Palestine-Israel, The third intifada is not only a concept, the 10 main locations of the joint struggle are its fore runners.

Channel 2 TV long and serious item exposed the brutality of the state forces, show the heroic involvement of children, youth, women, men and the Israeli anarchists in the struggle of the tinny village of Nabi Saleh. They bring it as the most prominent of the other 10 main locations of joint popular struggles, and conclude that it has already defeated the Israeli propaganda... and started the third Intifada. The approaching September is felt both in the weekly struggles, in the climate of the whole region, and desperate actions.

Beit Umar region

Suseya neighborhood

Internationals, Israelis, Palestinians Join Festival in Suseya

The village of Suseya in the southern West Bank hosted a festival on Saturday, May 28, that drew well over a hundred attendees. Internationals, Israelis, and Palestinians gathered together to celebrate the village’s many proactive programs, especially their language exchanges.

The village offers Arabic courses to Israelis and internationals, as well as language-intensive, guests stayed with village families. The same organization also offers Hebrew courses to Palestinians and internationals, with the aim of increasing constructive interactions between Israelis and Palestinians.

The day was filled with speeches, kite flying, and Palestinian dabkah, as well as appearances by an Israeli samba band and clown troupe.

Bil'in

Two dozens Israelis and a similar numbers of internationals joined the Palestinian in the demo in Bil'in. The protesters marched, chanted, reached the wall, got skunked, and watched the army escalate its repression as kids responded to the attack of tear gas by starting throwing stones to get them out of their lands. Last week the army continued shooting massive amounts of gas, regardless of the actual presence of protesters, in order to start bush fires that endangered the olive trees. This week the demonstrators ended the demo early in order to support the local group in the regional soccer tournament.

Another take:

Today in the weekly march in Bil'in organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall with the participation of US student delegation of American universities, one young men was injured, and dozens of people suffered from the effects of tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers. Dozens of Palestinians were joined by international and Israeli activists, The march began in the center of the village after Friday prayers. In the area above the wall, demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag, and pictures of the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti. Participants chanted slogans in favor of the right of return, and slogans calling for an end the occupation . At the eastern gate of the wall, Israeli soldiers fired a shower of tear gas;; they also sprayed 'stink' water, water treated with a chemical that gives it a foul smell that can't be removed from people's clothes. Among those injured were Ibrahim Bornat, 28, who was hit by a tear gas canister in the eye and shoulder. He had to be treated by ambulance team and then transferred to the medical compound in Ramallah. The soldiers also fired tear gas into the olive groves, with the purpose of setting fire to them. Fortunately, the people of Bil'in were able to put out the fire.

Rani Abdel Fatah Pictures at:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2109910910498.272737.1327358013

Israel Puterman video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcYNIUNVZ5E

Jordan Valley

Ras-Ujah

"In the Jordan Valley, Palestinians are struggling just to remain on the land as the predatory settlements and occupation authority make everyday life an uphill battle.

The region is on the first priority for annexation by Israel, to separate the Palestinian from Jordanian state.

On 29 May, a group of Palestinians, internationals and Israeli activists joined the Jordan Valley Solidarity Project to help build a school out of mud bricks.

Nearly the entire Jordan Valley is under Israeli control (categorized under Area C). Lacking permission to even build a rainwater collection device, most communities suffer from a constant threat of home demolition. The day of action was about supporting Palestinians in the Jordan Valley to continue their steadfast resistance in the land. The Jordan Valley represents nearly 30% of the West Bank, and therefore is crucial to a future Palestinians state.

We drove through the rain to the beautiful Jordan Valley, made mud-cakes that turned into a school building, lunched with Palestinians, Israeli and international friends, and most impressive of all - didn't get sun-burnt".

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/?p=341

Pictures http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150261163561085.370548.734536084

Jerusalem

Ras Al-Amud

Friday, The Ma'ale Zeitim settlement is a heavily guarded fortress in the heart of Ras El-Amud Hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian demonstrators gathered in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras El-Amoud, in front of the Ma'ale Zeitim settlement in the heart of the neighborhood, to protest against the inauguration of the settlement which was held earlier during the week, which several government ministers and the mayor of Jerusalem attended. Police was very violent against the peaceful demonstrators, arrested 6 of them, and one demonstrator was badly beaten up and attacked with a Taser. This is the first time that such a device is used by Israeli police against demonstrators.

Media coverage: http://bit.ly/mObLAC (English)

Media: Police, leftists clash in east J'lem

"Some 150 Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity activists block entrance to new Jewish neighborhood built on outskirts of Ras al-Amud in east Jerusalem. Police arrest six, protesters claim 10 injured from violent use of force, stun guns.

During the demonstration, a violent clash erupted between police forces and the protesters, who blocked the entrance to the neighborhood. Police officers responded with use of force and stun guns.

Six protesters were arrested during the incident, and the organizers claimed several activists were injured, one needing medical treatment.

Meanwhile, at another location in the neighborhood, near the mosque, residents hurled stones at a police force. No injuries were reported.

Asaf Sharon from Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity claimed that the police used extremely violent force against the protesters, adding that police officers used stun guns for the first time, although there was no provocation on the part of the protesters."

"We held a protest rally against the settlement two days after the settlers themselves held a mass event, during which they blocked access roads without police intervention," he said.

Sharon noted that one of the injured protesters, who was also arrested by the police, is among the movement's leaders. "We have a total of 10 injured, two of which were wounded by the stun gun," he said, adding that "one of them needed medical treatment."

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4074835,00.html

Pictures

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2132854400239.2129610.1212414101

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213713545329959.60421.100000739446057

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2134251675011.2132938.1207637217

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150183931210732.306955.537535731

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150186866467544.301981.520067543

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7i2XqrSQ2U

Israel Puterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8GjcqCXib8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsgCX3BoNA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgB527Z2j1s

Al-Ma’asara

Also on Friday villagers of al-Ma’sara, in southern West Bank, were joined by Israeli and international supporters and protested against the wall and settlements there. Israeli troops stopped villagers from reaching the construction-side of the wall. Later troops attacked protesters using rifle buts and batons. No injuries or arrests were reported.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.230387260311170.79169.126649644018266

Nabi Saleh

One child was injured in the arm, six arrested, and home caught fire on Friday when Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest in the village of al-Nabi Salleh, central West Bank. Israeli troops attacked the villages and their International and Israeli supporters as they gathered after the midday prayers. Ahmad al-Tamimi, 8, was injured in the arm by a tear gas bomb fired by soldiers. Later troops invaded the village and fired tear gas into people homes. One house owned by Abed al Rahman Tamimi caught fire from a tear gas bomb, residents managed to but off the fire; the house sustained damage but the family escaped unharmed.

