The morning started early for 30 persons - Anarchists Against The Wall people and few sympathizers when we came to the district court for the contest of lower court rule. About a month ago a lowest level court judge banned Jonathan Polak - the most active person in the struggle against the wall, from visiting the occupied territories. The judge annulled the garbage of the lowest level court judge, but as a compromise gave another week of "rest" to Jonathan (instead of the additional 8 of the "promised" "rest"). The media (Haaretz daily) dedicated a whole news page to the struggle against the Wall/fence. Following three articles with Editor Notes []
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Allegations against Bili'in protest crumble in court By Meron Rapaport
[In the Hebrew printed edition the header was: "demonstrations against the fence - version vs. version POLICEMAN LIED IN HIS TESTIMONY AGAINST PALESTINIAN DEMONSTRATOR JUDGE: THE BEHAVIOR OF THE POLICEMEN OF THE FORCE MUST BE CHECKED"]
Are the demonstrations in Bili'in against the separation fence really non-violent, as claimed by their Palestinian and Israeli organizers, or are they in fact violent protests involving the throwing of stones, as charged by the Israel Defense Forces?
As expected, ever since the demonstrations there began, both sides have offered conflicting versions on the issue. Last week, however, a military court ruled that at least in the case before it, IDF soldiers had opened fire while Palestinians and Israelis were demonstrating in a non-violent manner and had not thrown stones. Military Judge Captain Daniel Zamir called for an examination of "the actions of the troops at the scene and the use of the force at its disposal."
[The stone throwing attrition war between the state forces and the village youngsters never start before the forces stop the demonstration and start to harass the participants]
In recent months, the demonstrations in Bili'in have become the focal point of clashes between the IDF and Palestinians over the separation fence. Last Friday saw one such demonstration, with the IDF reporting that one soldier was moderately hurt and the demonstrators reporting 16 injuries, including four Israelis and one disabled individual, by IDF gunfire. A month or so ago, soldier Michael Schwartzman was struck by a rock during a demonstration in Bili'in, resulting in the loss of sight in one eye.
Last Friday, as usual, the Palestinians charged that the shooting started without any provocation on the part of the demonstrators, while the IDF claimed that the shooting began "only after the demonstrators continued to throw stones at the troops despite efforts to end the incident in non-violent ways."
Some three weeks ago, on June 17, a very similar incident took place in Bili'in. A few hundred Palestinians and Israelis began a march toward the route of the separation fence, which passes through village property and leaves some 2,000 dunams (around half the village's land) outside the fence. The Bili'in residents, who claim to be inspired by Gandhi's methods, declared the march a non-violent demonstration. The marchers were stopped by soldiers and Border Police a few hundred meters from the route of the fence.
The demonstration ended with the security forces deploying riot-dispersal means and in the arrest of a number of protesters, including Abdallah Abu-Rahma, one of the leaders of Bili'in's Popular Committee, and his brother, Ratab, a lecturer at the Al-Quds University and a member of the Seeds of Peace organization.
The indictment against Ratab Abu-Rahma was based primarily on testimony from Wahil Sabit, a border policeman present during the demonstration. Sabit testified that demonstrators started throwing stones at the security forces immediately after the area was declared a closed military zone. Sabit said he saw Abu-Rahma throw stones at the soldiers and then shot him with a sponge bullet.
Sabit was the only policeman who claimed to have seen Abu-Rahma throwing stones.
Abu-Rahma's attorneys, Tamar Peleg and Gabi Lasky, presented the court with video clips that were filmed during the incident and that show Abu-Rahma asking the demonstrators to walk "slowly, slowly." Two of the clips show the demonstrators moving the barbed wire barrier set up by the security forces, but not crossing it, only lying down on the road in quiet protest. Immediately thereafter, the soldiers are seen throwing stun grenades and tear-gas canisters toward the demonstrators, without the latter having thrown a single stone.
[As I have been lying down on the asphalt road next to Ratab and Abdallah "covered" with imitation of grave stones, I just wonder how absurd the the lies of the authorities tend to be. Even a jogger would not be able to throw stones in such position.]
Abu-Rahma is seen getting to his feet and then immediately being hit with a sponge bullet. Contrary to border policeman Sabit's testimony, Abu-Rahma is not arrested there and then, but only some time later, after the security forces apprehend his brother and begin beating him. Ratab Abu-Rahma is seen intervening in an effort to help his sibling, and also takes blows from the soldiers.
