The police detained four left-wing Israeli activists Friday afternoon during a demonstration of Palestinian and Israelis in the West Bank village of Budrus, where part of the security fence is being constructed. The four were detained for entering an area declared "closed military zone". It is expected that the four would be released with restrictions. Budrus has been the scene of violent clashes between IDF forces and locals and protesters due to the preparations under way for the building of the security fence. Budrus, located near the city of Modi'in and eight kilometers from Ben-Gurion Airport, has become the hub of anti-fence activity over the past few months.
The West Bank security fence runs along the western edge of the village, cutting some farmers off from their land.
------------------------------
* [Ed. Notes: Nationalists on both sides prefer to hide the fact That the Israeli activists involved with the Palestinian vilagers are mostly anarchists of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative]
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Friday, February 27, 2004
Israel-Palestine, Summary of media reports on the activities against the wall 27/02/04
Thursday was a high intensity day of struggle. One reporter who write on the activities tell what the "Israeli leftist activists" (who are really from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative) say. "From their testimony come that they were not present in Bidu when the first two Palestinian were killed - they came after the killing of Palestinians was reported. In the article he quote Jonathan Polak who saw in his eyes when an army sniper shoot in the head a Palestinian who bent to pick a stone. The reporter give Jonathan opinion that the confrontations in connection with the wall building brought the Palestinian struggle back to the first Intifada mode of mass struggle.
In the next article of the same Haaretz daily, another reporter put the struggle of the last few days in context. He says that it was sporadic and local till the confrontation of 26th of December last year (The second direct action of the Anarchists Against The Wall) in which Gil Naamati was (purposefully hit and) seriously injured by Israeli soldiers (while harming the fence near Budrus). From then on and especially after repeated mass clashes near Budrus succeeded to stop the work on the wall as result of diplomatic presur they initiated, the Palestinian Authority shifted its focus.
(The Reporter miss the fact that the continuous involvement of Israeli people together with the local villagers tipped the scales in both the Israeli public opinion and the international arena. He also miss the fact that the joint Israeli-Internationals-Palestinians direct actions came about after months of less dramatic confrontation and a joint camp in the village of Masha.)
"Never doubt that a small and dedicated group of people can change the world.... by initiating a mass struggle".
In the next article of the same Haaretz daily, another reporter put the struggle of the last few days in context. He says that it was sporadic and local till the confrontation of 26th of December last year (The second direct action of the Anarchists Against The Wall) in which Gil Naamati was (purposefully hit and) seriously injured by Israeli soldiers (while harming the fence near Budrus). From then on and especially after repeated mass clashes near Budrus succeeded to stop the work on the wall as result of diplomatic presur they initiated, the Palestinian Authority shifted its focus.
(The Reporter miss the fact that the continuous involvement of Israeli people together with the local villagers tipped the scales in both the Israeli public opinion and the international arena. He also miss the fact that the joint Israeli-Internationals-Palestinians direct actions came about after months of less dramatic confrontation and a joint camp in the village of Masha.)
"Never doubt that a small and dedicated group of people can change the world.... by initiating a mass struggle".
Israel-Palestine, Tel-Aviv, A vigil and march in downtown of Anarchists Against The Wall 27/02/04
In response to the intensified atrocities of the Israeli forces against the unarmed protesters of the apartheid wall a vigil was called.
At Friday noon about 100 people of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative and sympathizers assembled at the big intersection near the open market.
Placards were held high and slogans were shout for an hour till 50 of us started the march on the pavement of King George street towards the Dizengof Center mole .... We "rested" for a while in front of the headquarters building of the Likud ruling party. Afterwards we marched on and joined for a while the Friday vigil of "women in black against the occupation". Then, we stood in the intersection of the Center continuing to hold the placard high and shouting the slogans.
An assessment of the new phase in the Intifada resulting from the various initiatives against the wall - in a separate post.
At Friday noon about 100 people of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative and sympathizers assembled at the big intersection near the open market.
Placards were held high and slogans were shout for an hour till 50 of us started the march on the pavement of King George street towards the Dizengof Center mole .... We "rested" for a while in front of the headquarters building of the Likud ruling party. Afterwards we marched on and joined for a while the Friday vigil of "women in black against the occupation". Then, we stood in the intersection of the Center continuing to hold the placard high and shouting the slogans.
