In a country where fear is so ingrained in the culture and many are racked with the fright of being attacked at any second, it's strange to see what can pass as a security threat.
I am a member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). The ISM is a non-violent organization. All members of the ISM must abide by its principles at all times. Therefore, as logic follows, I am a peaceful activist.
Many, if not most, of the Palestinians I've met are also peaceful activists. To be peaceful for them is one choice of many, but to be an activist is not. When your lands are being erased, your children are being shot, and your very identity is being denied, resistance becomes your only option. You must resist to exist.
So, on the morning of Tuesday, February 1st, when we were called to a demonstration in Khallet Adar, just south of Hebron, to protest land destruction for the building of a settler bypass road, I wasn't surprised to find a fervent passion in the crowd.
A note on settlement roads - settlement roads connect settlements to settlements and settlements to Israel. Settlements are bad. They are illegal under international law. Many Israelis think international law is bad. Too many scoldings, too many headaches. Many of the settlers are bad too. Some think it's their god-given right to steal land from Palestinians and build fancy homes on it. Settlements are for Jewish people only, and settler roads are for Israeli cars only. In South Africa, they would have called this apartheid. In Alabama, the word was segregation. In Israel, they just call them settlements.
The raod in question today was being built to connect the Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Beith Khagai in the Hebron area. It has already received much opposition from local Palestinians. So much so that the Israeli Supreme Court made an injunction recently that the construction had to be halted for 21 days. Rather than wait for a legal ruling on their already-illegal road, the Israeli authorities just decided to move the path of the road about a kilometer and start anew. Yesterday, the Israeli Occupation Forces uprooted 300 trees on the road's path. Palestinians here say that this kind of land confiscation is shattering their peace - a peace that many are hoping for, the Western media is obsessing over, but Palestine isn't seeing.
As the demonstration marched towards the hill where the road was being built, you could hear the crashing sound of the demolition drill hard at work. Silhouettes of a few soldiers could be seen, watching the winding path of our march from above.
Just before getting to the hill, I was overwhelmed as hundreds of young students who had just been let out of school flooded into our march to join. They were excited, eager, and ready to go. It was clear they had done demonstrations like this before.
It was almost frightening how much energy there was in this demonstration. People were chanting in Arabic as if their lives depended on it. The chants in Hebrew were also refreshing and welcoming from the Anarchists Against the Wall group. They chanted “The occupation is terrorism!” and “Refuse soldier refuse!”
For about 30 mintues, there was a feeling of sheer victory in the air. We managed to force the demolition vehicles to retreat a few hundred meters, and everyone was cheering madly. That was until the driver emerged from the cab of the vehicle with a pistol and threatened to shoot at people. Luckily, he didn't.
Another amazing act of resistance took place when a prayer session was held directly in front of the soldiers. The soldiers just looked on as if puzzled, not knowing what to do or who to point their guns at.
All of the sudden, the army decided it was time for everyone to leave, and our non-violence tactics were wearing them thin. Three of us ISM activists were caught, trapped between a massive Caterpillar wrecking machine and the army.
I was grabbed, and immediately they started hauling me away. I managed to grab hold of another detained activist, and we locked our limbs together and went limp. This not-so-cozy position didn't last for very long, as I was torn away from him and began to be dragged mercilessly across sharp nettle thorns and jagged rocks.
At this point, a couple Palestinians and some of the Israeli anarchists jumped on top of me in a courageous effort to de-arrest me, but to no avail. After about a minute, I had bad cuts all over my back, torn clothes, and a broken pair of glasses. When the soldiers finally had me behind their jeep and away from the demonstration, one proceeded to hit me in the head with the butt of his riffle while another punched me in the face. I get the impression these kids get a twisted kick out of taking cheap shots at activists.
After standing in the custody of the soldiers for another minute, they were distracted from me and were worried about another activist who was taking photos of them. Picture-taking is very threatening to Israeli soldiers, because it means that the world might see what they're doing. Since there weren't any soldiers holding me, I just decided to walk away, plain and simple. And it worked!