David Reeb video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOGHTN8USqw

PalestinianYouthVoice have announced via twitter they will be live streaming from Nabi Saleh today. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/palyouthvoice

http://www.wafaimages.ps/index.aspx?albumid=3336

Channel 2 TV (Hebrew) http://reshet.ynet.co.il/Shows/360/videomarklist,185268/

Ni'ilin

Ni'lin Town Marks Three Years Of Popular Resistance 27.05.2011.

.... Breaking News: The Israeli occupation soldiers are closing the entrance of Ni'lin Town by making a checkpoint at it to prevent all the people and the internationals and the Israeli peace activists and the media who want to come and join us in our demonstration today....

Israeli and international supporters joined the villagers after the midday prayers and marched up to the gate of the wall marking the fourth year of protests in the village. Soldiers fired tear gas and sound bombs at them. Many were treated for effects of tear gas. Fires started by tear-gas projectiles. The fire destroyed 1 Acer of land planted by olive trees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrOsKV6X2wE

------------------------

See http://awalls.org

See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com

Palestine-Israel, Youth Arrest in Nabi Shaleh by Ben Ronen*

In the morning we arrived at the Ofer compound, one of the many luxurious compounds built

for the comfort of over 6000 Palestinian prisoners currently being held by Israel. The

compound contains a huge prison and a military court in which Palestinian prisoners, young

and old are judged by Israeli military officers.

Here there is no racism or

discrimination, because here everybody without exception has the right to an unjust trial.

At the entrance to the military court there are two cages, a small one for those

arriving from the Israeli side and a bigger one where Palestinian detainee’s families are

waiting. -- Some of them have been through a long and expensive journey in order to get

here and meet their loved ones, be it for just a few minutes.

We arrive at the big metal gate that separates us from the beginning of a fastidious

security check. Like everything else on this day, the long wait to go in is another well

planned game between the visitors and the guards, who, despite having a clear list of the

visitor's names will do everything possible to delay and humiliate the family members.

Some of the guards are Arab speakers but most of them settle for a few basic words such

as: “come here”, “go away”, “I.D!”, “what’s your full name” and a variety of orders that

they take pleasure in using in order to demonstrate the hierarchy of the occupation at any

given moment. The rules are very simple: you need to beg and I will decide when I feel

like letting you in.

Immediately after our arrival we saw Abu Hanni and his wife Um Fathi approaching us from

the Palestinian side. Abu Hanni, a man in his late 60's attacks us directly with his

walking stick. Born in Jaffa in 1945 the long years of life under occupation have given

him a cynical and sarcastic approach towards his surroundings and this old timer who has

lost three of his sons in combats with the Israeli army is now awaiting the hearing in the

matter of his youngest son, Fathi.

We are also here to meet Fathi and his friend Jaudat. Both of them were arrested a month

ago, in the middle of the night in their village of Qarawat Bani-Zeid,. They were

kidnapped by the army during a massive military operation as part of a wave of arrests

intended to suppress the popular resistance in the villages of An Nabi-Salih, Qarawat,

Beit Rimma and Kufer Ein. The resistance surged in late 2009 surrounding the issue of

expropriated agricultural lands belonging to the people of Nabi Salih and villages around

it where an ancient spring used by the villagers is located. The spring was declared an

“archaeological site” two years ago and entry to it was prohibited by the army.

Nevertheless, the Jewish settlers living in the nearby settlement of “Halamish” use it on

a daily basis. After several non violent actions in attempt to reclaim the spring that

were met by a violent response and confrontation by the army and settlers, the

Palestinians decided to turn the protest into a weekly demonstration in which they go out

into the streets with the goal of reaching their lands symbolizing their protest against

every possible aspect of the occupation.

The uprising of the villagers has led to big demonstrations participated in by hundreds of

youths, men and women from the four surrounding villages and in collaboration with Israeli

and international activists.

From the beginning, these demonstrations were characterized by a high level of violence

from army and police, meaning massive use of a variety of non lethal weapons including

tear gas, various types of rubber bullets, sound bombs and various other things in an

attempt to oppress the demonstrations, which resulted in the injury of dozens of people.

After futile attempts to oppress the demonstrations the army's tactics changed turning to

mass arrests in which the youths were the main target.

Youth Arrest (2/3) by Ben Ronen

Fathi and Jaudat are part of a group of over 40 women and men who were arrested in

response to the demonstrations, and like most of the other arrestees their indictments

include a single accusation of stone throwing. The way the trial is being held there is no

need for a specific date on which the alleged event took place, but rather a general

description “ ...a few times...between March and August..”, and there is also no need for

witnesses or evidence. The court relies entirely on the results of the investigation that

the arrestees went through.

Like most of their friends they will also spend the next few months in prison instead of

being at school where they are supposed to be from the beginning of September. Like most

of the Palestinian prisoners that are sentenced in Israeli military court they will get to

know the judicial system of “the only democracy in the Middle East”.

We met Fathi at the demonstrations in Nabi Salih many months ago. He was one of a big

group of youths from Qarawat that came on a regular basis to the demonstrations, initially

coming with the other boys but soon enough our connection strengthened so that he used to

wait for us in the centre of his village and drive with us the rest of the way to Nebi

Salih, always laughing, always smiling even in the harsh situations that we experienced

and until the last hours before his arrest when he didn't forget to send us a text message

bravely saying, “my time has arrived and I shall see you in a few months...”. The

following evening we sat on the porch in Jaffa with fallen faces far away from him. We

reminisced about all that we had been through together and we were heavy with sadness

thinking of all the dear friends who are being held in small windowless cells instead of

running outside as they love to do.

We were thinking about Amjad and Omar, about Luay and Rassem, and about all the shabab and

the ways not to let the enemy break the spirit of the wonderful struggle that we became

part of and that became part of us.

This is not the first struggle that we have participated in but this it's definitely the

most exceptional one, mainly due to the amazing variety of people that go out into the

street. The women and brave young girls who form a straight line in front of the soldiers

making it clear to them and to all the men around that this is also their struggle and

because of the boys, the girls and the youth who know exactly who they are, what they are

shouting for and are willing to pay the price for it.

This is a wonderful struggle because of its stubbornness, determination and the way in

which it exists that doesn't let go, not from us and not from its cause.

