US pressure for compromise and the intensification of the struggle in Jerusalem. As the Friday was taken by the older locations of Bil'in, Ma'asara, Nebi Saleh, and Ni'ilin - Silwan (Jerusalem), Wallagw, Beit Jalla, Beit Umar and Hebron had to do their joint struggles on the other days of the weekend: Saturday and Sunday.
Nakba day - 20-4-2010 israelpnm@hotmail.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZL9V2ne2Yk
Beit Umar, Beit Jalah and south mount Hebron Saturday and Sunday
As you might know there is a lot going on in the south. From Beit Umar to Hebron and a few other places. There are never enough Israeli activists for everything that happens there and we are very needed to sustain the smaller initiatives.
BEIT JALLA
The bulldozers started again to work in Beit Jala this Thursday, destroying a garden, uprooting trees.
It is expected that the work will continue this Sunday. We need a lot of people to stop the work, and resist against the continuation of the construction of the Wall and lands annexation.
Please join the demonstration at 11am. meeting point at Orthodox club, Beit Jala.
Bulldozers return to destroy children’s playground in Beit Jala. Six activists arrested.
Israeli bulldozers today destroyed a garden and children’s playground in Beit Jala, and 100 fruit and olive trees in Al Walaja, both in the Bethlehem district, to make way for the continued construction of their illegal apartheid wall. Soldiers present used violent force to remove Palestinian, Israeli and international activists who attempted to prevent the destruction. Two Israelis were arrested immediately, and six internationals were later arrested.
Demonstrators in Beit Jala prevented from accessing family's home
In Beit Jala, this is the second time that this particular garden and playground has been bulldozed. A legal injunction preventing further destruction expired this week. Following the previous demolition, in early March, local Palestinian residents and international supporters rebuilt the playground and planted new olive trees in the garden. All these were today destroyed.
Twelve people, representing six different nationalities, sat in front of the Caterpillar bulldozer as it moved up to the garden. Soldiers forcefully removed all twelve, several of whom sustained minor injuries, and one of whom was hospitalized with suspected broken ribs after his stomach was repeatedly stamped upon by one of the soldiers.
After soldiers forced everyone but the owners of the garden up to the road above, they joined approximately 50 other internationals and local residents to hold a demonstration which lasted into the evening. Overlooking the wreckage of the morning’s destruction, the protesters chanted and sang, asking only to be allowed back down to the house, where bulldozing had finished, to speak with the family there. Late in the afternoon, six activists, from the USA, Italy, Spain, Germany and France, managed to access the house via a back route, bringing food in to the family, before being arrested by Israeli Border Police, accused of illegally entering a Closed Military Zone.
BEIT UMAR
Israel Puterman video 24-4-10 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKfJ1mlI7FE
BIL'IN
" As every year, we have been invited to the Bilin conference"
Fifth international conference in Bil'in had even larger audience and prominences.
Venues spectrum included on one side the speech of Palestinian Prime minister Salam Phiad, and on the other side the venue on the joint struggle chaired by activists of the ISM and Israeli anarchist against the wall.
Friday
A large number of internationals and a couple of dozen Israelis Joined the Palestinian demonstration against the wall and occupation in Bil'in. The demonstrators, over 300 altogether, marched chanting and waving flags (mostly French flags and the orange flags of Bargouthi supporters). Within seconds of the demonstrators reaching the wall's gate the army started shooting tear gas, and many demonstrators retreated. But a strong wind from the North and the enthusiasm built up during the 5th international Bil'in conference helped a larger than usual number of peaceful demonstrators to hold their stance and continue demonstrating by the fence. The demonstration went on for a while, unhindered by a token exchange of gas for stones. But then the army decided to escalate the violence with a second round of gas canisters, this time aimed directly into the crowd, in violation of the army's own rules. A Palestinian citizen of Israel was hit directly in the forehead, and was immediately evacuated by an ambulance to Ramallah, where he was diagnosed with a fractured skull and then transferred to Israel for further treatment. Several other demonstrators were injured from gas inhalation, direct hits by gas canisters, and falling. A bunch of soldiers then entered the village to chase away the last remaining demonstrators. A Palestinian journalist who insisted on doing his job rather than running away was arrested. Several demonstrators then staged a sit-in on the road leading to the fence to demand his release, so the army came in and arrested them as well (three Israelis including one journalist and one US citizen). All those arrested are supposed to be released tonight.
all the 5 - 3 Israelis, 1 Palestinian, and 1 International - who were arrested today in Bil'in were released, under collateral and a ban on entering either Bil'in or Nil'in for 15 days.
HEBRON
Report from 1st Weekly Saturday Protest in Hebron- April 24, 2010
At around 15:45 a group of approximately 60 Palestinians, Israeli, and International activists gathered in Hebron next to the checkpoint gate separating Shuhada Street in H2 from the Casbah in H1. The protest, which hopes to become a weekly action, was intended to disrupt the army-accompanied settler tour that goes through the Casbah (Old City) every Saturday. The Casbah is in a part of Hebron that is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (in contrast to Shuhada Street in the Israeli controlled part of the city) and thus, in theory, should not be an area restricted to Palestinian movement.
The protestors stood in front of the gate where the tour usually enters, holding signs and chanting slogans in Arabic, English, and Hebrew; this continued for some time without any disturbance. Soldiers and Israeli police looked onto and videotaped the protest from pillboxes and rooftops nearby. Eventually the protest was declared over, but was then suddenly reignited with news that the settlers had managed to enter the Casbah through another entrance. The protestors then began to advance through the marketplace alleyways to where the tour was said to be but they were met by a line of soldiers who blocked their path.
Protesters continued chanting and tried to push past the soldiers claiming that it should not be a crime to walk through their own city. Protesters tried several times to run around to different entrances into the market to prevent the tour from progressing, but each time they were met by a chain of soldiers and the face-off /pushing began again. Amidst the chaos of running back and forth, one Israeli activist was arrested for no apparent reason. When the protesters re-grouped at the original location alongside the checkpoint gate, they formed a human wall in front of the soldiers by linking arms. The soldiers stood in front of the protestors, blocking them, in order to create a clear path for the settlers to exit the Casbah and pass through the gate back to Shuhada Street. The police then arrived and arrested two more Israeli activists as well as a Palestinian activist and resident of Tel Rumeida, Hebron. One of the arrests was particularly violent as the protester was pushed to the ground and then dragged/carried away. The protest ended shortly afterward and, at the time of writing this report, the 4 arrestees are still being held in the police station in Kiryat Arbah.
Video from Demo in Hebron 24 April 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFp-7BCYfLY
Youth Against Settlements (http://www.youthagainstsettlements.org) invites you to the weekly demonstration in Hebron on Saturday 1st May.
Invitation for Hebron Action this SATURDAY 1st May
Last Saturday 60 Palestinian, Israeli and International demonstrators managed to severely disrupt the weekly settler tour in Hebron, holding them off for two hours and limiting their visit to the Old City to a mere 15 minutes. We need your support to continue this important and inspirational action. This week we want it to be bigger and better. Join us!
Where: Hebron; meet at the car park to the right of Hebron Municipality.
When: Every Saturday. Meet at the car park to the right of Hebron Municipality at 3:00pm. Demonstration brief will be given at 3:30pm. Demonstration will start at 4pm and is expected to last approximately 2-3 hours. Please be on time as we have to walk to the protest location.
Theme: The closure of Shuhada Street to Palestinians and the continued presence of illegal settlements in Hebron and the rest of the West Bank. We are hoping to block one of the regular "settler tours" that take place on Saturdays.
Bring: The more banners the better in Arabic, English and Hebrew. Bring things to make noise - we would particularly love to have drummers - please call us if you can attend!
Contact: or email at info@youthagainstsettlements.org.
Please share this invitation with anyone who may be interested!
Hope to see you Saturday for this important and exciting action!
JERUSALEM
SHEIKH JARRAH
After the previous Friday demonstration and during the week, solidarity visits were done.
Friday, as usual, hundreds of Israelis from Jerusalem and other parts of Israel participated in the afternoon demo (including activists who earlier participated in the noon demos at Bil'in, Ma'asara, and Nebi Saleh.