In the end, two ISM activists had been detained (one from Canada, and one from England), along with five Israelis from Anarchists Against the Wall (one of whom is being charged with assaulting an officer). Two Palestinian men were injured, and one had to be hospitalized after being pushed roughly to the ground by a soldier. Many were suffering from the effects of the tear gas and sound bombs that were used.
Unfortunately, this kind of response from the army is typical for non-violent protests in Palestine. I left the demonstration with a headache and stinging back from my beatings, but I have relatively nothing to complain about. People everywhere in the world are talking about peace for Palestine, but as long as the occupation forces continue to expand settlements and settler roads, our non-violent tactics are meaningless to them. The occupation is the ultimate violence in Palesine.
(Aaron Lakoff is a member of the International Solidarity Movement, and a journalist with CKUT community radio in Montreal. He is currently travelling and working throughout Palesine. To view his previous writing and photos, visit http://aaron.resist.ca. He can be reached at aaroninpalesine@hotmail.com)
----------------------------
--To view the photos which accompany this story, visit http://gallery.cmaq.net/album31
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Palestinians injured, Israeli and international activists detained in Hebron after nonviolent demonstration 02 Feb
[Hebron, West Bank, Feb 1.] In the West Bank village of Khallet Al-Dar in the Qalqas area of Hebron, hundreds of Palestinians with the support of international and Israeli activists prevented Israeli bulldozers from continuing construction of an illegal bypass road.
Today's protest was an effort to plant trees in the location where over 300 trees were uprooted on Sunday, January 30.
Two Palestinians were injured during the nonviolent demonstration, one of whom was hospitalized after Israeli soldiers forcefully pushed him to the ground. One Canadian activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was hit by Israeli soldiers in the head with the butt of a rifle and then punched in the face. Israeli soldiers launched tear gas and sound bombs. A number of Palestinians were treated for respiratory problems as a result.
The Israeli military detained two ISM volunteers from Britain and Canada and five Israelis from the Anarchists against the Wall. They were brought to the Hebron central police station where they have been held and interrogated since 2pm. The two ISM volunteers were released at 8pm on the condition that they not return to the area for two weeks. One Israeli minor has been charged with assaulting a police officer and is still being detained. The remaining four Israelis were offered to be released but have chosen to remain in police custody in solidarity with the Israeli minor until his release.
Today's assault on peaceful protests continues the Israeli authorities' campaign against nonviolent Palestinian, Israeli and international activists.
In the Hebron district alone there are more than 120 kilometers of bypass roads connecting the Israeli settlements with one other and with Israel. All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law. If built, the new road will connect the two illegal Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hagai. In effect these roads carve up the Palestinian areas into isolated ghettos.
Photos available on request.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Aaron: (English & French) Abed: (Arabic) Raz: (Hebrew) ISM Media: +972.(0)546.326.392
Today's protest was an effort to plant trees in the location where over 300 trees were uprooted on Sunday, January 30.
Two Palestinians were injured during the nonviolent demonstration, one of whom was hospitalized after Israeli soldiers forcefully pushed him to the ground. One Canadian activist with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) was hit by Israeli soldiers in the head with the butt of a rifle and then punched in the face. Israeli soldiers launched tear gas and sound bombs. A number of Palestinians were treated for respiratory problems as a result.
The Israeli military detained two ISM volunteers from Britain and Canada and five Israelis from the Anarchists against the Wall. They were brought to the Hebron central police station where they have been held and interrogated since 2pm. The two ISM volunteers were released at 8pm on the condition that they not return to the area for two weeks. One Israeli minor has been charged with assaulting a police officer and is still being detained. The remaining four Israelis were offered to be released but have chosen to remain in police custody in solidarity with the Israeli minor until his release.