An assessment of the new phase in the Intifada resulting from the various initiatives against the wall - in a separate post.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
report on Beit Suriq area struggle against the apartheid wall + TV news update. 26 Feb 2004
Four Palestinians have been killed in the Beit Suriq area near Jerusalem Thursday, after Mohammed Saleh Bedwan, 20, was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers at approximately 3pm, in Biddu.
The shooting occurred in front of international activists, who reported soldiers have been shooting randomly and also targeting ambulances. The Israeli army has said there has been no use of live ammunition and that only rubber-coated metal bullets have been used.
[But we seen it in the TV and the reporter who were ther reported too that there were army snipers on the roof of a building they occupy and we seen how they shoot and hit the two persons killed.I.S.]
Three Palestinians were killed earlier today as soldiers moved in on protestors and stone-throwers demonstrating the construction of the barrier.
Zcharya Mahmoud Id, from Beit Ajza and Mohammed Rian, 30, from Beit Daku, were shot by Israeli soldiers.
Another male reportedly died from a heart attack believed to be caused by tear gas.
Fifty people are reportedly injured, while three protestors have been arrested by plain clothes officers operating within the crowd.
Thursday marks the third day of demonstrations which have escalated in violent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians. [With intimate participation of Internationals and Israelis (TV said are from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative). Today about 75 people were injured at the Bidu vilage clashes and others - including Israelis were arested).
Palestinians in the area will lose almost 90% of their land to the barrier, much of which is used for farming.
The Israeli government says the wall is for security, while Palestinians claim it is simply a land grab.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/February/week4/022604/4%20killed.htm
[The Israelis involved call for a militant vigil Friday - same as last week.]
The shooting occurred in front of international activists, who reported soldiers have been shooting randomly and also targeting ambulances. The Israeli army has said there has been no use of live ammunition and that only rubber-coated metal bullets have been used.
[But we seen it in the TV and the reporter who were ther reported too that there were army snipers on the roof of a building they occupy and we seen how they shoot and hit the two persons killed.I.S.]
Three Palestinians were killed earlier today as soldiers moved in on protestors and stone-throwers demonstrating the construction of the barrier.
Zcharya Mahmoud Id, from Beit Ajza and Mohammed Rian, 30, from Beit Daku, were shot by Israeli soldiers.
Another male reportedly died from a heart attack believed to be caused by tear gas.
Fifty people are reportedly injured, while three protestors have been arrested by plain clothes officers operating within the crowd.
Thursday marks the third day of demonstrations which have escalated in violent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians. [With intimate participation of Internationals and Israelis (TV said are from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative). Today about 75 people were injured at the Bidu vilage clashes and others - including Israelis were arested).
Palestinians in the area will lose almost 90% of their land to the barrier, much of which is used for farming.
The Israeli government says the wall is for security, while Palestinians claim it is simply a land grab.
http://www.imemc.org/headlines/2004/February/week4/022604/4%20killed.htm
[The Israelis involved call for a militant vigil Friday - same as last week.]
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Israel-Palestine, The 13 Anarchist Against The Wall are free; Please demand freedom of protest 24/02/04
Feb. 24, 04 The Anarchists Are Once Again Free Dear All, First of all, the good news: the 13 anarchists arrested yesterday were released at noon today, after spending a night in jail at Abu Khabir in Jafa.
Secondly: The Israeli government and Israelis in general pride themselves on Israel being a democratic country. If it were, it would not try to silence protest. Freedom of speech would be a value not dispensed with and not restricted to one side. Please write letters to the addresses at the conclusion of this report demanding that freedom of speech not be squelched. The events that led up to the arrest of the 13 read like a spy story--the spies being the Israeli military and police.
It all began yesterday morning, Monday, February 23, in Tel Aviv at 8:00 AM at Habima (the National Theater). This was the day that the International Court of Justice at the Hague had begun deliberations on the legality of the location of the ‘Wall’ (or ‘separation fence’). The Palestinians had dedicated the day to national mobilization against the wall. Throughout the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem Palestinians and Israelis protested the wall. Several of these protests were to have been joint Israeli-Palestinian ones. The Anarchists--a movement of young, principled, highly motivated persons--were headed for one such.