A contingent of the demonstrators that "dared" to approach the evicted houses were forcibly pushed to the location of the main demonstration near the main street of the neighborhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYVTOeT74zs&feature=player_embedded
SILWAN
An extreme rightist demonstrated in the Silwan neighborhood - where settlers are in the process of taking over houses. Hundreds of state force personal escorted the 30 extreme rightists while local Palestinians and coalition of the Israeli radical left including anarchists (according to media) had a counter demo.
MA'ASARA
This Friday demonstration was smaller than usual, due to the Demonstration in Wallage. The people marched towards the exit from the village to the main road, where the soldiers waited for them as usual with the spool of barbed wire blocking the road. When the demonstrators riched the barbed wire, they demanded for the right of passage to the lands of the village but as usual were refused. The soldiers number was double that of the demonstrators... but still called for reinforcement.
Speeches were carried on the spot in Arabic and English proclaiming the commitment not to stop the protests in spite of the suppression. After the speeches the demonstrators dispersed without giving pretext to the trigger happy gendarmes... whose urge to shoot tear gas grenades on the demonstrators was frustrated.
NABI SALEH
As you may know, the struggle in Nabi Saleh is a local struggle with no intention to stop until the Israeli occupation ends.
Recently, new dynamics encouraged by the army are threatening to undermine the struggle from within, suggesting that some small gain may be enough for the village to stop its demonstrations.
It is of vital importance to come tomorrow if you can and show solidarity with the brave residents of Nabi Saleh who has been targeted brutally by the army along with their elders and children, in their own yards and houses.
The demonstration was nonviolent from the side of the villagers, till one Palestinian threw a stone and by it started an internal havoc.
After an intense internal conflict the trouble was settled.
NI'ILIN
Ni'lin's weekly protest was held to mark Palestinian Prisoner Day. In honor of the occasion, a Hamas member of parliament attended the protest in support of the popular struggle. The marchers held a banner calling attention to the imprisonment of members of Ni'lin's popular committee, and t-shirts sporting the pictures of the village's shabbab currently jailed were worn by all. the march set off to the fence gate, when it was attacked unprovoked by soldiers who fired metal tear gas canisters directly at the group of protesters closest to the gate. one Israeli was lightly injured when the projectile hit his leg. following the immediate dispersal of the demonstration, some youths threw stones at the soldiers over the concrete wall. the soldiers fired tear gas at the protesters. then a group of three border police officers crossed the wall, followed by several soldiers. one of the border police officers fired live ammunition several times, presumably in the air, while chasing the protesters closer to the village. the demonstration ended around an hour and a half later with no additional injuries recorded.
David Reeb Friday 23.4.2010 Ni'ilin video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG3Lty2qXig
WALLAGE
Thanks to the overwhelming scale of the occupation, many of our actions seem frustrating and without immediate reward. The Israeli military is able to proceed unobstructed in most of its work, and it is a rare occasion when we find ourselves in the position to directly challenge the physical manifestations of this apartheid state.
Friday presented an exciting opportunity to disrupt wall construction in the village of al-Walaja. Over 100 residents marched through the village, gathering to hear a brief speech at the site of Thursday’s destruction before filling the freshly bulldozed road with a large number of massive rocks, effectively closing the road from IOF vehicles. With over 300 meters of road blanketed with boulders, work on Sunday morning will be disrupted!
Five activists, three ISM and two EAPPI, were present to support this community which will be effectively suffocated by the wall. The village will continue its resistance Sunday morning as the workers return to destroy more land.
In Al-Walaja, we took over the mountain and the Shabab blocked the new road that soldiers had opened to get equipment that uproots the olive trees in the villager’s land. Watch here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNrplPXm9Qs And here is the ISM story on what happened in Beit Jala http://palsolidarity.org/2010/04/12098
Video direct action against bulldozers, Al Walaja, 25.04.2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er1vAJObtzM
Al-Walaja facts:
This is the second weekly demonstration in 2010 against settlement land confiscation and the construction of the Apartheid Wall this year. According to the most recent Apartheid Wall map, published in 2006, the village of al-Walaja will be completely surrounded by the wall with village access restricted to just two gates. In this village of just a few thousand, wall construction will steal 5,000 dunams of land.
Israel Puterman video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oohuwfYwAz0
Israel Puterman videos of Walage 27-4-10, 25-4-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaF33HVqDpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET--OhJTdC4
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle expansion and state authorities nervousness increase
The joint struggle continue and so is the declaration in public of the discontent of the state forces aroused by our participation in it. This Friday the anarchists against the wall initiative mobilized about 130 Israelis to the demonstrations at Bil'in, Jerusalem (Sheikh Jarrah), Ma'asara (south Bethlehem), Nabi Saleh (west of Ramalla), and Ni'ilin. Many of the participants in noon demos at Bil'in, Ma'asara, and Nabi Saleh continued to the late afternoon demo in Sheikh Jarrah. In spite of the increased threats in the media, the state repression was not at its height.
BEIT JALLA
The National Committee to Resist the Wall in Beit Jala invites you to participate in its weekly demonstration to be held on Sunday April 18 at 9AM under the banner "Beit Jala will remain standing tall and proud as a mountain despite the wall and settlements."
Your participation provides support for the steadfastness of the people of Beit Jala.
The National Committee to Resist the Wall Beit Jala
BIL'IN
Some 45 Israelis and over a dozen internationals joined a larger than usual weekly Palestinian demonstration against the wall in Bil'in. The demonstration commemorated a year since the killing of peaceful resistance poplar leader Bassem Abu Rahme by an Israeli soldier in a demonstration - a killing which Israeli authorities have recently announced will not be investigated. Among the participants were spotted some senior Fatah members, escorted by a Fatah youth marching band. After a string of speeches that commemorated Bassem and commended popular resistance the demonstrators marched to the wall and gathered at the gate. Within less than a minute the army covered the area with tear gas. The younger demonstrators tried to explain to the army that violence brings on counter violence, but the army's response was even more violent and escalated to rubber coated and live bullets. As the confrontation between the shabab and the soldiers moved north along the wall, the gas reached the demonstrators who remained farther back, and pushed them back into the village. Just after leaving the gas range, an ice cream car awaited the demonstrators.
You can watch the movie about the life of Bassem and the way he got killed.
at http://blip.tv/file/3471631
Israel Puterman: Bil'in Friday 16.4.10 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwZnVhhRjsU
David Ribb: Bil'in Friday 16.4.10 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz7_cZafq7k
JERUSALEM - Sheikh Jarrah
In Sheikh Jarrah some 400 people demonstrated against the ongoing policy of settlement building in the neighborhood.
At some point about 50 demonstrators took a walk around police barricades, and reached one of the evicted houses. Police quickly intervened against this breech of the unwritten law allowing only Jewish settlers into the neighborhood, and the demonstrators too were evicted from the premises. Several other attempts of police to push activists around from one place to the other were noted, but no arrests made.
The demonstration ended after two hours.
Israel Puterman video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaqwtaAu_x4
MA'ASARA
After military forces invaded Ma'asara Thursday night, making threats to the leaders of the popular struggle once again, the weekly demonstration took place Friday noon and was bigger than usual due to the commemoration of the Palestinian Prisoners' Day. Twenty Israelis and internationals joined the 150 people strong Palestinian march, which included a massive drumming band of the Jerusalem Palestinian scout movement and the high Sheikh of the PA's Shri'a courts, Taisir Al-Tamimi.
Demonstrators marched through the village streets after the noon prayer, and as usual were stopped by soldiers who blocked the main road towards the stolen village lands. Two elderly women whose sons are held in Israeli prisons told their stories, and received medals of honor from Fatah and Al-Tamimi. Speeches were carried in Arabic, English and Hebrew, and attempts to speak to the soldiers in either of the above languages and explain to them about the situation of Palestinian prisoners failed.
The demonstration lasted an hour and a half, ending with the promise to return next week, as has been for three and a half years now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm4c1OTyx5Y
NEBI SALEH
The demonstration started at the center of the village just after the Friday noon prier. Palestinians, Internationals, and Israelis marched on the road leading to the main intersection in the built area. The area had still the stench from Israeli state forces spray on the previous Friday demo. From there, the participants marched through the fields to the main road leading to the village, which was already blocked by village youth using big stones and other available materials - to make the travel hard (to the Israeli troops).
Though unprovoked, the state forces started to shoot tear gas grenades on the demonstrators. Then they unmounted their military vehicles, dismantled the road blocks, and "conquered" the entrance to the village. From there, they shoot bullets coated with rubber, and tear gas canisters along the main street of the village.