Today's assault on peaceful protests continues the Israeli authorities' campaign against nonviolent Palestinian, Israeli and international activists.
In the Hebron district alone there are more than 120 kilometers of bypass roads connecting the Israeli settlements with one other and with Israel. All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law. If built, the new road will connect the two illegal Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hagai. In effect these roads carve up the Palestinian areas into isolated ghettos.
Photos available on request.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Aaron: (English & French) Abed: (Arabic) Raz: (Hebrew) ISM Media: +972.(0)546.326.392
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Iskaka 28-1-05 : they say they want peace - by kobi snitz 29 Jan
While headlines celebrated a breakthrough and renewed prospects for peace, the people of Iskaka had no illusions about what sort of peace the celebrants have in mind for them.
https://israel.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/7/1900_iskaka-28-1-05-david-nir1.jpg Astbach and Dafni photo credit David Nir While headlines celebrated a breakthrough and renewed prospects for peace, the people of Iskaka had no illusions about what sort of peace the celebrants have in mind for them. The Palestinian taxi driver who drove us back after the demo has seen it before. He repeated such a familiar complaint that one can complete it for him "they say they want peace but where is the peace? is this peace ?"
Twelve years ago the celebrated Oslo accords brought the partition of the west bank into areas A,B and C, an impossible permit system regulating travel, the construction of hundreds of roadblocks and checkpoints, Jews-only highways, long curfews and closures and most of all, the fastest rate of settlement construction. Today's celebration accompanies the deepest penetration of the wall beyond the green line. At the edge of the Ariel settlement, 22 kilometers beyond the green line, the wall is being constructed on the lands of Iskaka and Salfit. Here is where the wall has met some of its most determined resistance anywhere in Palestine. The people of Iskaka have proved to be well organized and brave in their efforts, and have repeatedly managed to stop the bulldozers.
Is is always the case in well organized villages, the Iskaka resistance has a strong women presence. The women of Iskaka are organized in three different committees which deal with issues ranging from construction of agricultural roads to resistance to the wall.
At around 10:15 the procession left the village on its way to the bulldozers. About 300 people from Iskaka and Salfit, 10 internationals and 19 Israelis*. they were soon met by about 20 policemen and 40 soldiers. Some of the soldiers were snipers who had their clips in their guns and were taking aim at people. When demanded "what are you doing here! what are you doing with a sniper's gun!? " a soldier names Shuki responded "Obviously, I am here to kill arabs". Another soldier named Dafni was shooting rubber bullets at people from close range. Their commander was captain Gal who said that they did not violate his orders and in fact his orders were even more severe to prevent anyone from reaching the bulldozers. Other soldiers were shooting bursts of live ammunition but those were probably not aimed at anyone. In addition shock grenades were thrown at the crowd and gas would surely have been used had the wind not been at the demonstrators back.
In spite of the shooting, pushing and shoving and beatings the demonstrator were not provoked into stone throwing and manages to get past the lines of soldiers and to a distance of about 10 meters from the bulldozers. At that point the work stopped and a long stand off began. After about an hour, with or without an negotiated agreement with the army commanders the people of Iskaka moved a few meters forward and climbed onto the path cleared for the wall. A few speaches were made and the men prayed.
Small confrontation broke out between the nervous and angry soldiers who failed to stop the crowd and the shabab (youth) who wanted to move up another step or two. At this point a soldier who had the name Astbach written on his helmet (who we suspect is from the DCO office) announced that if a single stone is thrown he will shoot live ammunition into the crowd.
His threats to shoot at unarmed people were deemed serious enough for other soldiers to rush over to stop him from shooting when he took aim a few minutes later.
On the way back to the village, the frustration of the shabab was not contained anymore and stones were thrown at a passing truck. After the truck got out of the shabab's range the driver stuck an automatic gun out the window and shot a burst of live ammunition without looking.
The day should be considered a success. A spirited demonstration was mounted, the bulldozers were reached and stopped and no injuries or arrests occurred.