Back in the Ofer compound the metal gate finally opens up and the warden agrees to let us

into the security check. Each step that we take is followed by looks and comments that are

only meant to demonstrate control. Nothing is allowed in except cigarettes and money - no

water, not a book and definitely not a phone. After we put our shoes through the x-ray

machine, walk through the metal detector that doesn't beep, we are led into a small room

for a final humiliating full body search.

Now that we have finally graduated Ofer's security system we enter the wide yard with a

blazing August sun high in the sky leaving not even a corner of shade to hide in, we sit

down in hope of hearing the names of Fathi and Jaudat being called. Names of the detainees

appear on an electronic board but there is no indication or evaluation for an exact hour

in which the hearings will take place and although the family members arrive at 7:30 in

the morning they often wait until the late hours of the afternoon for the hearing they

came for - the hearing that might not even take place. All the waiting is based on tension

and expectation for a name to be called upon.

We desperately waited to enter the small caravan that functions as a “hall of justice”,

even though bearing more resemblance to an army supply room. We wanted their names to be

called so we could see them smile but at the same time we wanted to run away from this

place that represents in a unique way all that is evil, cruel and repressive around us.

We sat in the yard talked and laughed with Fathi's parents who didn't look too happy about

the situation. After all, they have been through most of what the occupation has to offer;

now they just want to see their 16 year old son who grew up too fast. For many families

these court hearings are the only time they will get to see their family members (visits

are allowed only after the arrests are sentenced, a process that can last for months), to

ask after their well being, to pass on news from the family and village and to smile at them

The hours pass and the heat doesn't let up. At about 14:30 they finally called their names

and we hurried to room number 4...There they were, sitting close to us (but so far)

dressed in those horrible brown prison uniforms. Fathi had cut his hair and doesn't look

so well but he smiles any way. Still, you can see the tiredness on his face. Jaudat

doesn't stop looking at us for a moment. Later we will find out that his family hasn’t

come because they were not informed correctly about the date of his hearing.

Youth Arrest (3/3) by Ben Ronen

The man that who runs the court is some kind of high ranking officer (that the title judge

could have easily been replaced with the title of a janitor ) sitting comfortably and

looking at the show that is being held in front of his eyes. The prosecutor, a thin

religious young man speaking in a heavy French accent is the only one treating the

situation in a serious manner, since neither of the boys has a lawyer to represent them

the hearing lasts less than 10 minutes. Even in cases where there is a lawyer present (and

even in cases when this lawyer is Israeli) the way in which the hearing is being held is

far from being reasonable or sane. The hearings themselves are conducted in Hebrew while a

soldier acts as a translator. Of course his duty is to translate to the prisoners the

exact words that are being said, but in reality, sometimes he will translate a whole

sentence other, times random words, and the rest of the time he will be busy answering

telephone calls, flirting with girl soldiers that arrive to keep him company or in some

cases he will just fall asleep. All of this time the hearing is being held “over the

heads” of the prisoners that more often than not understand nothing of the process except

for their charges and the date for their next hearing. The judge decides to schedule their

next hearing to two months later. Quickly and simply, with no hesitation, he keeps them in

custody. No one is in a hurry - they will be found guilty anyway of a crime they didn’t

commit and the time waited in prison will just be deducted from the punishment they will

receive anyway.

Military courts like to deal with the convictions of the arrestees. Those who are arrested

in demonstrations and are charged with stone throwing will in most cases go to jail. The

process is simple: in the first days after their arrest they are put through a series of

investigations and torture that have two objectives. The first one is to make them confess

on their acts (whether they committed them or not) and the second goal is to get

information out of them about their friends in order to frame them as well.

The army investigators, in a smart combination of muscle and false promises place a simple

choice in front of the youth, either you confess and spend 5-8 months in prison or you

don't confess and might even be acquitted but the process itself can take years in which

you will be held in prison waiting for trial.

The combination of fear, torture, false promises and the fact that in many cases these

youths are important (or many times the only) bread winners of their families, leads many

of them to confess to the charges brought against them.

This way of oppression is not new; it is an integral and important part in the

sophisticated system of repression that was developed by Israel in order to crush any kind

of popular uprising.

Before Nabi Salih the village of Nil'in suffered a similar attack where at its peak more

than 60 of its inhabitants were imprisoned at the same time. The system of repression did

not succeed in breaking the spirit of the villagers, although it did manage to weaken

considerably the power of the demonstrations by hurting their leading forces and the youth

that chose to resist.

The hearings of Fathi and Jaudat are over and the hearing of the third man who was sitting

beside them begins. He looks insecure but is determined to say something to the court. The

judge approves reluctantly and he stands up proudly and addresses all the people who are

present in the room: “my confession was forced out of me while using force and torture; I

do not recognize the existence of the state of Israel or of this trial.” He stands still

while the soldier translates his words to the judge who in return looks at him with

penetrating gaze.

I look at this young man, my heartbeat getting faster, he looks at me and I show him the

sign of victory. I admire the force within him, the force within them.

The warden rudely orders Fathi and his friends to stand up. Fathi tries to say one more

thing to his mother before he is pushed out. Abu Hanni stands up and thanks the honorable

judge, the soldier translates his words but none of the military men seem to understand

the cynical tone in which the words have been said.

Once out of the caravan, we try to shout a few more words to our friends who are being

moved away from the other side of the fence. Now the only thing that connects us is the

sound of the metal chains tied between their legs and in a few seconds they will also

disappear in the quiet and depressive heat of this place.

The process of exiting towards our cars is done in silence. Now we need to stand in a

small cage and beg to a soldier whom we cannot see through a dark glass to return our

identity cards. We need them so we can escape from this place that we hate so much but to

where, without doubt will be back next week.

In the last cage we say our goodbyes to Abu Hanni and Im Fathi. We kiss and hug, promising

to visit again and keep in contact. They leave from one side of the cage while we go out

from the other side.

When the last gate finally closes after us, when we are supposed to feel “free” and

“liberated” we stand next to our cars quietly and there is nothing that will lift our

spirits. All we can do is to think of those that even the smallest amount of freedom has

been taken away from them just because they chose not to be silent.

Posted by Front Line Echo at 2:40 AM 1 comments

=======================================

* On the joint struggle of the anarchists agains the wall with villages activists

------------------------

See http://awalls.org

See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com

Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle "holding the breath" towards the expected September upheavals

Just another week of activities of the Joint struggle against the separation fence and occupation. The immanent disaster the naZionist state leaders expect to occur after September find its expression in the escalation of the brutality of the attacks on the Palestinians and the activists that join them. Gradually, the persistent struggle of the small village Nabi Saleh get more and more attention of the media. Both Beit Omar and Nabi Saleh where the struggle is against the progressive encroachment of neighboring colonial settlement and progressive robbery of the villages lands get harsher repression of the Israeli state forces. The activists of the anarchists against the wall initiative are proud to be part of these struggles.