In parallel to this confrontation, a small group of the village youth accompanied by village elders, members of the popular comity, and Israelis, marched through the fields to the well the colonialist settlers try to take complete control of. There too they encountered Israeli state forces that blocked their way.
At that stage, a kind of negotiations started between the village elders and the commanding officer. As result, he agreed to retreat his force from the village on condition that no stones will be thrown... and they retreated towards a near by protected stronghold. Afterwards, the demonstration - that was less confrontational than previous ones became even more moderate and gradually the demonstration dispersed.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1362
Ni'ilin
In Ni'ilin, some 50 demonstrators gathered in the village fields and marched to the route of the wall after the Friday prayer. The march reached the wall, and confrontations erupted between the village youth and the soldiers who fired tear gas from behind the wall. The confrontations continued for several hours, as the confrontations switched locations along the wall.
http://awalls.org/files/images/niilin-16-4-10.jpg
Ni'ilin, April 16 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipy4oSJJ0q8
BEIT JALLA
The National Committee to Resist the Wall in Beit Jala invites you to participate in its weekly demonstration to be held on Sunday April 18 at 9AM under the banner "Beit Jala will remain standing tall and proud as a mountain despite the wall and settlements."
Your participation provides support for the steadfastness of the people of Beit Jala.
The National Committee to Resist the Wall Beit Jala
BIL'IN
Some 45 Israelis and over a dozen internationals joined a larger than usual weekly Palestinian demonstration against the wall in Bil'in. The demonstration commemorated a year since the killing of peaceful resistance poplar leader Bassem Abu Rahme by an Israeli soldier in a demonstration - a killing which Israeli authorities have recently announced will not be investigated. Among the participants were spotted some senior Fatah members, escorted by a Fatah youth marching band. After a string of speeches that commemorated Bassem and commended popular resistance the demonstrators marched to the wall and gathered at the gate. Within less than a minute the army covered the area with tear gas. The younger demonstrators tried to explain to the army that violence brings on counter violence, but the army's response was even more violent and escalated to rubber coated and live bullets. As the confrontation between the shabab and the soldiers moved north along the wall, the gas reached the demonstrators who remained farther back, and pushed them back into the village. Just after leaving the gas range, an ice cream car awaited the demonstrators.
You can watch the movie about the life of Bassem and the way he got killed.
at http://blip.tv/file/3471631
Israel Puterman: Bil'in Friday 16.4.10 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwZnVhhRjsU
David Ribb: Bil'in Friday 16.4.10 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz7_cZafq7k
JERUSALEM - Sheikh Jarrah
In Sheikh Jarrah some 400 people demonstrated against the ongoing policy of settlement building in the neighborhood.
At some point about 50 demonstrators took a walk around police barricades, and reached one of the evicted houses. Police quickly intervened against this breech of the unwritten law allowing only Jewish settlers into the neighborhood, and the demonstrators too were evicted from the premises. Several other attempts of police to push activists around from one place to the other were noted, but no arrests made.
The demonstration ended after two hours.
Israel Puterman video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaqwtaAu_x4
MA'ASARA
After military forces invaded Ma'asara Thursday night, making threats to the leaders of the popular struggle once again, the weekly demonstration took place Friday noon and was bigger than usual due to the commemoration of the Palestinian Prisoners' Day. Twenty Israelis and internationals joined the 150 people strong Palestinian march, which included a massive drumming band of the Jerusalem Palestinian scout movement and the high Sheikh of the PA's Shri'a courts, Taisir Al-Tamimi.
Demonstrators marched through the village streets after the noon prayer, and as usual were stopped by soldiers who blocked the main road towards the stolen village lands. Two elderly women whose sons are held in Israeli prisons told their stories, and received medals of honor from Fatah and Al-Tamimi. Speeches were carried in Arabic, English and Hebrew, and attempts to speak to the soldiers in either of the above languages and explain to them about the situation of Palestinian prisoners failed.
The demonstration lasted an hour and a half, ending with the promise to return next week, as has been for three and a half years now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm4c1OTyx5Y
NEBI SALEH
The demonstration started at the center of the village just after the Friday noon prier. Palestinians, Internationals, and Israelis marched on the road leading to the main intersection in the built area. The area had still the stench from Israeli state forces spray on the previous Friday demo. From there, the participants marched through the fields to the main road leading to the village, which was already blocked by village youth using big stones and other available materials - to make the travel hard (to the Israeli troops).
Though unprovoked, the state forces started to shoot tear gas grenades on the demonstrators. Then they unmounted their military vehicles, dismantled the road blocks, and "conquered" the entrance to the village. From there, they shoot bullets coated with rubber, and tear gas canisters along the main street of the village.
In parallel to this confrontation, a small group of the village youth accompanied by village elders, members of the popular comity, and Israelis, marched through the fields to the well the colonialist settlers try to take complete control of. There too they encountered Israeli state forces that blocked their way.
At that stage, a kind of negotiations started between the village elders and the commanding officer. As result, he agreed to retreat his force from the village on condition that no stones will be thrown... and they retreated towards a near by protected stronghold. Afterwards, the demonstration - that was less confrontational than previous ones became even more moderate and gradually the demonstration dispersed.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1362
Ni'ilin
In Ni'ilin, some 50 demonstrators gathered in the village fields and marched to the route of the wall after the Friday prayer. The march reached the wall, and confrontations erupted between the village youth and the soldiers who fired tear gas from behind the wall. The confrontations continued for several hours, as the confrontations switched locations along the wall.
http://awalls.org/files/images/niilin-16-4-10.jpg
Ni'ilin, April 16 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipy4oSJJ0q8
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle on the verge of expansion
The lesser radical Israeli left involvement in the joint struggle against the separation fence and other aspects of occupation expand - both in Sheikh Jarrah and other places. The dignitaries of the Palestinian authority do so too... but with internal conflicts. It was expressed in a few hours arrest of a leader of the popular struggle in the south by the Palestinian authority police, after a joint action at Beit Omar. More than hundred people were mobilized on Friday by the anarchists against the wall initiative to the demonstrations at Bil'in, Ma'asara, Nebi-Saleh,Ni'ilin, and Sheikh-Jarrah. Saturday and Sunday we were in south of the west bank of occupied Palestinian. Saturday at Beit Omar and on Sunday we mark the end of the weekend in a demonstration in Beit Jalla.
BEIT JALLA
Around 50 - Palestinians, internationals, and a dozen Israelis, marched chanting with flags and banners, along the road that leads to the construction of the apartheid wall in Beit Jalla. After a short distance march down the road we were stopped by about 20 IOF soldiers and a spool of barbed wire that block the way. Chants and speeches were held in Arabic, English and Hebrew, mentioning the 1948 massacre of Dir Yasin, and stressing Palestinians rights of movement and access to their land. About 20 workers of various media documented the scene. After the speeches we sat down on the road facing the spool of the barbed wire and the Israeli state forces. After a while the demo ended peacefully and protesters went swiftly away from the soldiers.
BEIT OMAR
"Israeli forces clashed with several dozen Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, arresting 14 people, the army and witnesses said.The protesters were joined by Israeli peace activists and foreigners at the rally near Beit Omar village, charging that Jews from nearby Bat Ayin settlement were farming on Palestinian-owned land.The demonstrators threw rocks and set fire to crops, the army and witnesses said."
"The march started at one o'clock this afternoon from the municipality and moved in the direction of the area where settlers had laid a foundation stone last week for a new outpost "Gav'at Ires Shlomo". The area is on top of a hill close to Khirbat Safa. Land in the area is owned by families from Beit Ummar."
"The march began to move towards the land threatened with confiscation - an area of 1200 dunums belonging to the families of Qoukas, ‘Adi and Khalil from Beit Ummar. Khirbat Safa’s 600 residents are living on this land and depend for their income primarily from livestock and agriculture in the surrounding hills."
"First reports indicate that when the area where the new outpost is to be built was reached, some of the people in the protest march proceeded to symbolically dismantle small parts of the foundations, already laid by the settlers. Initially the occupation forces present in the area did not intervene and gave the protesters a 10 minutes warning. As soon as the ten minutes period was over, so-called Israeli "border police" arrived on the scene and, according to the coordinator of the Stop the Wall Campaign in Hebron district, Raed Abu Ayyash, these "border police" started to attack the people using disproportionate violence. They started firing rubber-coated metal bullets, teargas and sound grenades at the people in the march and in the area of the village. This led to four injuries from rubber-coated metal bullets. Dozens of people suffered respiratory problems, among them residents of Khirbet Safa who had stayed in their homes."