At the very most, the peace currently celebrated in op eds in Tel-Aviv and Washington will mean a relaxation of the violence and travel restrictions inside Palestine but no mention is made of a pause in the continuing process of Palestinian dispossession, let alone its reversal. While some might celebrate, the people of Iskaka and Salfit and their supporters will be struggling to hold on to what is left of their land in the coming months.
https://israel.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/8/1900_ISKAKA-iskaka-28-1-05-david-nir2.jpg truck from which shots were fired, photo credit David Nir More photographs:
https://israel.indymedia.org/feature/display/1900/index.php
See also:
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3038378,00.html
=============================
* Editor note: "Israelis...." are of the radical anti-occupation activists spectrum - mainly from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative and Ta'yush.
https://israel.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/7/1900_iskaka-28-1-05-david-nir1.jpg Astbach and Dafni photo credit David Nir While headlines celebrated a breakthrough and renewed prospects for peace, the people of Iskaka had no illusions about what sort of peace the celebrants have in mind for them. The Palestinian taxi driver who drove us back after the demo has seen it before. He repeated such a familiar complaint that one can complete it for him "they say they want peace but where is the peace? is this peace ?"
Twelve years ago the celebrated Oslo accords brought the partition of the west bank into areas A,B and C, an impossible permit system regulating travel, the construction of hundreds of roadblocks and checkpoints, Jews-only highways, long curfews and closures and most of all, the fastest rate of settlement construction. Today's celebration accompanies the deepest penetration of the wall beyond the green line. At the edge of the Ariel settlement, 22 kilometers beyond the green line, the wall is being constructed on the lands of Iskaka and Salfit. Here is where the wall has met some of its most determined resistance anywhere in Palestine. The people of Iskaka have proved to be well organized and brave in their efforts, and have repeatedly managed to stop the bulldozers.
Is is always the case in well organized villages, the Iskaka resistance has a strong women presence. The women of Iskaka are organized in three different committees which deal with issues ranging from construction of agricultural roads to resistance to the wall.
At around 10:15 the procession left the village on its way to the bulldozers. About 300 people from Iskaka and Salfit, 10 internationals and 19 Israelis*. they were soon met by about 20 policemen and 40 soldiers. Some of the soldiers were snipers who had their clips in their guns and were taking aim at people. When demanded "what are you doing here! what are you doing with a sniper's gun!? " a soldier names Shuki responded "Obviously, I am here to kill arabs". Another soldier named Dafni was shooting rubber bullets at people from close range. Their commander was captain Gal who said that they did not violate his orders and in fact his orders were even more severe to prevent anyone from reaching the bulldozers. Other soldiers were shooting bursts of live ammunition but those were probably not aimed at anyone. In addition shock grenades were thrown at the crowd and gas would surely have been used had the wind not been at the demonstrators back.
In spite of the shooting, pushing and shoving and beatings the demonstrator were not provoked into stone throwing and manages to get past the lines of soldiers and to a distance of about 10 meters from the bulldozers. At that point the work stopped and a long stand off began. After about an hour, with or without an negotiated agreement with the army commanders the people of Iskaka moved a few meters forward and climbed onto the path cleared for the wall. A few speaches were made and the men prayed.
Small confrontation broke out between the nervous and angry soldiers who failed to stop the crowd and the shabab (youth) who wanted to move up another step or two. At this point a soldier who had the name Astbach written on his helmet (who we suspect is from the DCO office) announced that if a single stone is thrown he will shoot live ammunition into the crowd.
His threats to shoot at unarmed people were deemed serious enough for other soldiers to rush over to stop him from shooting when he took aim a few minutes later.
On the way back to the village, the frustration of the shabab was not contained anymore and stones were thrown at a passing truck. After the truck got out of the shabab's range the driver stuck an automatic gun out the window and shot a burst of live ammunition without looking.