Judge Zamir upheld all the arguments of the defense, ruling that the demonstration was quiet, that no stone-throwing was seen on the videotapes, and that Abu-Rahma took a blow to his stomach without any provocation on his part. "There was no reason for the defendant's arrest; there was no reason for the shooting that wounded him or the blows he received from the soldier," concluded the judge, adding that the reality was "strangely different, to put it mildly, from the testimony of the prosecution witnesses."
Zamir ordered Abu-Rahma released on bail and advised the prosecution to reconsider its actions against him. The prosecution, however, did not capitulate, and appealed the judge's decision in a hearing on Thursday. The appeal was rejected.
It emerged during the appeal, however, that a border policeman also filmed the events. This tape has yet to be seen by the prosecution. Until such time, Abu-Rahma remains free.
[Probably the the said military court judge will not recalled again to his reserve service as military court judge....]
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IDF officer arrests Israeli cameraman By Meron Rapaport
An Israel Defense Forces deputy brigade commander confiscated the Government Press Office-issued press card of an Israeli journalist, informing him that he was revoking his card and ordering that he be arrested for terming him "insolent." The director of the Association of Israeli Journalists, Yossi Bar-Moha, defined the incident as severe, and as one that "can only take place in totalitarian states."
The incident occurred last Friday during a demonstration in the Palestinian village of Bili'in and involved cameraman Shai Carmeli Pollack, who is filming a documentary for Channel 8 on the protests against the fence. During the course of the demonstration, Pollack exchanged words with IDF officers about the way in which the security forces were dealing with the protesters and their demand that he refrain from filming the event.
Brigade deputy commander Shai Malka then asked Pollack if he was a journalist. On receiving an affirmative response, Malka said, "I am revoking your press card." Malka then ordered that Pollack be arrested, and seized his credentials, accusing him also of insulting a public official.
This was Pollack's third arrest during demonstrations against the fence.
"Clearly the IDF doesn't want coverage of what is happening there," said Adi Arbel, program director for Channel 8.
[Few months ago, when the journalist/press card of his (that gives him some freedom of movement needed renewal, they took long weeks of stalling till renewal.]
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Border Policeman dies during anti-fence rally By Jonathan Lis
A Border Policeman died yesterday after suddenly collapsing while policing the separation fence near Har Adar, outside Jerusalem.
Police initially said that Natan Yasais, 21, of Lod had been hit by a rock thrown by a Palestinian. However, hospital officials said they saw no signs of him having been hit by anything. They said that he arrived with a high fever and apparently died either of an existing illness or of dehydration. They added that he was in critical condition upon arrival and died very shortly afterward.
Police said they would investigate the incident to determine whether Yasais' commanders were guilty of negligence.
Police officials said they initially assumed Yasais had been hit by a rock because when he died, he was helping to disperse a violent demonstration against the fence that involved dozens of rock-throwing Palestinians. The demonstrators were eventually dispersed by means of shock grenades, the police reported.
Anarchists Against the Fence, which is involved in many anti-fence demonstrations, insisted that there was no demonstration at all in the Har Adar area yesterday, either by Israelis or by local Palestinians. They accused the police of deliberately spreading misinformation in order to "delegitimize the nonviolent demonstrations that take place in this area" - a charge that the police termed "a gross lie."
[The main radio station reported on the case - including interview of the commander of the border police of Jerusalem region. As he could not continue with the lie that the border police person died of a stone thrown on him an admit it was an accident, he took the opportunity to blame the Anarchists Against The Wall/Fence initiative for inciting the Palestinians. As if our presence is not just a limited "policy" against harsher means of suppression - used when only Palestinians are around. The state forces still remember how the Israeli public opinion - which do not care much when Palestinian demonstrators are killed, responded to a shooting of the Israeli Gill Naamaty. Public opinion even forced the highest army commander to visit Gill in hospital and apologize.
It is a well known that the state repression forces have a different routine of suppression when Israelis are present and when we are not present in a demonstration of Palestinians.]