"Earlier today Israeli occupation forces arrested the following five members of the local committee against the Wall and Settlements in Khirbet Safa: Younis Arar, coordinator of the Committee; Mousa Abu Maria, External Relations Officer; Mohamed Ayad Awad, Media Spokesman; Sakhr Abu Maria and Atef Abu Diya, both members of the popular committee. In addition to these five, another five international solidarity activists were arrested during the weekly march."
BIL'IN
About two dozen Israelis and two dozens internationals joined the village people to a "nice" spring day Friday demonstration against the separation fence and occupation. On the noon march from the village center to the gate in the separation fence were the usual chants and placards - including reference to the Dir Yasin massacre of 1948 day.
At the last part of the march, we could see the far away new route of the separation fence which after about two years delay in enacting the decree of the highest court, it is in the process of being moved to about one kilometer to the west.
At the gate, the more daring participants entered the route, hung flags on the electronic fence and ridiculed loudly the soldiers which were half hidden near by. After a long while the state forces started to shoot at us tear gas grenades... and got themselves a significant doze too - thanks to the changing wind and accident of theirs.
After most of the demonstrators retreated, few soldiers passed the fence to our side and arrested Haitham Al-Khatib - the village Journalist and videographer. He was released only at at night.
Friday 9.4.2010 David Reeb video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQObsY2IxHA
JERUSALEM
Sheikh Jarrah
As usual the last Fridays, the march from west Jerusalem to the east occupied one was banned by the police. The usual converging of few hundred demonstrators was allowed only on the square on the side of the main street - facing the street of the evicted houses. The usual circle of drummers was joined by the clowns' troop. Chants, calls and short speeched were carried during the 90 minutes vigil.
Many participants came from other part of Israel including people who participated at noon in demonstrations in other places.
In parallel to the demonstration at the square near the street with the transfered families houses there was a 40 people vigil nearer to these. In breach of the relevant laws the state forces forced them to move to the main body of the demonstration and arrested 4. In fear of another denunciation by the judge if held till next day court hearing, they were released on bail few hours later with ban from returning for a week only.
Keren Manor video of Sheikh Jarrah Friday 9.4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVbKnzSmhA
MA'ASARA
Tens of soldiers invaded Ma'asara Thursday night, threatening two members of the local popular committee with arrests if there were to be "any problems" during the weekly demonstration. Soldiers made it clear that they didn't care whether the two, Hassan and Muhamad Barjia, were in any way responsible themselves to the presumed "problems".
In spite of the threats, some 50 demonstrators marched through the village Friday noon towards the soon to be stolen lands. On the main village road a similar number of soldiers waited for the march with barbed wire, and prevented the procession to proceed. Demonstrators gave speeches in Arabic, English, Hebrew and French, defying the occupation and commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the Dir Yasin massacre.
At some point demonstrators tried to remove the barbed wire, but were shoved back by soldiers. In response demonstrators sat on the ground, beat drums and sang songs. After about an hour of protest demonstrators returned to the village, promising to return in greater numbers next week, for the Palestinian Day of the Prisoner.
NEBI SALEH
Nabi Saleh, April 9th: "It is not resistance, it's our living they were targeting"
Around 80 Nabi Saleh residents, other Palestinians and international and Israeli supporters participated in this week's demonstration against the crippling occupation and the Halamish settlement's annexation and destruction of a growing amount of land and resources from the village.
This Friday saw yet another escalation in the Israeli army's collective punishment criminal strategy against the entire village. The demo began, as always, with an unprovoked Israeli invasion and attack on a peaceful march, while protesters were even starting to sit down on the ground, to signify their will to protest non-violently. This time the Israeli army has also chosen to use its "skunk" stink-liquid cannon directly and deliberately on the village's houses, yards and main street. The track spraying the liquid even went back for a refill and then continued with its awful abuse. As one of the inhabitants of the houses targeted said: "It is not resistance, it's our living they were targeting". The stink-liquid is expected to stay and spread stink in the area sprayed for days afterwards.
The Israeli army also used a few times its jeep-installed cannon to shot barrages of tear gas canisters, as well as single high-velocity and regular canisters, on the entire village, and kept pushing the protesters back into the village's built area.
At a certain point a few protesters climbed the hill overlooking one of the village's springs, attended by provocative settlers, and as a result the Israeli army sent some of its forces to expel the settlers from the area.
For a few hours protesters refused to disperse and re-gathered again and again in protest, some of them throwing stones to ward off the army incursion, others just standing peacefully against the armed-to-the-top soldiers, documenting, or taking care of the injured from the army's aggression.
NI'ILIN
The Palestinian residents of Ni'lin were joined by a group of ten Israelis and a similar number of internationals in their weekly protest against the wall. after about half an hour of protesting near the route of the wall, with soldiers firing tear gas at the protesters, and some of them throwing stones over the wall, a group of soldiers crossed the wall and began chasing protesters through the village's olive groves. the soldiers fired test gas, and several live bullets, probably in the air. Around an hour later, the soldiers retreated to their base and the village youth returned home. No injuries were recorded, aside from some teary eyes and a flat tire in one activist car, and a ruined clutch in the other..
Friday 9.4.2010 Israel Puterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUa1R80lL1M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W06lfCetT5E
See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com
BEIT JALLA
Around 50 - Palestinians, internationals, and a dozen Israelis, marched chanting with flags and banners, along the road that leads to the construction of the apartheid wall in Beit Jalla. After a short distance march down the road we were stopped by about 20 IOF soldiers and a spool of barbed wire that block the way. Chants and speeches were held in Arabic, English and Hebrew, mentioning the 1948 massacre of Dir Yasin, and stressing Palestinians rights of movement and access to their land. About 20 workers of various media documented the scene. After the speeches we sat down on the road facing the spool of the barbed wire and the Israeli state forces. After a while the demo ended peacefully and protesters went swiftly away from the soldiers.
BEIT OMAR
"Israeli forces clashed with several dozen Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, arresting 14 people, the army and witnesses said.The protesters were joined by Israeli peace activists and foreigners at the rally near Beit Omar village, charging that Jews from nearby Bat Ayin settlement were farming on Palestinian-owned land.The demonstrators threw rocks and set fire to crops, the army and witnesses said."
"The march started at one o'clock this afternoon from the municipality and moved in the direction of the area where settlers had laid a foundation stone last week for a new outpost "Gav'at Ires Shlomo". The area is on top of a hill close to Khirbat Safa. Land in the area is owned by families from Beit Ummar."
"The march began to move towards the land threatened with confiscation - an area of 1200 dunums belonging to the families of Qoukas, ‘Adi and Khalil from Beit Ummar. Khirbat Safa’s 600 residents are living on this land and depend for their income primarily from livestock and agriculture in the surrounding hills."
"First reports indicate that when the area where the new outpost is to be built was reached, some of the people in the protest march proceeded to symbolically dismantle small parts of the foundations, already laid by the settlers. Initially the occupation forces present in the area did not intervene and gave the protesters a 10 minutes warning. As soon as the ten minutes period was over, so-called Israeli "border police" arrived on the scene and, according to the coordinator of the Stop the Wall Campaign in Hebron district, Raed Abu Ayyash, these "border police" started to attack the people using disproportionate violence. They started firing rubber-coated metal bullets, teargas and sound grenades at the people in the march and in the area of the village. This led to four injuries from rubber-coated metal bullets. Dozens of people suffered respiratory problems, among them residents of Khirbet Safa who had stayed in their homes."
"Earlier today Israeli occupation forces arrested the following five members of the local committee against the Wall and Settlements in Khirbet Safa: Younis Arar, coordinator of the Committee; Mousa Abu Maria, External Relations Officer; Mohamed Ayad Awad, Media Spokesman; Sakhr Abu Maria and Atef Abu Diya, both members of the popular committee. In addition to these five, another five international solidarity activists were arrested during the weekly march."
BIL'IN
About two dozen Israelis and two dozens internationals joined the village people to a "nice" spring day Friday demonstration against the separation fence and occupation. On the noon march from the village center to the gate in the separation fence were the usual chants and placards - including reference to the Dir Yasin massacre of 1948 day.