The day should be considered a success. A spirited demonstration was mounted, the bulldozers were reached and stopped and no injuries or arrests occurred.
At the very most, the peace currently celebrated in op eds in Tel-Aviv and Washington will mean a relaxation of the violence and travel restrictions inside Palestine but no mention is made of a pause in the continuing process of Palestinian dispossession, let alone its reversal. While some might celebrate, the people of Iskaka and Salfit and their supporters will be struggling to hold on to what is left of their land in the coming months.
https://israel.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/8/1900_ISKAKA-iskaka-28-1-05-david-nir2.jpg truck from which shots were fired, photo credit David Nir More photographs:
https://israel.indymedia.org/feature/display/1900/index.php
See also:
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3038378,00.html
=============================
* Editor note: "Israelis...." are of the radical anti-occupation activists spectrum - mainly from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative and Ta'yush.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Israel, Media: Emma Goldman again in the cultural section of the Haaretz daily. Jan 25
In an article, the author contradict Suzan Sontag - which she criticize, with Emma Goldman. The article is about an Hebrew printing of Emma Five Feminist articles. It contradict Sontag the intellectual with Goldman the activist which she label "Workers Leader", "Refusnics Leader"....
In the article, the author mentioned that "just by coincidence" there is an exhibition of texts and pictures of the life and contributions/activity of the unique anarchist leader in the entrance to the Hecht museum of Haifa university". An article that could have bin printed as is in an anarchist journal.
In the article, the author mentioned that "just by coincidence" there is an exhibition of texts and pictures of the life and contributions/activity of the unique anarchist leader in the entrance to the Hecht museum of Haifa university". An article that could have bin printed as is in an anarchist journal.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Israel, This morning started the trial of Tali Fahima in Tel Aviv district court for defying Israeli death squads in Jenin. 11 Jan
This morning we had a 50 people vigil* in front of the court house with placards and shirts printed with slogans (see below). About 20 entered the court room**. During the last five months the security services have been holding a defamation campaign against Tali Fahima, vilifying her as a danger to the state and to public security. This media campaign is meant, among other things, to deflect public attention from Tali's clear and uncompromising stance against the occupation and targeted killing policy, and to portray her as an unstable, isolated woman. [They also vent this way their frustration fury for failing to murder Zacharia Zubeidi she vowed to protect].
While declarations made by security forces in the media spoke of Tali having been involved in planning terrorist activities, the indictment contains no such charges. The indictment, with its ludicrous charges and poor evidential basis, addresses the public's darkest fears and feelings of nationalism. (www.freetalifahima.org)
But the judges are also part of this public. To this day, and during five long months, the judicial system has time and again approved the denial of Tali Fahima's freedom, simply because the security system asked them to.
Through all this, Tali has courageously stood up to humiliating and exhausting political persecution, and asserted her right to voice her belief in solidarity between the two peoples.
The Call distributed for the vigil:
This coming Tuesday, 11/1/05, at 8:00 AM, we will gather outside the Tel Aviv district court and say
No to Tali Fahima's political persecution
No to the political imprisonment of Israeli Arab leaders
No to Shabak harassment of political activists
No to the witch hunt, hatred and suspicion directed at those who refuse to bow to government intimidation
Action in the court house
Inside the court we will keep the order, hoping that the judges will also fulfill their duty of carrying out justice in a fair and open manner.
If you refuse to stop meeting Palestinians in Palestine, to stop showing solidarity with them, to stop opposing the occupation, the wall and Israel's killing and suffocating policy in Palestine, we suggest you wear, during the protest vigil in front of the courthouse, a T-shirt imprinted with one of the following messages:
I've been to area A,
I've been to Genin
I have met with Palestinians
I have met with armed Palestinians
I have Palestinian friends
I have met with Palestinian freedom fighters
I object to the targeted killing policy
I object to the occupation
I have been interrogated by Shabak
I have been harassed by Shabak
I have been summoned to Shabak interrogation
Free Tali Fahima
We ask everyone to cover or take off these T-shirts when entering the courthouse, so we can start our relationship with the new judges on the right footing (and with our hearts on the left).