Arakib

Beit Ummar

Nakba day demonstration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NEzDgXA8Nc

21 MAY 2011 Soldiers Threaten Mass Arrests of Beit Ommar Students

In the early morning of Saturday, May 21st, Israeli soldiers approached Beit Ommar residences near the illegal settlement of Karmei Tsur, delivering a message that village university students would be arrested en mass unless demonstrations against Karmei Tsur were halted. University students are now entering a week of final exams, and cannot afford to miss school. At the behest of the students, the Popular Committee agreed to temporarily suspend demonstrations until the end of exams next week.

During the final exams period of 2010, Israeli soldiers conducted unprompted, mass arrests of village university students. Hundreds of students were held without charge through the entirety of their exam period, then released. This unjust and illegal policy of collective punishment is commonplace throughout the West Bank, and is sadly effective at crippling the academic efforts of students living under the Occupation.

Bil'in

Today in the weekly march in Bil'in organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall with the participation of Sa'di Tameezi, the Palestinian ambassador to Vietnam, two young men were injured, and dozens of people suffered from the effects of tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers. Dozens of Palestinians were joined by international and Israeli activists, commemorating the martyrs who fell in the demonstrations held on the anniversary of the Nakba last week. The march began in the center of the village after Friday prayers. In the area above the wall, demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag, as well as banners inscribed with the names of villages destroyed in 1948 and pictures of the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti. Participants chanted nationalist slogans in favor of the right of return (the return of refugees to the land from which they were expelled).

At the eastern gate of the wall, Israeli soldiers fired a shower of tear gas;; they also sprayed 'stink' water, water treated with a chemical that gives it a foul smell that can't be removed from people's clothes. Among those injured were Ibrahim Bornat, 28, who was hit by a tear gas canister in the abdomen, and 22-year-old Mohammed Suleiman Bornat, who, after severe choking and vomiting caused by tear gas, had to be treated by ambulance crews.

The soldiers also fired tear gas into the olive groves, with the purpose of setting fire to them. Fortunately, the people of Bil'in were able to put out the fire. This demonstration took place the day after Obama's speech on the Middle East. Our response to that speech is: Obama is not the God who will decide our fate, and we are not depending on him. Through the popular struggle we will achieve our goals: freedom, return and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2113458755360.2128644.1212414101

Haithm Katib https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfK0p2ty_jI (In 0:24-0:26/2:40 marching down the road in a cloud of year gas)

Friday 20/05/2011

Two young men wounded in addition to dozens of cases of choking gas in Bil'in weekly demonstration

By Rani Abdel Fatah (Albums) · http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2093487259917.271842.1327358013

Izbet-Tabib

23-5-11 - this morning the bulldozers entered the village of Izbat at Tabib and

construction is expected to start any moment now. ISM has a presence there

at the moment, but more activists & internationals are needed.

Lod

Ma'asara

"Friday 20-5-2011 we met in the center of the village - 30 France activists, ten Israelis, and village people. We than marched towards the exit from the village to the high way. Part of us held the Move Over Aipac placard (held also in the other villages' demos of this week end).

When we neared the high way, the state forces accompanied us and only harassed a Palestinian media photographer.

Afterwards, the soldiers blocked our way and detained some Palestinians, Israelis, and a France person. All were released at the evening on bails and restrictions."

Another take:

Activists: 6 detained at Bethlehem anti-wall rally – in pictures http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/activists-6-detained-at-bethlehem-anti-wall-rally/

Israeli forces detained six protesters at a rally Friday in Al-Mas’ara near Bethlehem, activists said.

Soldiers detained local popular committee member Jum’a Yousef Zawahra, 40, committee spokesman Muhammad Hasan Barejieh, 35, Karim Yousef Zawahra, 29, two Israeli activist and a French protester, the committee said.

A delegation of French activists joined Palestinian and Israeli demonstrators to protest the separation wall, and Israel’s plans to build of thousands of new Jewish-only homes in Jerusalem.

Israeli forces declared the area a closed military zone, the committee said, adding that troops attacked Palestinian journalists at the rally.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2014168482713.121469.1498833494

Nabi Saleh

"Confession:" Elifelet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPbX1IJy-KE

Nabi Saleh is the embodiment of the Palestinian Arab Spring

Why is it that Palestinians are the only people in the Middle East seemingly not allowed to throw stones at a military regime which oppresses and controls them? Why are Palestinians branded as violent when they use the same tactics which the Egyptian and Tunisian protesters used during their historic revolutions? This question has been stuck in my mind since Obama’s recent speech on the Middle East.

On Friday, the Palestinian ‘Arab Spring’ was on display in Nabi Saleh. Watch the video. What do we see here? You will notice that the demonstration in Nabi Saleh, a small village west of Ramallah, began with no stones and only chants. The army quickly attacked the demonstrators with tear gas and sound bombs resulting in the outbreak of clashes between stone throwing youth from the village and soldiers. Do these youth have a right to throw stones at an invading army?

In Al Nabi Saleh - Resistance is Existence

The people of Nabi Saleh are fighting for their land 16 members of the village are in prison for taking part in popular resistance the village is completely surrounded by settlements and their land is constantly being stolen. Every Friday the youth men women and children of the village hold a protest against the Israeli occupation and oppression they struggle for their liberty and right to their land which is being stolen by the occupier. these pictures are either from my camera or from Tamimi press on different Fridays in Nabi Saleh

Tamimi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7kHYUM6Ww

Israel Puterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzR_CS7aY8k

David Reeb http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUeJkrSTeCI

TAMIMI PRESS (Albums) http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.200252116685943.55047.113817528662736

By Ashira Husari (Albums) · http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150150626664387.299594.503804386

Detain 12 Israeli peace activist and wounding dozens in the process of Nabi Saleh Date: 05/20/2011 Time: 17:53

Detention of foreigners in solidarity

20/05/2011 God WAFA - Israeli occupation forces arrested today, Friday, 12 Israeli peace activist, and injured dozens of cases of severe congestion, as well as other rubber-coated bullets, in the process of Nabi Saleh weekly anti-wall and the settlements.

Participated in the march, which was launched under the title of "solidarity with the prisoners who engaged in a tactical strike for food in the prisons of the occupation 'and a continuation of the events commemorating the Nakba, the people of the village and neighboring villages, and in solidarity foreigners.

The Israeli occupation forces closed the entrances to the village since the early morning hours, to prevent the media and medical personnel and peace activists from entering the village.