At the last part of the march, we could see the far away new route of the separation fence which after about two years delay in enacting the decree of the highest court, it is in the process of being moved to about one kilometer to the west.
At the gate, the more daring participants entered the route, hung flags on the electronic fence and ridiculed loudly the soldiers which were half hidden near by. After a long while the state forces started to shoot at us tear gas grenades... and got themselves a significant doze too - thanks to the changing wind and accident of theirs.
After most of the demonstrators retreated, few soldiers passed the fence to our side and arrested Haitham Al-Khatib - the village Journalist and videographer. He was released only at at night.
Friday 9.4.2010 David Reeb video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQObsY2IxHA
JERUSALEM
Sheikh Jarrah
As usual the last Fridays, the march from west Jerusalem to the east occupied one was banned by the police. The usual converging of few hundred demonstrators was allowed only on the square on the side of the main street - facing the street of the evicted houses. The usual circle of drummers was joined by the clowns' troop. Chants, calls and short speeched were carried during the 90 minutes vigil.
Many participants came from other part of Israel including people who participated at noon in demonstrations in other places.
In parallel to the demonstration at the square near the street with the transfered families houses there was a 40 people vigil nearer to these. In breach of the relevant laws the state forces forced them to move to the main body of the demonstration and arrested 4. In fear of another denunciation by the judge if held till next day court hearing, they were released on bail few hours later with ban from returning for a week only.
Keren Manor video of Sheikh Jarrah Friday 9.4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVbKnzSmhA
MA'ASARA
Tens of soldiers invaded Ma'asara Thursday night, threatening two members of the local popular committee with arrests if there were to be "any problems" during the weekly demonstration. Soldiers made it clear that they didn't care whether the two, Hassan and Muhamad Barjia, were in any way responsible themselves to the presumed "problems".
In spite of the threats, some 50 demonstrators marched through the village Friday noon towards the soon to be stolen lands. On the main village road a similar number of soldiers waited for the march with barbed wire, and prevented the procession to proceed. Demonstrators gave speeches in Arabic, English, Hebrew and French, defying the occupation and commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the Dir Yasin massacre.
At some point demonstrators tried to remove the barbed wire, but were shoved back by soldiers. In response demonstrators sat on the ground, beat drums and sang songs. After about an hour of protest demonstrators returned to the village, promising to return in greater numbers next week, for the Palestinian Day of the Prisoner.
NEBI SALEH
Nabi Saleh, April 9th: "It is not resistance, it's our living they were targeting"
Around 80 Nabi Saleh residents, other Palestinians and international and Israeli supporters participated in this week's demonstration against the crippling occupation and the Halamish settlement's annexation and destruction of a growing amount of land and resources from the village.
This Friday saw yet another escalation in the Israeli army's collective punishment criminal strategy against the entire village. The demo began, as always, with an unprovoked Israeli invasion and attack on a peaceful march, while protesters were even starting to sit down on the ground, to signify their will to protest non-violently. This time the Israeli army has also chosen to use its "skunk" stink-liquid cannon directly and deliberately on the village's houses, yards and main street. The track spraying the liquid even went back for a refill and then continued with its awful abuse. As one of the inhabitants of the houses targeted said: "It is not resistance, it's our living they were targeting". The stink-liquid is expected to stay and spread stink in the area sprayed for days afterwards.
The Israeli army also used a few times its jeep-installed cannon to shot barrages of tear gas canisters, as well as single high-velocity and regular canisters, on the entire village, and kept pushing the protesters back into the village's built area.
At a certain point a few protesters climbed the hill overlooking one of the village's springs, attended by provocative settlers, and as a result the Israeli army sent some of its forces to expel the settlers from the area.
For a few hours protesters refused to disperse and re-gathered again and again in protest, some of them throwing stones to ward off the army incursion, others just standing peacefully against the armed-to-the-top soldiers, documenting, or taking care of the injured from the army's aggression.
NI'ILIN
The Palestinian residents of Ni'lin were joined by a group of ten Israelis and a similar number of internationals in their weekly protest against the wall. after about half an hour of protesting near the route of the wall, with soldiers firing tear gas at the protesters, and some of them throwing stones over the wall, a group of soldiers crossed the wall and began chasing protesters through the village's olive groves. the soldiers fired test gas, and several live bullets, probably in the air. Around an hour later, the soldiers retreated to their base and the village youth returned home. No injuries were recorded, aside from some teary eyes and a flat tire in one activist car, and a ruined clutch in the other..
Friday 9.4.2010 Israel Puterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUa1R80lL1M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W06lfCetT5E
See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com
Monday, April 5, 2010
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle of the Israeli AAtW and the Palestinians on the Land Day week
BEIT-OMAR BIL'IN BUDRUS QARAWET-BANI-ZEID MA'ASARA NABI-SALEH NI'ILIN SAKHNIN SHEIKH-JARRAH
The joint struggle against land-confiscation of Palestinian citizens of Israel continue since 1948 war. At 1976 there was on 30/3 the first Land Day demonstrations against land grab at the Galilee. Six were murdered that day. "In the occasion of the Palestinian Land day and due to the arrests and the excessive use of force against demonstrators by the Israeli occupation army the Popular committees invite you to participate in demonstrations during this coming week." During the week we participated in Betunya Solidarity demo at the Ofer military court, and Budrus & Qarawet-Bani-Zeid Land Day demos. Friday we were at Bil'in, Ma'asara, Nabi-Saleh, Ni'lin, and Sheikh-Jarrah. Saturday we were at the Sakhnin central demo in Israel, and in Beit-Omar.
BETHLEHEM ACTION + UPDATES
Tomorrow - 31-3-10: Solidarity Demo with Jailed Peaceful Protesters
Ten demonstrators arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Bethlehem last Sunday, among them Abbas Zaki of PLO Executive committee, members of local popular committees and a journalist, are still being held at Ofer military prison, while the five Israelis arrested with them were released that same day.
What: Solidarity demo with imprisoned protesters
Where: Betunya Checkpoint, near Ofer Prison
When: Wednesday, March 31st, 10:30 AM
The al-Ma'sara Popular Committee invites all activists to show your support with the remaining ten detainees from Palm Sunday's protest who are currently being held at Ofer, while the four Israeli and one international activist, who were detained at the same protest and under the same circumstances, have already been released.
Please show your solidarity on with Hassan and Mahmoud from the al-Ma'sara Popular Committee, as well as Marwan from the Bethlehem Popular Committee and all the other detainees on Friday after the noon prayer in Al-Ma'sara. Together, we will insist that no repression can stop the demonstrations and popular resistance against the Apartheid Wall, illegal settlements and the Israeli occupation in general, and together, we will continue to demand justice and freedom.
Demonstrators Demand Prisoners' Release at Betunya Checkpoint, near Ofer Prison
Hundreds of people gathered at the Bitunya checkpoint near Ofer Military prison to demand the release of ten demonstrators arrested in Bethlehem last Sunday, among them Abbas Zaki of the PLO Executive Committee. Two demonstrators were arrested.
After a few short speeches, the demonstrators intended to continue to the Ofer military court, where the ten's hearings were scheduled to be heard. Once refused passage, protesters tried to topple the fence near the checkpoint in order to get to the court. Border Police officers responded with concussion grenades, tear-gas and rubber-coated bullets. Clashes between officers and local youth continued for about two hours before the demonstration was dispersed.
Two Palestinian protesters were arrested during the demonstration. One of them, a 16 year old, was nabbed from within his father's car, through the window, after Border Police officers broke it using a rifle butt.
The Bethlehem Ten's remand hearing, which was supposed to be held today, did not take place, and was postponed to tomorrow.
Bethlehem arrestees brought 1-4-10 to Ofer military court
Freedom march, Palm Sunday celebration in Bethlehem, Israeli occupation forces arrest 12 part 1 http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/29/18643199.php
part 2 http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/29/18643212.php
Video of Freedom march, Palm Sunday protest in Bethlehem, 28.03.2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1uBMnPBFCQ
Holy Fire at the "300" Checkpoint - see the photos, watch the video at:
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1342
UPDATE FOR THE MILITARY TRAIL Of THE BETHLEHEM TEN - All THE BETHLEHEM TEN PRISONERS WILL BE RELEASED. Until 1:30 the occupations military court will give a decision regarding weather they will demand 3000 shekel bail form each prisoner.