To order T-shirts (Hebrew inscription only):
Send the following details to talialmi@actcom.net.il:
1. T-shirt size (S, M, L, XL)
2. Your choice of inscription (from the above list, please, to make things easier for us)
3. Number of T-shirts
4. Your name
The price of a T-shirt is 10 Shekels. We will bring them to the courthouse entrance.
=================
* The vigil consisted of young and old activists against the occupation of Palestine by Israel. Significant number of the participants were from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative.
** In his "huge generosity" the prosecutor claimed he will not ask for the death penalty for the ridiculous and absurd accusations.
--------------------------------------------------
Following is some references of today's media:
Haaretz:
Trial begins for Israeli woman accused of helping terrorists By Zvi Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
The trial of an Israeli woman accused of aiding Palestinian terrorists opened Tuesday in the Tel Aviv District Court with the reading of the charges against her.
Tali Fahima is charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, contact with foreign agents and supporting a terrorist organization.
The trial proceedings will begin January 16, but Fahima's attorney, Smadar Ben Natan, told the court Tuesday that she intends to present preliminary arguments beforehand.
The defense will file a motion to dismiss some or all of the charges, on the basis that, even if Fahima did in fact commit a crime, it was inconsequential.
According to the charges, Fahima helped Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Bridages militants, including the organization's Jenin commander, Zacharia Zubeidi, evade capture during an Israel Defense Forces operation.
Fahima is accused of translating for the militants a secret map accidentally left behind by the IDF that included details on an upcoming operation to arrest militants.
Fahima denies the charges, arguing among other things that Zubeidi and many of his associates speak Hebrew and thus do not need her as a translator.
Fahima arrived at the hearing accompanied by dozens of supporters. "For half a year I have been kept in isolation and haven't been allowed to speak," Fahima said prior to the hearing.
In a letter distributed among Fahima's supporters, Zubeidi and other residents of the Jenin refugee camp said they are "strengthening her [Fahima's] spirit."
"The Israelis are afraid that you will lead to hundreds of Tali Fahimas. The are afraid that many Israelis will cross the fence and see the truth," the letter said.
From September 2004 until roughly one month ago Fahima was held in administrative detention due to the state's contention the evidence against her was confidential.
According to the prosecution, the evidence that served as the basis for the detention relates to far more serious accusations. Charges have not been filed in connection with these accusations because the evidence remains confidential.
Tali Fahima being led by a policewoman into the Tel Aviv court http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/images/daily/D110105/245fahima110105.jpg http://www.haaretz.com/hasite/images/iht_daily/D110105/147e_fahima110105.jpg
where she is charged with aiding terrorists. (Motti Kimche)
Related Links * Court extends remand of left-wing activist Tali Fahima http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515634&contrassID=1
* Fahima indicted for aiding the enemy http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=519315&contrassID=1
Jerusalem Post: Trial of far-left activist Fahima begins in TA By YAAKOV KATZ
The trial of far-left activist Tali Fahima, 28, an Israeli Jew from the center of the country, began on Tuesday at the Tel Aviv District Court.
Fahima, who was arrested in August and has been in custody since, is suspected of aiding Palestinian terror organizations and planning terror attacks in Israel.
Fahima, a close friend of Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades leader in Jenin, Zakariya Zubeidi, is also charged with violating an IDF order not to enter Palestinian-controlled Area A.
While declarations made by security forces in the media spoke of Tali having been involved in planning terrorist activities, the indictment contains no such charges. The indictment, with its ludicrous charges and poor evidential basis, addresses the public's darkest fears and feelings of nationalism. (www.freetalifahima.org)
But the judges are also part of this public. To this day, and during five long months, the judicial system has time and again approved the denial of Tali Fahima's freedom, simply because the security system asked them to.