But even before they got under way others began to thwart their plans. The bus driver, who arrived at Habima in Tel Aviv about ½ an hour before the time set, was surprised to have a man in civilian dress approach and ask him about his plans and where he was headed for. The driver responded evasively, stating that he had been hired to go somewhere in the north. The interrogator pressed on for more specific details, but the driver refused to respond. At this point the inquisitor pulled out his ID, revealing that he was a policeman, albeit in plain dress. The policeman advised the driver that he was calling a police van to follow him, and that he should abandon his plans (whatever they might be) and to return home.
The Anarchists, upon hearing what had happened, decided on a second meeting point to board the bus, now at 9:00 AM. From the time they boarded the bus, till they were stopped on Road 5, they were followed, first by the plain clothes policeman on his motorcycle, after by others as they headed for their destination.
Road 5 is a settlers’ road it going east-west. It was built for settlers, and is used primarily by them. Their cars continued to whiz by, but the bus was stopped about 20 kilometers over the so-called green line, even though the bus had Israeli license plates. The police took the driver’s driver license and also demanded the keys to the bus. When the driver refused giving up his keys, stating that he needed then to let the motor cool off, the police did not argue, but ordered him to turn around and return to Israel, advising that he was in a closed military area. But all other vehicles with Israeli license plates continued undisturbed down the road’; it therefore became readily apparent that the road was a closed military zone solely for anti-wall and pro peace activists.
The driver received his license back at the checkpoint near the green line (near the turn off to Mas’ha); he was advised to stay out of the Territories.
Following this, the group decided to try to reach their destination by a different road, but with no greater success than before. Near Qalqilya the bus was again stopped at the checkpoint. This time the driver was informed that were he caught again, even one more time, in the Territories, his license would be taken away for 30 days. All this, mind you, while other cars with Israeli plates continued to drive by freely. Of course the fact that most of these were settlers explains why; to the military and the police, at least, settlers have rights denied to ‘leftists’
The Anarchists finally realized that they would not get to where they had been headed, and so decided to change plans. If they could not get into the Occupied Territories, they could nevertheless demonstrate. They decided to meet in the Kiriya on Kaplan across the street from the Defense ministry. There they simulated a wall by blocking the road, sitting on it to stop Israeli drivers from proceeding. There 13 of them were arrested.
At their hearing, the police agreed to release them on condition that the 13 be 5 days under house arrest and refrain for the next 30 days to come within a kilometer of the Kiriya, where they had demonstrated. But their lawyer, Gaby Lasky argued that these conditions were unreasonable, that they contradicted freedom of speech. Judge Muki Lansman agreed with Gaby, and released the 13 on the condition that they refrain for 10 days from coming within 200 meters from the Kiriya and that each sign a guarantee to that effect, with a 2nd person signing for each within 24 hours.
Thanks to Gaby and the Judge, the Anarchists are once again free to raise their voices in protest, except that one of them still had to appear for questioning. If your help is needed, will advise.
D.
Secondly: The Israeli government and Israelis in general pride themselves on Israel being a democratic country. If it were, it would not try to silence protest. Freedom of speech would be a value not dispensed with and not restricted to one side. Please write letters to the addresses at the conclusion of this report demanding that freedom of speech not be squelched. The events that led up to the arrest of the 13 read like a spy story--the spies being the Israeli military and police.
It all began yesterday morning, Monday, February 23, in Tel Aviv at 8:00 AM at Habima (the National Theater). This was the day that the International Court of Justice at the Hague had begun deliberations on the legality of the location of the ‘Wall’ (or ‘separation fence’). The Palestinians had dedicated the day to national mobilization against the wall. Throughout the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem Palestinians and Israelis protested the wall. Several of these protests were to have been joint Israeli-Palestinian ones. The Anarchists--a movement of young, principled, highly motivated persons--were headed for one such.
But even before they got under way others began to thwart their plans. The bus driver, who arrived at Habima in Tel Aviv about ½ an hour before the time set, was surprised to have a man in civilian dress approach and ask him about his plans and where he was headed for. The driver responded evasively, stating that he had been hired to go somewhere in the north. The interrogator pressed on for more specific details, but the driver refused to respond. At this point the inquisitor pulled out his ID, revealing that he was a policeman, albeit in plain dress. The policeman advised the driver that he was calling a police van to follow him, and that he should abandon his plans (whatever they might be) and to return home.