Monday, July 4, 2005
Friday, July 1, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, A new angle to the joint struggle against the fence 01 Jul
It was a quiet Friday. The state forces did not even tried to stop us - the Israelis from arriving at Bil'in. As the number exceeded the expectation the ride from Tel Aviv was crowded. We were about 45 Israelis from the Anarchists Against the Wall, People from the high school refusnics initiative, and others from the coalition against the fence. As we arrived early we had time to participate in the preparation of to day's presentation: about six people embedded in a fence with the inscription in both Arabic, English and Hebrew: "The fence is tearing us". At he usual hour - after the Friday religious ritual the demonstration started. The six of us embedded in the fence structure at the head. The others (including 150 villagers and 15 internationals behind us and the media people in front of us taking pictures and video for the TV international media channels.
And the march started... but not in the usual road to the fence we took the previous months. The army and police who were waiting us on the usual place were taking in surprise and blocked us only 100 meters from the route of the fence. There, they declared as usual that the area is military zone forbidden Israelis and gave 10 minutes before they start to disperse us. The people of the structure set down and the count down started. After 10 minutes of stand still and threats they started to disperse us. The commander ordered to arrest all the six of us embedded in the structure... but the policeman were not too diligent. The one who started to arrest me was content of detaching me from the structure and lifting me to my feet... and went away. Only two of our six were arrested.
Other three Israelis who confronted the state forces verbally were arrested too.. From the 5 Israeli detained two were released at the fence route and three were arrested and processed at the Givat Zeev police station - released few hours later on small bail and acceptance of 10 day abstaining from participation in demonstrations in Bil'in.
After the dispersing of the demonstration by tear gas, shock grenades, and the old metal bullets rubber coated and the new rubber foam bullets, the stone throwers started the ritual of attrition war with the soldiers. After short invasion of the village in the pursuit of the stone throwers, the defeated soldiers retreated and kept for a while the fight with the stone throwers on the fringes of the village.
After a while, they just retreated to their positions near the route.
During the dispersing of the demo and the stones "festival" Israelis, Palestinians and internationals 19 people were injured. Two of them more seriously, were taken to hospital.
One soldier too was moderately injured from a stone.
Electronic media reported on the demonstration - including very short item in the main public TV evening news. Usually giving the official lies - who do not admit the stone throwing starts only in retaliation for violent dispersing of our nonviolent demonstration.
And the march started... but not in the usual road to the fence we took the previous months. The army and police who were waiting us on the usual place were taking in surprise and blocked us only 100 meters from the route of the fence. There, they declared as usual that the area is military zone forbidden Israelis and gave 10 minutes before they start to disperse us. The people of the structure set down and the count down started. After 10 minutes of stand still and threats they started to disperse us. The commander ordered to arrest all the six of us embedded in the structure... but the policeman were not too diligent. The one who started to arrest me was content of detaching me from the structure and lifting me to my feet... and went away. Only two of our six were arrested.
Other three Israelis who confronted the state forces verbally were arrested too.. From the 5 Israeli detained two were released at the fence route and three were arrested and processed at the Givat Zeev police station - released few hours later on small bail and acceptance of 10 day abstaining from participation in demonstrations in Bil'in.
After the dispersing of the demonstration by tear gas, shock grenades, and the old metal bullets rubber coated and the new rubber foam bullets, the stone throwers started the ritual of attrition war with the soldiers. After short invasion of the village in the pursuit of the stone throwers, the defeated soldiers retreated and kept for a while the fight with the stone throwers on the fringes of the village.
After a while, they just retreated to their positions near the route.
During the dispersing of the demo and the stones "festival" Israelis, Palestinians and internationals 19 people were injured. Two of them more seriously, were taken to hospital.
One soldier too was moderately injured from a stone.
Electronic media reported on the demonstration - including very short item in the main public TV evening news. Usually giving the official lies - who do not admit the stone throwing starts only in retaliation for violent dispersing of our nonviolent demonstration.
Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, A new angle to the joint struggle against the fence 01 Jul
It was a quiet Friday. The state forces did not even tried to stop us - the Israelis from arriving at Bil'in. As the number exceeded the expectation the ride from Tel Aviv was crowded. We were about 45 Israelis from the Anarchists Against the Wall, People from the high school refusnics initiative, and others from the coalition against the fence. As we arrived early we had time to participate in the preparation of to day's presentation: about six people embedded in a fence with the inscription in both Arabic, English and Hebrew: "The fence is tearing us". At he usual hour - after the Friday religious ritual the demonstration started. The six of us embedded in the fence structure at the head. The others (including 150 villagers and 15 internationals behind us and the media people in front of us taking pictures and video for the TV international media channels.