Through all this, Tali has courageously stood up to humiliating and exhausting political persecution, and asserted her right to voice her belief in solidarity between the two peoples.
The Call distributed for the vigil:
This coming Tuesday, 11/1/05, at 8:00 AM, we will gather outside the Tel Aviv district court and say
No to Tali Fahima's political persecution
No to the political imprisonment of Israeli Arab leaders
No to Shabak harassment of political activists
No to the witch hunt, hatred and suspicion directed at those who refuse to bow to government intimidation
Action in the court house
Inside the court we will keep the order, hoping that the judges will also fulfill their duty of carrying out justice in a fair and open manner.
If you refuse to stop meeting Palestinians in Palestine, to stop showing solidarity with them, to stop opposing the occupation, the wall and Israel's killing and suffocating policy in Palestine, we suggest you wear, during the protest vigil in front of the courthouse, a T-shirt imprinted with one of the following messages:
I've been to area A,
I've been to Genin
I have met with Palestinians
I have met with armed Palestinians
I have Palestinian friends
I have met with Palestinian freedom fighters
I object to the targeted killing policy
I object to the occupation
I have been interrogated by Shabak
I have been harassed by Shabak
I have been summoned to Shabak interrogation
Free Tali Fahima
We ask everyone to cover or take off these T-shirts when entering the courthouse, so we can start our relationship with the new judges on the right footing (and with our hearts on the left).
To order T-shirts (Hebrew inscription only):
Send the following details to talialmi@actcom.net.il:
1. T-shirt size (S, M, L, XL)
2. Your choice of inscription (from the above list, please, to make things easier for us)
3. Number of T-shirts
4. Your name
The price of a T-shirt is 10 Shekels. We will bring them to the courthouse entrance.
=================
* The vigil consisted of young and old activists against the occupation of Palestine by Israel. Significant number of the participants were from the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative.
** In his "huge generosity" the prosecutor claimed he will not ask for the death penalty for the ridiculous and absurd accusations.
--------------------------------------------------
Following is some references of today's media:
Haaretz:
Trial begins for Israeli woman accused of helping terrorists By Zvi Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
The trial of an Israeli woman accused of aiding Palestinian terrorists opened Tuesday in the Tel Aviv District Court with the reading of the charges against her.
Tali Fahima is charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, contact with foreign agents and supporting a terrorist organization.
The trial proceedings will begin January 16, but Fahima's attorney, Smadar Ben Natan, told the court Tuesday that she intends to present preliminary arguments beforehand.
The defense will file a motion to dismiss some or all of the charges, on the basis that, even if Fahima did in fact commit a crime, it was inconsequential.
According to the charges, Fahima helped Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Bridages militants, including the organization's Jenin commander, Zacharia Zubeidi, evade capture during an Israel Defense Forces operation.
Fahima is accused of translating for the militants a secret map accidentally left behind by the IDF that included details on an upcoming operation to arrest militants.
Fahima denies the charges, arguing among other things that Zubeidi and many of his associates speak Hebrew and thus do not need her as a translator.
Fahima arrived at the hearing accompanied by dozens of supporters. "For half a year I have been kept in isolation and haven't been allowed to speak," Fahima said prior to the hearing.
In a letter distributed among Fahima's supporters, Zubeidi and other residents of the Jenin refugee camp said they are "strengthening her [Fahima's] spirit."
"The Israelis are afraid that you will lead to hundreds of Tali Fahimas. The are afraid that many Israelis will cross the fence and see the truth," the letter said.
From September 2004 until roughly one month ago Fahima was held in administrative detention due to the state's contention the evidence against her was confidential.
According to the prosecution, the evidence that served as the basis for the detention relates to far more serious accusations. Charges have not been filed in connection with these accusations because the evidence remains confidential.