The Anarchists, upon hearing what had happened, decided on a second meeting point to board the bus, now at 9:00 AM. From the time they boarded the bus, till they were stopped on Road 5, they were followed, first by the plain clothes policeman on his motorcycle, after by others as they headed for their destination.
Road 5 is a settlers’ road it going east-west. It was built for settlers, and is used primarily by them. Their cars continued to whiz by, but the bus was stopped about 20 kilometers over the so-called green line, even though the bus had Israeli license plates. The police took the driver’s driver license and also demanded the keys to the bus. When the driver refused giving up his keys, stating that he needed then to let the motor cool off, the police did not argue, but ordered him to turn around and return to Israel, advising that he was in a closed military area. But all other vehicles with Israeli license plates continued undisturbed down the road’; it therefore became readily apparent that the road was a closed military zone solely for anti-wall and pro peace activists.
The driver received his license back at the checkpoint near the green line (near the turn off to Mas’ha); he was advised to stay out of the Territories.
Following this, the group decided to try to reach their destination by a different road, but with no greater success than before. Near Qalqilya the bus was again stopped at the checkpoint. This time the driver was informed that were he caught again, even one more time, in the Territories, his license would be taken away for 30 days. All this, mind you, while other cars with Israeli plates continued to drive by freely. Of course the fact that most of these were settlers explains why; to the military and the police, at least, settlers have rights denied to ‘leftists’
The Anarchists finally realized that they would not get to where they had been headed, and so decided to change plans. If they could not get into the Occupied Territories, they could nevertheless demonstrate. They decided to meet in the Kiriya on Kaplan across the street from the Defense ministry. There they simulated a wall by blocking the road, sitting on it to stop Israeli drivers from proceeding. There 13 of them were arrested.
At their hearing, the police agreed to release them on condition that the 13 be 5 days under house arrest and refrain for the next 30 days to come within a kilometer of the Kiriya, where they had demonstrated. But their lawyer, Gaby Lasky argued that these conditions were unreasonable, that they contradicted freedom of speech. Judge Muki Lansman agreed with Gaby, and released the 13 on the condition that they refrain for 10 days from coming within 200 meters from the Kiriya and that each sign a guarantee to that effect, with a 2nd person signing for each within 24 hours.
Thanks to Gaby and the Judge, the Anarchists are once again free to raise their voices in protest, except that one of them still had to appear for questioning. If your help is needed, will advise.
D.
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Palestine-Israel, a demo in Bidu next friday (14/2/04)
Salamat, Next Friday afternoon (20 February) we will hold a joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstration against the Wall in the area of the Bidu and Beit Suriq villages (north-east of Jerusalem, close to Mevasseret Tsion and the settlement of Har Adar). The Wall in this area takes over much agricultural land.
The demonstration will be held at the initiative of and in cooperation with residents of Bidu and Beit Suriq, the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, Ta'ayush and Anarchists against Walls. Additional details available early next week - mark your calendars! For more information and to help in organising the demonstration: emagoldman2002-A-yahoo.com
Yossi
------------------------------
Israel-Palestine, A call from the coalition against the wall* and report on the action 20/02/04
Mohammad A-Sheikh, father of seven children, was suffocated to death this week at Erez checkpoint. His crime was his will to go to work in Israel in order to feed his family. More than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Intifada, of whom 26 were killed during the last two weeks.
The Gaza Strip has become a no man's land, where the Israeli army has no limits. How long shall abuse and humiliation prevail? - No more silence! Don't look the other way! Come to disturb the Tel-Aviv routine and indifference Friday, 20/2, at 12:00, at the corner of King George and Sheinkin st. And wee came, and we disturb the Tel-Avivi routine for a while: The Anarchists Against The Wall people who are of the Israeli part of the coalition were the majority of the more than hundred people who came.
After preliminary vigil at Tel-Aviv main intersection (near the open market) half the people moved to a near by pedestrian free and priority cross of the main outlet of busses from the intersection.
it only took few minutes till the main intersection was blocked.... and nearly half an hour passed till the police stopped us from crossing the street...
The main public radio channel reported that 5 of us were arrested.