The People's Committee against the settlements and the wall in the village, said that 'the soldiers fired volleys of tear gas and bullets directly on the bodies of demonstrators, injuring dozens of cases of asphyxia from inhaling tear gas, as well as others were injured by rubber bullets. "

She stressed that 'what the occupation will pay the Popular Resistance to stop the effectiveness of struggle, and will not intimidate the youngest child in the village of Nabi Saleh, but on the contrary, the practices of Israeli occupation more than determination and Hmok activists and encourage them to continue in their struggle to defend their land and sacred places. "

In a later development, the Israeli occupation forces closed the entrances to the village and declared a closed military zone, and prevented citizens from leaving or entering it, and detained 12 Israeli peace activists were present in the village and beat him, and bribed them with pepper spray.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that Israeli forces stormed the village and occupied two houses, one of the citizen, Yasser al-Tamimi, and the second citizen Faraj al-Tamimi and deposited them into military barracks.

MEDIA: The Jerusalem Post daily

Meeting senseless aggression face-to-face

By GERSHON BASKIN

05/23/2011 23:22

A recent trip to the weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh shed a new light on the IDF and its operations.

For months I have been hearing about disproportionate use of force by the army against weekly demonstrations in Nabi Saleh – a small pastoral Palestinian village northwest of Ramallah. Last week, I watched several YouTube videos filmed by activists in the village, providing vivid visual images of the forceful arrests of protesters by the army. I was disturbed because all of the clips showed how the demonstrations ended; none showed how they began. I was convinced that there must have been stone-throwing by the shabab in the village which provoked the violent army responses. So I decided I had to see for myself.

See more at http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=221897

Ni'lin

Ni'lin Town Marks The Nakba Day 20 05 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YkVj2Kr5l4

Sheikh Jarrah

Join us on Friday to stand together with the residents of Um Harron and all of Sheikh Jarrah in their struggle against the settler take-over of their homes, and in the ongoing struggle against settlements, racism, oppression and injustice.

Sheikh Jarrah Demonstration 20/5/2011

By Mario Savio (Albums) · Updated about an hour ago http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.212030735498240.59784.100000739446057

------------------------

See http://awalls.org

See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com

Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle in the week of the Nakba

The Nakba day was not just a commemoration day of the 1948 conquest of most of Palestine by the Zionist organization and the transfer of most of the Palestinian inhabitant. It was a week of escalation of the struggle against the 1967 occupation and the 1948 robbery of Palestine and the continuous transfer of its inhabitants. The state forces increased the intensity of repression in the regular weekend locations of joint struggle where the anarchists against the wall join the Palestinian activists - Bil'in, Beit Ommar, Ni'ilin, Nabi Saleh, Al-Ma'asara, and the regional one in Qalandia. The Nacba week joint struggle was also expressed Al-Walaja and in Tel-Aviv-Jaffa: both in the Palestinian neighborhood of Jaffa and in center of Tel-Aviv.

Beit Omar

Bil'in

Palestinian and international protesters in Bil'in were joined by some 40 Israelis, who had to bypass blocked roads and cross the steep surrounding hills by foot, to commemorate the Nakba and protest against Israeli violence, random arrests and land theft. The procession was led by a donkey carried cart with Palestinians in traditional garb returning to their homeland from before 1948. Their way to the separation fence was blocked by large concrete slabs and squirts from the infamous skunk. The shabab, who waited for the army to cast the first poop, tried to stone the skunk away, but the army quickly escalated, shooting sound bombs and gas canisters aimed directly at protesters. One Fox News reporter who covered the event was repeatedly corrected by concerned protesters as to his inaccurate interpretation of the situation, and kindly reminded that the tear gas thrown at him was made in the USA.

Video by by Haithm Katib http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCKyxrPqQFg

http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=359Itemid=1 (erase the 4 blanks in the URL)

Jerusalem-Al-Kuds

Silwan

13.05.11 Sheikh Jarrah http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1666645677013.119581.1563442697

Lod

The weekly demonstration against houses demolishing in Lod, leaded by children and women of Abu-Eyd family, which their houses demolished and they live in the street since December 2010

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1675108728584.120067.1563442697

Qalandia

"For those of you coming to the demo at Qalandia, Please be at the gate of Qalandia refugee camp around 10:00. We need to gather there before the demo."

Activists who usually participate in the Friday demos against the separation fence and occupation in Bil'in, Ni'ilin, and Nebi Saleh - Palestinian villagers and Israelis, joined the masses of Qalandia

Over 1000 men, women and children marched in Qalandiya Sunday to mark the Nakba. The Israeli military stopped the march using heavy handed crow control measures which resulted in over 100 injured including 20 medium to serious injuries. The demonstration lasted from morning until night with one attempt at upending the eight meter high Qalandiya barrier.

The March 15 youth movement along with various popular committees throughout the West Bank organized a mass demonstration to mark Nakba day at the Qalandiya checkpoint separating Jerusalem and Ramallah. Over 1000 demonstrators including international supporters marched from Ramallah to Jerusalem but were stopped by Israeli soldiers and armed forces. The demonstrators carried keys, the symbol of Palestinian dispossession and wore shirts that said “direct elections of the Palestinian National Council, a vote for every Palestinians everywhere.” The march in Qalandiya took place after a small PA sponsored protest in al Manara square.

As soon as the demonstration got close to the checkpoint, the Israeli army opened tear gas fire from rooftops and from the checkpoint. Scores were injured from tear gas inhalation with some suffering from seizures according to local medical personal on the scene. Despite the attacks, demonstrators regrouped and, for over five hours, attempted to walk peacefully to Jerusalem.

Clashes broke out between stone throwing Palestinian youth and Israeli soldiers after the first hour of protest. These clashes resulted in several incursions by Israeli soldiers resulting in the arrest of four arrests of minors. The arrests were made by soldiers with the assistance of undercover Israeli police dressed as protesters. Protesters also attempted to upend on section of the eight meter high concrete wall that comprises the Qalandiay checkpoint. They were not successful.

According to medical staff on the scene, over 100 people were injured from tear gas with scores going into shock or seizure from the highly potent strain of gas that the Israeli army used in the demonstrations. 20 people were transferred to Ramallah hospital with medium to serious wounds including one minor who was shot in the face with a rubber coated bullet. The Israeli army did not report any injuries.

L. R.:

"I have left my words at Qalandiya refugee camp, between the sirens that wouldn't stop, carrying the dozens that were injured by the live ammunition, but I'm back in one piece, more or less."