Tali Fahima being led by a policewoman into the Tel Aviv court http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/images/daily/D110105/245fahima110105.jpg http://www.haaretz.com/hasite/images/iht_daily/D110105/147e_fahima110105.jpg
where she is charged with aiding terrorists. (Motti Kimche)
Related Links * Court extends remand of left-wing activist Tali Fahima http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=515634&contrassID=1
* Fahima indicted for aiding the enemy http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=519315&contrassID=1
Jerusalem Post: Trial of far-left activist Fahima begins in TA By YAAKOV KATZ
The trial of far-left activist Tali Fahima, 28, an Israeli Jew from the center of the country, began on Tuesday at the Tel Aviv District Court.
Fahima, who was arrested in August and has been in custody since, is suspected of aiding Palestinian terror organizations and planning terror attacks in Israel.
Fahima, a close friend of Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades leader in Jenin, Zakariya Zubeidi, is also charged with violating an IDF order not to enter Palestinian-controlled Area A.
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
Israel, Tel-Aviv, Street Party - Politicalpersecution Friday, 7th january, 14:30 - TelAviv Jan 5
Hello all! ---- This friday, 14:30, Kolbo shalom tel aviv CRAZY STREET PARTY against political persecution) PASS THIS ON!
They are afriad...
They are afraid of Palestinian-Israeli contacts, They are afriad of mutual non-violent protests.
They are afraid from the will to break walls and see what's happening on the other side,
They are afraid that we will see that on the other side there are human-beings.
They are afriad we will see the poverty, the suffering. That poors from both sides will learn who to blame.
They are afraid unviolent resistance that will uncover the crime and violent oppression of the army.
That's why they shoot non-violent protestors against the fence.
That's why they investigate activists.
That's why they bring to court palestinian and Israeli peace activists.
THEY will not shut us down!
WE have nothing to hide!
We're not the ones hiding...
Let's blow their cover together in a fun and happy STREET PARTY that will mark to everyone where are THEY and where we are!
Friday (7th january), 14:30 (Exactly!) Under Kolbo Shalom TEL-AVIV
More anouncments to come.
Be there or be THEM!
PASS THIS ON!!!!!
=======================
* Antiauthoritarian anticapitalist initiative
They are afriad...
They are afraid of Palestinian-Israeli contacts, They are afriad of mutual non-violent protests.
They are afraid from the will to break walls and see what's happening on the other side,
They are afraid that we will see that on the other side there are human-beings.
They are afriad we will see the poverty, the suffering. That poors from both sides will learn who to blame.
They are afraid unviolent resistance that will uncover the crime and violent oppression of the army.
That's why they shoot non-violent protestors against the fence.
That's why they investigate activists.
That's why they bring to court palestinian and Israeli peace activists.
THEY will not shut us down!
WE have nothing to hide!
We're not the ones hiding...
Let's blow their cover together in a fun and happy STREET PARTY that will mark to everyone where are THEY and where we are!
Friday (7th january), 14:30 (Exactly!) Under Kolbo Shalom TEL-AVIV
More anouncments to come.
Be there or be THEM!
PASS THIS ON!!!!!
=======================
* Antiauthoritarian anticapitalist initiative
Sunday, January 2, 2005
Israel-Palestine, The anarchist struggle expand. Jan 2
The construction of the Apartheid wall continue - in many places contradicting higher court of "justice" verdicts. Non-violent actions of Palestinian villagers joined by Internationals, Anarchists Against The Wall (AATW) and other Israeli radicals is met with various levels of Israeli state violence. Political persecution of non-violent Palestinians, Israeli (Tali Fahima and others) continue with counter action of Israeli radicals and anarchists at courthouse and in front of it.... Lately, People of the AATW initiative joined the struggle of the two homeless camps (Jerusalem and Beer Sheva) under court order for eviction.
For more information: http://israel.indymedia.org
and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstwall/
For more information: http://israel.indymedia.org
and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstwall/
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