The demonstration will be held at the initiative of and in cooperation with residents of Bidu and Beit Suriq, the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, Ta'ayush and Anarchists against Walls. Additional details available early next week - mark your calendars! For more information and to help in organising the demonstration: emagoldman2002-A-yahoo.com
Yossi
------------------------------
Israel-Palestine, A call from the coalition against the wall* and report on the action 20/02/04
Mohammad A-Sheikh, father of seven children, was suffocated to death this week at Erez checkpoint. His crime was his will to go to work in Israel in order to feed his family. More than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Intifada, of whom 26 were killed during the last two weeks.
The Gaza Strip has become a no man's land, where the Israeli army has no limits. How long shall abuse and humiliation prevail? - No more silence! Don't look the other way! Come to disturb the Tel-Aviv routine and indifference Friday, 20/2, at 12:00, at the corner of King George and Sheinkin st. And wee came, and we disturb the Tel-Avivi routine for a while: The Anarchists Against The Wall people who are of the Israeli part of the coalition were the majority of the more than hundred people who came.
After preliminary vigil at Tel-Aviv main intersection (near the open market) half the people moved to a near by pedestrian free and priority cross of the main outlet of busses from the intersection.
it only took few minutes till the main intersection was blocked.... and nearly half an hour passed till the police stopped us from crossing the street...
The main public radio channel reported that 5 of us were arrested.
Friday, February 13, 2004
Israel-Palestine, Saturday demo - Erez Checkpoint: Transport info to This Saturday, February 14th 2004. 13/02/04
Israeli and International organisations have arranged an EMERGENCY demonstration at Erez checkpoint against massacres in the Gaza Strip. The people of Gaza are very happy about this solidarity. The Gaza Peace Centre and the refugee committees are spreading the word inside Gaza. A bus leaves from Tel Aviv Northern Train Station at 1pm. Please phone Eva on 067 619275 to confirm that you are coming so that the Israelis know how many buses to get.
There should also be transport leaving from the Faisal Hostel in Jerusalem, next to Damascus Gate, at 1pm. Please call IWPS on 09 2516644 or 052 598264 if you want to come from Jerusalem so we know how many taxis to arrange.
The reason for the protest:
We demand the right to be allowed to enter Gaza, and for an immediate end to the massacres being carried out by the Israeli army.
Yesterday, the situation in Gaza reached a peak in its constant oppression. The dead that were left at the end of the day?s massacre are the newest victims of the Israeli slaughter of the Palestinian people.
The situation is so dire that even the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) has been forced to close schools in the Gaza Strip, since they are no longer considered a safe place for the children under the snipers? constant aim.
Yesterday?s massacre, and other Gaza massacres, have been carried out behind the electric fence, just as the West Bank?s Apartheid Wall intends to hide future Israeli massacres of Palestinians. Erez Checkpoint is being used by Israel?s government as an illegitimate veil to hide these crimes, through which no observers are allowed to pass, which leaves the Israeli government free to enforce its occupation away from the eyes of the world.
We oppose the Israeli occupation and the current daily massacres and will not remain silent.
Participants: ISM, Israeli Anarchists against the Wall, and IWPS. All are welcome!
There should also be transport leaving from the Faisal Hostel in Jerusalem, next to Damascus Gate, at 1pm. Please call IWPS on 09 2516644 or 052 598264 if you want to come from Jerusalem so we know how many taxis to arrange.
The reason for the protest:
We demand the right to be allowed to enter Gaza, and for an immediate end to the massacres being carried out by the Israeli army.
Yesterday, the situation in Gaza reached a peak in its constant oppression. The dead that were left at the end of the day?s massacre are the newest victims of the Israeli slaughter of the Palestinian people.
The situation is so dire that even the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) has been forced to close schools in the Gaza Strip, since they are no longer considered a safe place for the children under the snipers? constant aim.
Yesterday?s massacre, and other Gaza massacres, have been carried out behind the electric fence, just as the West Bank?s Apartheid Wall intends to hide future Israeli massacres of Palestinians. Erez Checkpoint is being used by Israel?s government as an illegitimate veil to hide these crimes, through which no observers are allowed to pass, which leaves the Israeli government free to enforce its occupation away from the eyes of the world.
We oppose the Israeli occupation and the current daily massacres and will not remain silent.
Participants: ISM, Israeli Anarchists against the Wall, and IWPS. All are welcome!
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