Video

by Haithm Katib video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y43IqA7B4I

and Israel Puterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buGYv35X1yE

Pictures

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1836108137464.2097340.1083295028

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.211417448880504.52767.185129341509315

Al-Ma'asara

Yesterday's march in Al-Ma'asara was larger than usual, marking Nakba day and joined by activists from Combatants for Peace. The demonstrators were met with the usual violence at the entrance to the village, with tear gas, stun grenades, and two arrested.

The weekly demonstration against the occupation in Al Ma’asara today marked the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba. Several people were injured as a result of Israeli military attacks on the unarmed demonstration which included tear gas and sound grenades. The demonstration was larger than normal as many villages surrounding Bethlehem joins in the commemoration of the Nakba. In the course of the demonstration, soldiers arrested Ahmed Briggih, coordinator of the national committee against the wall along with an Israeli peace activist. They were taken to an unknown destination.

Pictures http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=p.1998191403296

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OcQ60RmF6s

An Nabi Salih

Israeli border police used batons to beat an unarmed demonstrations, among them woman and children, in the village of Nabi Saleh on Friday. The weekly demonstration has experienced increasing military repression in recent weeks. However, yesterday’s demonstration represented a new level in the Israeli army disregard of its own rules of combat.

Soldiers fired tear gas canisters directly at demonstrators from close range. One demonstrator, an Israeli, suffered a broken arm when he was directly hit from a distance of five meters. The ranking military commander in Nabi Saleh refused to allow activists to remove the injured Israeli from the scene, forcing him to hike two kilometers in order to go to hospital. Another demonstrator, an American, was hit on the head when a tear gas canisters was shot directly at him from a distance of 15 meters. Soldiers also threw stun grenades at protesters from very close range.

25 people were injured during the demonstration including three that required hospitalization. The Israeli army prohibits the use of tear gas canisters as large bullets which are shot directly at protesters. Violation of these military rules of combat have resulted in the 2009 death of one protester in Bil’in and the paralyzing of American Tristan Anderson in Nil’in in 2008.

The Israeli military and police's violent and hysteric reaction to the Nakba day demonstrations today is an example to the fact that Israel cannot conceive handling Palestinian civil resistance to the Occupation in any means but military means. As September looms, it seems as if Israel chooses to tread not the path of democracy, but rather that of neighboring regimes like Egypt and Syria, and shoot at unarmed demonstrators.

13/5/11, http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150238709726803.363099.770301802

Tamimi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9IcxK-jwjA

Yisrael Puterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFGsbXuxufk

Ni'ilin

David Reeb Ni'ilin Friday 13.5.2011 protest at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCTSG3OhAHI

Tel Aviv-Jaffa

An emergency vigil of about 150 activists, who responded to a late afternoon call in facebook, converged in the Cinimateque square. We held placards, big banners and chanted.

MEDIA:

Radical leftists: Soldiers are killers

In show of support for 'Nakba Day' extreme leftists hold protest in Tel Aviv calling for end to 'killing of innocent civilians.' Right wing activists hold counter protest: You're fifth column

Around 100 extreme leftists are protesting near Tel Aviv's Cinematheque in a show of support for the Palestinian "Nakba Day," "the Just people's uprising", and against "the killing of innocent civilians".

The protestors were carrying Palestinian flags and posters reading "Stop the civilian deaths", "Free Palestine", "the IDF is the most moral terror organization in the world", and "There is no holiness in the occupied city".

Radicals protesting in Tel Aviv (Photo: Yaron Brener)

The radical leftists said they were there to protest against the "killing of innocent civilians protesting against the occupation on the northern border and in the Golan Heights". Some of the female protestors even wore black head scarves to identify with the Palestinian "catastrophe". They are chanting "Barak you killer, the Intifada will be victorious".

A group of right wing activists is holding a counter-protest, waving Israeli flags and calling out "Am Yisrael Chai" (the Israeli nation lives).

They also called out to the radical leftists "you are a fifth column, traitors, you didn't served in the army"

Police arrived at the scene to maintain the peace after a number of vocal clashes broke out between protestors.

Advertisement

Jaffa Nacba day action http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150180578739790.313820.591964789

Al-Walaja

Nakba Day 15 May 2011

Hundreds of Al-Walaja villagers joined with internationals and Israelis marched peacefully toward the old Al-Walaja (area cleansed of Palestinians by Israel ...

Dr. Qumsiyeh was still filming as he was arrested today 5/15/2011. He passed on the video to a friend and the link is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfizCh0TaZE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD06coIJWQs

See http://awalls.org

See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com

Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle demonstrations celebrated the failure of Israeli divide and rule

The main joint struggles and locations of weekly actions: Beit Ommar, Bil’in, Izbat at Tabib, Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, Lod, Ma’asara, An Nabi Salih, Ni'lin, South Hebron Mountain - celebrated the crumbling of Israeli strategy of divide and rule. The compromise between Fatah and Hamas ended the split the weekly demonstrations protested against. The uprising of the masses of the Arabs in the region and the approaching September energized the weekly demonstrations and increased the numbers of participant - both Palestinians and Israelis.

Beit Ommar

Saturday demonstration. Three members of the Beit Ommar National Committee against the Wall and Settlements were injured in a demonstration near the Israeli Karmei Tsur settlement

May 7, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzVz4y1iXzg

Bil’in

Demonstration Attacked with Skunk Water; 15 Year Old Child Arrested

Over the past month, the Israeli army has routinely attacked unarmed demonstrations in Bil’in with ‘Skunk’ water with little regard for the civilian demonstrators. During the weekly demonstration against the wall and occupation, soldiers attacked using tear gas, the ‘skunk’ and arrested one 15 year-old child.

Protesters Dressed as Palestinian Political Leaders in Bil'in

The weekly demonstration in Bil’in this week was carried out under a banner of national unity in honor of the signing of the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas. Two residents of the village dressed up as PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal and carried a coffin to the demonstration area to show that division is dead among Palestinians.

https://www.popularstruggle.org/sites/default/files/images/Bilin.preview.jpg

Once at the site of demonstration, the Separation barrier, Israeli soldiers quickly attacked the unarmed demonstrators with tear gas and the ‘skunk.’ Soldiers, hiding in the olive groves inside the village, arrested 15 year old Iyad Al Khatib. His location is unknown at the time of this report. The demonstration ended with no other arrests or injuries.