Military Judge Criticizes Police; Releases the Bethlehem Ten
Judge Dahan of the Ofer Military Court in the West Bank ordered the release of the ten peaceful demonstrators arrested in Bethlehem last Sunday, among them PLO Executive Committee's Abbas Zaki. The judge criticized the police and prosecution saying that the protest was nonviolent, and that the only force used in it was that used by police to apprehend the demonstrators.
After five long days in an Israeli military prison, the Bethlehem Ten were finally brought in front of a judge today at the Ofer military court. After hearing the arguments of both the military prosecution and the defense, the judge, Amir Dahan, decided to release all ten on bail and without posing restrictive release conditions. The judge also voiced his criticism of the police and prosecution by asserting in his decision that “There is no dispute that the march was not violent, and that no harm was done to anyone or to property, except for the force used by police officers during the arrests”.
The Bethlehem Ten were arrested together with four Israeli activists and an international activist, during a march marking Palm Sunday and the Christian tradition of pilgrimage to Jerusalem on that day last Sunday. Demonstrators hoped to highlight Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement and freedom of religion in Jerusalem. Despite having been arrested under the exact same circumstances and suspicions, the Israelis and international were released that same evening, in a clear example of racial discrimination.
“When referring to the repression of demonstrations, Israel always claims that it is the demonstrators' so-called violence that compels the Army to use such measures”, said Mohammed Khatib of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. “But today even their own judge, in what is most clearly the court of the Occupation, acknowledged that any protest, any form of resistance, is met with an iron fist”.
The arrest of the Bethlehem Ten, especially that of Abbas Zaki, motivated the Fatah movement to declare an escalation in the use popular struggle strategies during these tense times. It has also brought hundreds of people to demonstrate at the Bitunya checkpoint yesterday, where demonstrators tried to break through the Separation Barrier in order to reach Ofer prison.
Media
reported that even the military (reserve) judge criticized the harassment and arrest of the activists and release them with no condition. Israeli TV news also showed clips of the demo at the Ofer concentration camp.
BEIT OMAR
The big village/small town is in acute struggle with the Israeli occupation forces. There are few activists which initiated along the years joint struggles with Israeli activists but most of the village activists are not joining it. Lately a renewed effort is done and we started weekly demonstrations.
"While Salam Fayyad and other PA ministers march in Bil'in and Bethlehem declaring their support of the Popular Resistance, the Palestinian police have continued to repress any such resistance that is organized outside of their control. Because of this, Mousa Abu Maria was arrested at 1:40 this morning by Palestinian police, reportedly in coordination with the Israeli military. Residents reported more than a dozen Palestinian police vehicles were involved in the operation in Beit Ommar, where they also attempted to arrest National Committee member Younes Arrar, who was not home. His family said the police had no warrant and frightened his family.
Friday:
Yesterday, a peaceful demonstration was held for the third time this month on the highway outside Beit Ommar, organized by the National Committee of Beit Ommar against continued settlement expansion on Beit Ommar land by the settlements Bat 'Ayn and Karmei Tsur. Israeli, International and Palestinian activists sat in the road, a primary highway through the southern West Bank for settlers and Palestinians.
BIL'IN
About 25 Israelis with the Anarchists Against the Wall joined a similar number of internationals and together, with Palestinians of the village and the region, marched towards the gate of the separation fence. The theme of the demo was Land Day and a resistance to the latest escalating measures, taken by the army, to repress the demonstrations by declaring the area of the demo in Bil'in and Ni'ilin as closed military zone on Friday for Israeli and internationals... However though it had been widely spread in the Israeli media it boomeranged... It got lot of negative opinions, was not enforced, and had mainly the opposite effect. May be this was the reason they used much less of the repression means at the gate of the separation route than we used to.
When we arrived at the gate, few protesters managed to get inside the buffer zone, hang a Palestinian flag on the fence, hold up a sign and chant for a while, before a suspiciously calm army threw a few gas grenades around. Then, youth threw stones at a patrolling jeep, and in a neighborly act, returned the few gas grenades the army was missing.
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=259&Itemid=1
Israel Puterman video clip of Bil'in 2-4-10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryY837CPVRE
BUDRUS
"There will be a land day demonstration in Budrus tomorrow 30-3-10..." and there really was. The demonstration started at noon after the mid day prier. Hundreds of the villagers with ten of us and few internationals marched to the gate in the separation fence. There people planted trees and protested the grab of lands by the separation fence. After a while, the state forces started to use tear gas and a protracted struggle developed between the Israeli state forces and the demonstrators who refused to retreat... and youth who threw stones and used road blocks of rocks to delay the advance of the state forces.
QARAWET BANI ZEID
Several hundred Palestinians and Israelis protest in West Bank village Qarawat Bani Hassan to mark the annual “Land Day”.
Today over 200 Israelis, Palestinians and internationals demonstrated near the Ein Entweteg Spring in the West Bank village of Qarawat Bani Hassan to mark the annual Palestinian "Land Day." The solidarity protest, started at around 10 AM and lasted until approximated 12:30 PM.
Qarawat Bani Hassan is a Palestinian town in the West Bank Salfit Governorate, located thirty kilometers southwest of Nablus. The town is home to roughly 4,000 people, most of them refugees from Kufr Bara. 89% of the village's land, including the Ein Enwetef spring, is in Area C, under complete Israeli control, and is in constant threat of annexation and settlement expansion.
Israeli settlers have been building the Havat Yaair settlement outpost on a hilltop above the the Ein Enwetef spring since 2003 on land belonging to Palestinians from the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan. The Israeli settlers and military regularly prevent Palestinians from accessing the area and since December 2009 the settlers have made repeated attempts to begin construction at the site of the spring.
The Ein Enwetef spring traditionally served Palestinians residents of Qarawat Bani Hassan and neighboring villages as a source of water for both agriculture and herding. Herding, a major source of livelihood in the Salfit region for decades is threatened with extinction by limited access to traditional water sources, contamination of local springs by raw sewage dumped by Israeli settlements and restrictions on movement in the area.
Ein Enwetef is one of dozens of fresh water springs across the West Bank to which Palestinian access is denied or limited.
Tuesday March 30th 2010: Land Day: Qarawet Bani Zeid was one of the places activists of the AAtW participated in the demonstration. After it they joined us - another contingent of the AAtW in Budrus.
MA'ASARA
Demonstrators gathered today in Al Ma'asara, near Bethlehem, in commemoration of Land Day, marking the anniversary of mass confiscation of Palestinian land in 1976.
Palestinians, Israelis and internationals marched peacefully towards the village’s land. However, Israeli military, police and border police blocked the road with barbed wire, at which point the demonstrators stopped to chant resistance anthems and to hear speeches from representatives of the popular resistance. The soldiers then announced that the area had been declared a Closed Military Zone (CMZ), removed the barbed wire and moved on foot and in jeeps towards the protesters, throwing percussion grenades and tear gas canisters directly at them.
two persons were arrested after asking to see a copy of the CMZ order. taken to a nearby Israeli police station
Al Ma'asara has held a weekly demonstration since November 2006. The villagers are restricted from accessing their land, as it is the area in which the Israeli authorities are continuing to build the illegal separation barrier.
Video al ma'asara 02042010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YStK1Dt7I
NABI SALEH
As usual the last Fridays, Israelis with the AAtW initiative and internationals joined the people of the village in the weekly demonstration.
"Nabi Saleh: collective punishment targets entire neighborhoods
The village started this Friday mobilization with a rally commemorating Land Day. Soon afterwards, the villagers gathered to march to their lands, which are to be confiscated by the Israeli occupation. When the march reached the area near the village spring, which is to be annexed together with the land surrounding it, they found settlers guarded by the Israeli military next to the spring. When the villagers attempted to get by the Israeli occupation forces to reach their land, the military started shooting rubber-coated metal bullets in their direction from very close distance. These were followed by tear gas canisters which caused many villagers to feel sick.
The occupation forces further stormed the house of Mohammed Abdel-Hafiz at-Tamimi, overlooking the village and started shooting rubber-coated metal bullets, teargas and sound bombs at demonstrators from there. They also invaded the house of Haj Mohammad Abu Ibrahim and demanded from him to go to the demonstrators to ask them to end the march otherwise they would burn his house. Abu Asid Tamimi reported that the Israeli military fired sound bombs inside his house because some household members were standing next to the window looking towards the street."