42 Israelis and a bunch of internationals joined Palestinian women, men and children for the weekly demonstration in Bil'in against the wall, land grab and occupation army violence. Two locals dressed up as Fatah and Hamas leaders, escorting the coffin of Palestinian division to burial. When demonstrators reached the fence they were attacked with gas, skunk water and sound bombs. The coffin, which was put on fire, was drenched with the skunk water, sending the message already expressed by prime minister Netanyahu, "we shit on Palestinian unity".. The shabab continued demonstrating along the Wadi to the north of the village, where one 15 year old boy was ambushed and arrested, and another injured his leg. The gas canisters caused several bush fires that threatened the villagers' olive trees.

Bil'in_6-5-11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQGK1RNX-Dg

Izbat at Tabib

The village of Izbat at Tabib invites activists,internationals and

organizations to support their popular struggle on Sunday 8th May at 2 PM.

The marking will be held on their agricultural land that is threatened by

the creation of the wall. More info about Izbat at Tabib follows...

Occupied East Jerusalem

Silwan

Israeli activists converged with local activists to deter the occupied stets force from harassing the Palestinian activists... and the state force waited till the Israelis left before they started to harass the Palestinian comrades.

Sheikh Jarrah 6/5/11

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1655586000528.118876.1563442697

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.208658292502151.58413.100000739446057

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.170780399646538.44043.159938690730709

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.222682977746725.73686.100000150737581

Lod

Ma’asara

The weekly protest was held on the occasion of national Palestinian unity. Dozens of Palestinians, internationals and Israeli activists marched together chanting in favor of national unity. The demonstrators carried a coffin as a symbolic gesture to bury division between rival Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas.

Israeli soldiers to the demonstration by closing the entrance to the village and imposing a closed military zone on the area. The demonstrators were blocked from reaching their lands and three people were arrested. The Israeli activists were taken to Gush Etzion police station in the Occupied West Bank. They were released with no bail. Mahmoud Zawhare, the coordinator of the Popular Committee in the village, was taken to an unknown location and released later in the evening on 2000 NIS bail.

Two Israelis and one Palestinian were arrested by Israeli soldiers at the end of the weekly unarmed demonstration in the village of al Ma’asara near Bethlehem. The Palestinian is the Popular Committee leader of the village and he was released later in the evening on 2000 NIS bail.

An Nabi Salih

Getting to Nabi Saleh is not easy. The army closes all entrances very early on a Friday, the day which has seen demonstrations taking place for the past two years. This forces Israeli and international activists that wish to join the unarmed and largely nonviolent demonstrations to park kilometers away and hike through valleys and up small hills to reach the village.

Israelis soldiers were inside the village long before the demonstration began on Friday, creating an uncomfortable air of uncertainly amongst villagers. Adding to the uncertainty were the aggressive comments of one particular group of soldiers who had taken over a rooftop in the middle of the village.

“Soon,” one of the arrogant soldiers barked at an elderly villager in horribly accented English, “I will make your house go boom.” It was not clear if the solider meant that he would blow his house up or attack it with tear gas and stun grenades. Regardless, the elderly man was clearly shaken by the soldier’s violent comment.

Men and boys emerged from mid-afternoon prayers determined to continue the demonstration despite the military presence. Roughly 12% of the village’s male population, out of a total population of 500, have spent time in Israeli military jails for demonstrating. Bassem and Naji Tamimi, the Popular Committee leaders of the village, are currently in jail. They have not been sentenced, however based on similar situations in Bil’in, they will be in jail for the next year or two. Their crime: leading unarmed demonstrations which bring Israelis, Palestinians and internationals together to resist occupation.

Within minutes, soldiers from three directions opened fire on the demonstrators. Tear gas filled the air as stun grenades went off with disorientating thunder in all directions. Most ran to the relative safety of houses but it did not help. Soldiers began firing tear gas at the houses themselves. Children, some as young as four or five years old, were choking inside their own homes and had nowhere to run. This lasted for roughly five hours as the soldiers established an undeclared curfew over Nabi Saleh.

As the sun began to set, soldiers relaxed their curfew. Due to the relentless teargas, there had been no clashes between stone throwing Palestinian youth and soldiers. The general store re-opened and a relative calm descended on the village despite the presence of a dozen heavily armed soldiers in the village center. Occasionally the soldiers opened fire and covered the area again with tear gas. Everyone then sought refuge inside homes with the windows covered by great big rugs to keep the tear gas out. After half an hour, people slowly emerged from their homes and calm returned.

As the soldiers were finally preparing to leave for the night, the infamous ‘Skunk’ truck rolled into the village, prompting a rush of excitement from the young men of Nabi Saleh. In an act of provocation, the truck drove around the village threatening each house with its pungent chemical mixture. Village youth responded by throwing stones at the armored truck which in turn provoked a violent reaction in the form of tear gas and rubber bullets from the patrolling soldiers. Clashes continued between soldiers and youth until 8 pm when the last solider returned to the settlement/army base of Halamish.

6/5/11 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150230751791803.361037.770301802

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150108982266349.311214.575181348

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfaDZU4W57g

Ni'lin

The weekly demo against the wall in Ni'lin celebrated the agreement between fatah and hamas. Following the Friday noon prayer, the protesters carried a symbolic coffin to represent burying intra-Palestinian divisions, and flew joint Hamas and Fatah flags. Around 30 Ni'lin residents and 5 Israelis then marched to the wall. A small group of youth threw stones over the wall, and soldiers fired teargas. No injuries were recorded.

During The Ni'lin Town-Struggle Against The Annexation Wall, dozens suffered from inhaling the Poison tear gas,The Israeli occupation army used life ammunition against th...

Ni'lin Town-Struggle Against The Annexation Wall/06.05.2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHlSSmvGfxY

South Hebron Mountain region

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150168451063244.301943.642813243

See http://awalls.org

See Previous reports at: http://ilanisagainstwalls.blogspot.com

Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle continue on the background of increased uncertainty

The "Arab Spring" continue and the heat of the struggle does not decrease. The Palestinian-Israeli political arena ferment and some surprises already materialized before September. The joint struggle do not retreat to the margin of the media.

Beit Ommar

Bil’in

Two dozens Israelis with the anarchists against the wall initiative, about 25 internationals, and scores of Palestinians from the village and the region participated in the weekly Friday noon demonstration. We marched to the the separation fence. Upon arriving at the gate of the route, troops stationed there sprayed us withe the skunk water, fired tear gas and shot us with rubber coated steel bullets. The back of Mohamed Burnat, 10, was hit with a tear gas grenade. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1644729369119.118161.1563442697

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RisaS2u4rmc

Photos by Rani Bornat

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.2040637898716.269293.1327358013

Izbat at Tabib

The village of Izbat at Tabib,outside Nablus, are expecting that in the

coming week the army will enter the village and begin constructing a wall

fencing in their land. They have requested the presence of internationals

and activists to attempt to prevent the construction. The villagers

predict that the army will come at any time now. Ism has a small presence

there and more will be joining tomorrow. please circulate this mail and

join us if possible.

Today 04/30/2011 a tent was set up on the land that are threatened to be confiscated

by the building of the 2 walls on the agricultural land of the village. We

are taking shifts on sleeping in the tent at night in groups of 4, 2 awake

& 2 sleeping. The villagers anticipates that they will start the

construction at any day now and are interested in as many activists &

internationals as possible to take part in their struggle to save their

agricultural land. At the moment there are 6 ism'ers & 2 from the michigan

peace team staying in the village.

Sunday, a 60 year-old American women was evacuated to an Israeli hospital this afternoon, after Israeli soldiers caused her a serious head injury as they demolished a protest tent in the West Bank village of Izbet al-Tabib near Qalqilya. A Swede and two British activists were arrested during the protest.

Lod

Demos in the Abu-id family protest tent continue!

19:00 Vigil at the Abu-Id Family Protest Tent and march to Lod central station

Transportation from Tel Aviv: please sign up

AL Ma'asara

In order to get to Al-Ma`asra from west you have to cross the settlements block of "Gush Ezion”, through a road passing near round hills an pine trees planted by the KKL. One can imagine how this area looked like before the founding of the settlements.

The citizens of Al-Ma`asra started in a march from the village’s center towards the main road leading to the settlement of Efrat, the expansion of Efrat over the villages lands and the building of the separation barrier allow annexing 3500 dunams of agricultural lands. To the demonstration joined about 10 international 5 Israeli activists. During the last demonstrations in the last weeks the army reacted quickly with arrests, but it seemed this time that the army decided not to react and let the march continue on the side of the road toward the junction facing the settlement from afar. Big presence of the army, 30 soldiers and some policemen, were escorting the peaceful march. The group of 40 demonstrators sat down on the side of the road and listened to the exciting speeches of demonstrators of Al-Ma`asra were made for the demonstrators and also towards the soldiers: “we are here not because we like demonstrations, we feel we have an obligation to open minds of people, the occupation is in their heads and minds and its our duty to let the soldiers know about our lives but their perspectives refer to us only from the security aspects and nothing else.”

A while after the march returned to the village - when most of the demonstrators were back, some kids started throwing stones towards the jeeps from far in the entry of the village. For a moment there it seemed the army were not reacting but then gas canisters started to flew in the air towards the village, one entered one of the buildings. The soldiers entered the village and arrested the village citizen Hasan Aberjia age 40 and a Canadian activist named Thomas. In the videos of the arrest they were both seen walking peacefully with their cameras and it was difficult to think in what way the army can find a way to accuse them in anything that would justify an arrest. After about an hour both were released but the stills camera, hat and sunglasses of Hasan were taken and not returned... maybe in order to supply some work for the dear layers before Shabat.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1965710991306.118919.1498833494

Nabi Salah

T: "Surreal moments in Nabi Salah - I ran away from Skunk rain, crushed on the couch in some living room, and on the TV William and Kate were walking down the aisle.

In al-Nabi Salleh, 13 year old child and a young man were injured, three Israeli supporters arrested when troops attacked the weekly protest against the wall and settlements. International and Israeli supporters after the midday prayers and marched up to the land where Israeli plans to build a new settlement. Troops attacked villages as soon as they reached the lands and forced them back into the village.

Later troops stormed the village and fired comical water and tear gas into people homes. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation."

April 29, 2011

This Friday Nabi Saleh demonstration against the Halamish settlement and occupation managed to cross the main village road and towards its spring. Israeli army and police forces attacked the non-violent demonstrators with stun grenades and tear gas canisters on numerous occasions, shooting directly at people and houses inside a populated area. One house was hit by tear gas canister and set on fire. Later that day a “Skunk” truck came and started shooting its foul water at peaceful demonstrators and houses. Three Israeli supporters were detained for a few hours, two of which were deliberately rubbed by soldiers on the road as it was wet from the foul water. This foul water render houses who are targeted by it unfit for living for about a week, and foul-smelling for many months. It was used extensively at the entrance to the village's built area, a place where all residents pass through as they exit the village.

Video clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLFWTHmE-eU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw164xoOOmc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyIiajWL_6U

Pictures http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.195311337180021.53111.113817528662736

Ni'ilin

In the nearby village of Nalin, villagers along with their Israeli and international supporters, marched up to the wall where soldiers fired tear gas and sound bombs at them. Many were treated for effects of tear gas. This week protest ended with clashed between soldiers and local youth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxD5QUdDmAA

Sheikh Jarrah

Just before Passover, settlers' organizations issued eviction-claims to five families of the Um Haroon compound in Sheikh Jarrah. The planned eviction is part of a large program to Judiaze Sheikh-Jarrah. The consequences of this plan will be the eviction and deportation of the Palestinian families living there today, most of whom are refuges from 48’.

Not only in Sheikh-Jarrah are settler organization threatening the course of life of Palestinian residents. This process is taking place all over East-Jerusalem. During the Passover Hol-Hamoed “Solidarity” organized tours in Silwan explaining the role of the voluntary-organization ELAD in the running of “City of David” as well as ELAD’s part in the settlements in Silwan (more information can be found here ).

Join us on Friday, April 29, to stand together with the residents of Um Harron and all of Sheikh Jarrah in their struggle against the settler take-over of their homes, and in the ongoing struggle against settlements, racism, oppression and injustice.

Amir Bitan http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.221126357902387.73123.100000150737581

Demonstration 29/4/2011 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.206996106001703.57751.100000739446057

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1644680527898.118156.1563442697

South Hebron Hills

Our activity in South Hebron Hills saw considerable achievements in the past few weeks. Wadi Twamin was designated to the exclusive use of Palestinian farmers, after years during which Palestinians avoided using it as a grazing land.

Residents of Palestinian Susya who went last Saturday to prune their olive tress between their village and the settlements received military protection from the settlers.

Yet, this is no time to idle. Last week settlers continued to attack Palestinians and the army continued arresting them.

Our friend Mahomud Abu Kbita was arrested as a result of untrue accusations made by a settler, spent the night in detention and is now restricted from his lands for two weeks.

The people of the South Hebron Hills still need us.

Saturday April 30

Cleaning water cistern and accompanying farmers and shepherds in

Tel Aviv

Anarchist block in 1st of May demo in Tel-Aviv 29-4-11 (KRAS take) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsaJzHTAMbw

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.162803783780768.38796.141721452555668