Video clip:
David Reeb Friday Nabi Saleh 2.4.10 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySkUpBKqaxA
NI'ILIN
Dozens protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation when Israeli troops attacked the anti wall protest in the village of Nil’in central West Bank. Villagers along with Israeli and international supporters conducted the demonstration that included the Muslim midday Friday prayers at lands near the Israeli built wall. Later the crowed marched towards the wall and local youth hanged the Palestinian flag on top of the wall. Troops then fired tear gas and sound bombs at the protesters, dozens were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
SAKHNIN CENTRAL DEMO OF LAND DAY
We are calling you to join the central demo in Sakhnin tomorrow, 30.03.10 at 13:00
in commemoration of the annual Land day.
Our participation could contribute much to the struggle against the permanent land-
confiscation and the ongoing racist policy against the Arab Palestinians in the 48-
territories.
Let us join, march and say together;
No Pasaran
SHEIKH JARRAH
During the week activist tried to be present all the time in the conflict area with the settler colonialists.
"As always, this week we will demonstrate against the Settlement in Sheikh Jarrah
The demonstration will take place on Friday at 16:00 in the neighborhood
This week, during the intermediate days, you are welcome to come and visit the Palestinian families."
Friday
Approximately 200 protesters gathered in Sheikh Jarach to protest the ongoing settlement campaign in East Jerusalem. Protesters carried model homes to symbolize those that were taken from the Palestinian residents twice - in 48' and once again last year. In recent weeks the Israeli government made many announcements of new settlement plans in East Jerusalem, completely ignoring the international community and common sense. Their goal is to settle Jews everywhere as long as it's in the east: Silwan, Shuafat, Gilo, Ramat Shlomo and last but not least, Sheikh Jarach.
Construction plans for hundreds of new housing units have been approved in and around the Sheppard Hotel compound in Sheikh Jarach. It will span both the hotel and the large olive grove on the other side of the street. All Jewish, of course.
Some of the protesters marched up a few hundred meters to protest in front of the hotel, chanting and holding up signs for about half an hour. Nasser Gawi, a local resident whose home been given to extreme settlers and lives today in a protest tent, spoke about the situation and pointed out the areas threatened by construction.
The Israeli government has a clear goal - to make Jews a majority in Sheikh Jarach and separate it from the rest of East Jerusalem, by all means, legal or not, moral or not. We say - no!
See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com
The joint struggle against land-confiscation of Palestinian citizens of Israel continue since 1948 war. At 1976 there was on 30/3 the first Land Day demonstrations against land grab at the Galilee. Six were murdered that day. "In the occasion of the Palestinian Land day and due to the arrests and the excessive use of force against demonstrators by the Israeli occupation army the Popular committees invite you to participate in demonstrations during this coming week." During the week we participated in Betunya Solidarity demo at the Ofer military court, and Budrus & Qarawet-Bani-Zeid Land Day demos. Friday we were at Bil'in, Ma'asara, Nabi-Saleh, Ni'lin, and Sheikh-Jarrah. Saturday we were at the Sakhnin central demo in Israel, and in Beit-Omar.
BETHLEHEM ACTION + UPDATES
Tomorrow - 31-3-10: Solidarity Demo with Jailed Peaceful Protesters
Ten demonstrators arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Bethlehem last Sunday, among them Abbas Zaki of PLO Executive committee, members of local popular committees and a journalist, are still being held at Ofer military prison, while the five Israelis arrested with them were released that same day.
What: Solidarity demo with imprisoned protesters
Where: Betunya Checkpoint, near Ofer Prison
When: Wednesday, March 31st, 10:30 AM
The al-Ma'sara Popular Committee invites all activists to show your support with the remaining ten detainees from Palm Sunday's protest who are currently being held at Ofer, while the four Israeli and one international activist, who were detained at the same protest and under the same circumstances, have already been released.
Please show your solidarity on with Hassan and Mahmoud from the al-Ma'sara Popular Committee, as well as Marwan from the Bethlehem Popular Committee and all the other detainees on Friday after the noon prayer in Al-Ma'sara. Together, we will insist that no repression can stop the demonstrations and popular resistance against the Apartheid Wall, illegal settlements and the Israeli occupation in general, and together, we will continue to demand justice and freedom.
Demonstrators Demand Prisoners' Release at Betunya Checkpoint, near Ofer Prison
Hundreds of people gathered at the Bitunya checkpoint near Ofer Military prison to demand the release of ten demonstrators arrested in Bethlehem last Sunday, among them Abbas Zaki of the PLO Executive Committee. Two demonstrators were arrested.
After a few short speeches, the demonstrators intended to continue to the Ofer military court, where the ten's hearings were scheduled to be heard. Once refused passage, protesters tried to topple the fence near the checkpoint in order to get to the court. Border Police officers responded with concussion grenades, tear-gas and rubber-coated bullets. Clashes between officers and local youth continued for about two hours before the demonstration was dispersed.
Two Palestinian protesters were arrested during the demonstration. One of them, a 16 year old, was nabbed from within his father's car, through the window, after Border Police officers broke it using a rifle butt.
The Bethlehem Ten's remand hearing, which was supposed to be held today, did not take place, and was postponed to tomorrow.
Bethlehem arrestees brought 1-4-10 to Ofer military court
Freedom march, Palm Sunday celebration in Bethlehem, Israeli occupation forces arrest 12 part 1 http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/29/18643199.php
part 2 http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/29/18643212.php
Video of Freedom march, Palm Sunday protest in Bethlehem, 28.03.2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1uBMnPBFCQ
Holy Fire at the "300" Checkpoint - see the photos, watch the video at:
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1342
UPDATE FOR THE MILITARY TRAIL Of THE BETHLEHEM TEN - All THE BETHLEHEM TEN PRISONERS WILL BE RELEASED. Until 1:30 the occupations military court will give a decision regarding weather they will demand 3000 shekel bail form each prisoner.
Military Judge Criticizes Police; Releases the Bethlehem Ten
Judge Dahan of the Ofer Military Court in the West Bank ordered the release of the ten peaceful demonstrators arrested in Bethlehem last Sunday, among them PLO Executive Committee's Abbas Zaki. The judge criticized the police and prosecution saying that the protest was nonviolent, and that the only force used in it was that used by police to apprehend the demonstrators.
After five long days in an Israeli military prison, the Bethlehem Ten were finally brought in front of a judge today at the Ofer military court. After hearing the arguments of both the military prosecution and the defense, the judge, Amir Dahan, decided to release all ten on bail and without posing restrictive release conditions. The judge also voiced his criticism of the police and prosecution by asserting in his decision that “There is no dispute that the march was not violent, and that no harm was done to anyone or to property, except for the force used by police officers during the arrests”.
The Bethlehem Ten were arrested together with four Israeli activists and an international activist, during a march marking Palm Sunday and the Christian tradition of pilgrimage to Jerusalem on that day last Sunday. Demonstrators hoped to highlight Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement and freedom of religion in Jerusalem. Despite having been arrested under the exact same circumstances and suspicions, the Israelis and international were released that same evening, in a clear example of racial discrimination.
“When referring to the repression of demonstrations, Israel always claims that it is the demonstrators' so-called violence that compels the Army to use such measures”, said Mohammed Khatib of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. “But today even their own judge, in what is most clearly the court of the Occupation, acknowledged that any protest, any form of resistance, is met with an iron fist”.
The arrest of the Bethlehem Ten, especially that of Abbas Zaki, motivated the Fatah movement to declare an escalation in the use popular struggle strategies during these tense times. It has also brought hundreds of people to demonstrate at the Bitunya checkpoint yesterday, where demonstrators tried to break through the Separation Barrier in order to reach Ofer prison.
Media
reported that even the military (reserve) judge criticized the harassment and arrest of the activists and release them with no condition. Israeli TV news also showed clips of the demo at the Ofer concentration camp.
BEIT OMAR
The big village/small town is in acute struggle with the Israeli occupation forces. There are few activists which initiated along the years joint struggles with Israeli activists but most of the village activists are not joining it. Lately a renewed effort is done and we started weekly demonstrations.
"While Salam Fayyad and other PA ministers march in Bil'in and Bethlehem declaring their support of the Popular Resistance, the Palestinian police have continued to repress any such resistance that is organized outside of their control. Because of this, Mousa Abu Maria was arrested at 1:40 this morning by Palestinian police, reportedly in coordination with the Israeli military. Residents reported more than a dozen Palestinian police vehicles were involved in the operation in Beit Ommar, where they also attempted to arrest National Committee member Younes Arrar, who was not home. His family said the police had no warrant and frightened his family.
Friday:
Yesterday, a peaceful demonstration was held for the third time this month on the highway outside Beit Ommar, organized by the National Committee of Beit Ommar against continued settlement expansion on Beit Ommar land by the settlements Bat 'Ayn and Karmei Tsur. Israeli, International and Palestinian activists sat in the road, a primary highway through the southern West Bank for settlers and Palestinians.
BIL'IN
About 25 Israelis with the Anarchists Against the Wall joined a similar number of internationals and together, with Palestinians of the village and the region, marched towards the gate of the separation fence. The theme of the demo was Land Day and a resistance to the latest escalating measures, taken by the army, to repress the demonstrations by declaring the area of the demo in Bil'in and Ni'ilin as closed military zone on Friday for Israeli and internationals... However though it had been widely spread in the Israeli media it boomeranged... It got lot of negative opinions, was not enforced, and had mainly the opposite effect. May be this was the reason they used much less of the repression means at the gate of the separation route than we used to.
When we arrived at the gate, few protesters managed to get inside the buffer zone, hang a Palestinian flag on the fence, hold up a sign and chant for a while, before a suspiciously calm army threw a few gas grenades around. Then, youth threw stones at a patrolling jeep, and in a neighborly act, returned the few gas grenades the army was missing.
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=259&Itemid=1
Israel Puterman video clip of Bil'in 2-4-10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryY837CPVRE
BUDRUS
"There will be a land day demonstration in Budrus tomorrow 30-3-10..." and there really was. The demonstration started at noon after the mid day prier. Hundreds of the villagers with ten of us and few internationals marched to the gate in the separation fence. There people planted trees and protested the grab of lands by the separation fence. After a while, the state forces started to use tear gas and a protracted struggle developed between the Israeli state forces and the demonstrators who refused to retreat... and youth who threw stones and used road blocks of rocks to delay the advance of the state forces.
QARAWET BANI ZEID
Several hundred Palestinians and Israelis protest in West Bank village Qarawat Bani Hassan to mark the annual “Land Day”.
Today over 200 Israelis, Palestinians and internationals demonstrated near the Ein Entweteg Spring in the West Bank village of Qarawat Bani Hassan to mark the annual Palestinian "Land Day." The solidarity protest, started at around 10 AM and lasted until approximated 12:30 PM.
Qarawat Bani Hassan is a Palestinian town in the West Bank Salfit Governorate, located thirty kilometers southwest of Nablus. The town is home to roughly 4,000 people, most of them refugees from Kufr Bara. 89% of the village's land, including the Ein Enwetef spring, is in Area C, under complete Israeli control, and is in constant threat of annexation and settlement expansion.
Israeli settlers have been building the Havat Yaair settlement outpost on a hilltop above the the Ein Enwetef spring since 2003 on land belonging to Palestinians from the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan. The Israeli settlers and military regularly prevent Palestinians from accessing the area and since December 2009 the settlers have made repeated attempts to begin construction at the site of the spring.
The Ein Enwetef spring traditionally served Palestinians residents of Qarawat Bani Hassan and neighboring villages as a source of water for both agriculture and herding. Herding, a major source of livelihood in the Salfit region for decades is threatened with extinction by limited access to traditional water sources, contamination of local springs by raw sewage dumped by Israeli settlements and restrictions on movement in the area.
Ein Enwetef is one of dozens of fresh water springs across the West Bank to which Palestinian access is denied or limited.
Tuesday March 30th 2010: Land Day: Qarawet Bani Zeid was one of the places activists of the AAtW participated in the demonstration. After it they joined us - another contingent of the AAtW in Budrus.
MA'ASARA
Demonstrators gathered today in Al Ma'asara, near Bethlehem, in commemoration of Land Day, marking the anniversary of mass confiscation of Palestinian land in 1976.
Palestinians, Israelis and internationals marched peacefully towards the village’s land. However, Israeli military, police and border police blocked the road with barbed wire, at which point the demonstrators stopped to chant resistance anthems and to hear speeches from representatives of the popular resistance. The soldiers then announced that the area had been declared a Closed Military Zone (CMZ), removed the barbed wire and moved on foot and in jeeps towards the protesters, throwing percussion grenades and tear gas canisters directly at them.
two persons were arrested after asking to see a copy of the CMZ order. taken to a nearby Israeli police station
Al Ma'asara has held a weekly demonstration since November 2006. The villagers are restricted from accessing their land, as it is the area in which the Israeli authorities are continuing to build the illegal separation barrier.
Video al ma'asara 02042010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YStK1Dt7I
NABI SALEH
As usual the last Fridays, Israelis with the AAtW initiative and internationals joined the people of the village in the weekly demonstration.
"Nabi Saleh: collective punishment targets entire neighborhoods
The village started this Friday mobilization with a rally commemorating Land Day. Soon afterwards, the villagers gathered to march to their lands, which are to be confiscated by the Israeli occupation. When the march reached the area near the village spring, which is to be annexed together with the land surrounding it, they found settlers guarded by the Israeli military next to the spring. When the villagers attempted to get by the Israeli occupation forces to reach their land, the military started shooting rubber-coated metal bullets in their direction from very close distance. These were followed by tear gas canisters which caused many villagers to feel sick.
The occupation forces further stormed the house of Mohammed Abdel-Hafiz at-Tamimi, overlooking the village and started shooting rubber-coated metal bullets, teargas and sound bombs at demonstrators from there. They also invaded the house of Haj Mohammad Abu Ibrahim and demanded from him to go to the demonstrators to ask them to end the march otherwise they would burn his house. Abu Asid Tamimi reported that the Israeli military fired sound bombs inside his house because some household members were standing next to the window looking towards the street."
Video clip:
David Reeb Friday Nabi Saleh 2.4.10 video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySkUpBKqaxA
NI'ILIN
Dozens protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation when Israeli troops attacked the anti wall protest in the village of Nil’in central West Bank. Villagers along with Israeli and international supporters conducted the demonstration that included the Muslim midday Friday prayers at lands near the Israeli built wall. Later the crowed marched towards the wall and local youth hanged the Palestinian flag on top of the wall. Troops then fired tear gas and sound bombs at the protesters, dozens were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
SAKHNIN CENTRAL DEMO OF LAND DAY
We are calling you to join the central demo in Sakhnin tomorrow, 30.03.10 at 13:00
in commemoration of the annual Land day.
Our participation could contribute much to the struggle against the permanent land-
confiscation and the ongoing racist policy against the Arab Palestinians in the 48-
territories.
Let us join, march and say together;
No Pasaran
SHEIKH JARRAH
During the week activist tried to be present all the time in the conflict area with the settler colonialists.
"As always, this week we will demonstrate against the Settlement in Sheikh Jarrah
The demonstration will take place on Friday at 16:00 in the neighborhood
This week, during the intermediate days, you are welcome to come and visit the Palestinian families."
Friday
Approximately 200 protesters gathered in Sheikh Jarach to protest the ongoing settlement campaign in East Jerusalem. Protesters carried model homes to symbolize those that were taken from the Palestinian residents twice - in 48' and once again last year. In recent weeks the Israeli government made many announcements of new settlement plans in East Jerusalem, completely ignoring the international community and common sense. Their goal is to settle Jews everywhere as long as it's in the east: Silwan, Shuafat, Gilo, Ramat Shlomo and last but not least, Sheikh Jarach.
Construction plans for hundreds of new housing units have been approved in and around the Sheppard Hotel compound in Sheikh Jarach. It will span both the hotel and the large olive grove on the other side of the street. All Jewish, of course.
Some of the protesters marched up a few hundred meters to protest in front of the hotel, chanting and holding up signs for about half an hour. Nasser Gawi, a local resident whose home been given to extreme settlers and lives today in a protest tent, spoke about the situation and pointed out the areas threatened by construction.
The Israeli government has a clear goal - to make Jews a majority in Sheikh Jarach and separate it from the rest of East Jerusalem, by all means, legal or not, moral or not. We say - no!
See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com
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