And the march started... but not in the usual road to the fence we took the previous months. The army and police who were waiting us on the usual place were taking in surprise and blocked us only 100 meters from the route of the fence. There, they declared as usual that the area is military zone forbidden Israelis and gave 10 minutes before they start to disperse us. The people of the structure set down and the count down started. After 10 minutes of stand still and threats they started to disperse us. The commander ordered to arrest all the six of us embedded in the structure... but the policeman were not too diligent. The one who started to arrest me was content of detaching me from the structure and lifting me to my feet... and went away. Only two of our six were arrested.
Other three Israelis who confronted the state forces verbally were arrested too..
>From the 5 Israeli detained two were released at the fence route and three were arrested and processed at the Givat Zeev police station - released few hours later on small bail and acceptance of 10 day abstaining from participation in demonstrations in Bil'in.
After the dispersing of the demonstration by tear gas, shock grenades, and the old metal bullets rubber coated and the new rubber foam bullets, the stone throwers started the ritual of attrition war with the soldiers. After short invasion of the village in the pursuit of the stone throwers, the defeated soldiers retreated and kept for a while the fight with the stone throwers on the fringes of the village.
After a while, they just retreated to their positions near the route.
During the dispersing of the demo and the stones "festival" Israelis, Palestinians and internationals 19 people were injured. Two of them more seriously, were taken to hospital.
One soldier too was moderately injured from a stone.
Electronic media reported on the demonstration - including very short item in the main public TV evening news. Usually giving the official lies - who do not admit the stone throwing starts only in retaliation for violent dispersing of our nonviolent demonstration.
And the march started... but not in the usual road to the fence we took the previous months. The army and police who were waiting us on the usual place were taking in surprise and blocked us only 100 meters from the route of the fence. There, they declared as usual that the area is military zone forbidden Israelis and gave 10 minutes before they start to disperse us. The people of the structure set down and the count down started. After 10 minutes of stand still and threats they started to disperse us. The commander ordered to arrest all the six of us embedded in the structure... but the policeman were not too diligent. The one who started to arrest me was content of detaching me from the structure and lifting me to my feet... and went away. Only two of our six were arrested.
Other three Israelis who confronted the state forces verbally were arrested too..
>From the 5 Israeli detained two were released at the fence route and three were arrested and processed at the Givat Zeev police station - released few hours later on small bail and acceptance of 10 day abstaining from participation in demonstrations in Bil'in.
After the dispersing of the demonstration by tear gas, shock grenades, and the old metal bullets rubber coated and the new rubber foam bullets, the stone throwers started the ritual of attrition war with the soldiers. After short invasion of the village in the pursuit of the stone throwers, the defeated soldiers retreated and kept for a while the fight with the stone throwers on the fringes of the village.
After a while, they just retreated to their positions near the route.
During the dispersing of the demo and the stones "festival" Israelis, Palestinians and internationals 19 people were injured. Two of them more seriously, were taken to hospital.
One soldier too was moderately injured from a stone.
Electronic media reported on the demonstration - including very short item in the main public TV evening news. Usually giving the official lies - who do not admit the stone throwing starts only in retaliation for violent dispersing of our nonviolent demonstration.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Imneizil & Bil'in, The joint struggle against the apartheid wall continued on Monday June 27th
The ruthless repression of the Israely state forces are restrained when Israeli activists are participating in the non violent actions against the apartheid fence which robe Palestinian lands. It is well known they have two specific sets of orders about which means of dispersing to use: i.e. what kind of amunition to use and whether to use live amunition or not, the Imneizil people invited the Anarchists Against The Wall (AATW) to join them. The Monday 27th demo was not the first act of struggle against the wall. It was however one of the most successfull. On Monday, villagers from Imneizil in South Hebron district (who was not reinforced that day by people of the AATW initiative as they were blocked by the Israeli army) brought the Occupation bulldozers to a halt.
Palestinian flags adorned the bulldozers which have razed 400 dunums of land here in the last week as villagers took back their confiscated land. Two Palestinians were injured as the Occupation Forces spent several hours pushing and beating demonstrators back.
Protestors assembled in the afternoon from the small village of Imneizil in South Hebron and marched to the hills and the worksite of the Occupation Forces and their machinery.
Villagers blocked the path of the bulldozers bringing their work to a standstill. Demonstrators rejoiced as they mounted the bulldozers and took back their land which has been confiscated for the Apartheid Wall and the expansion of the settlements.
Occupation Forces beat villagers forcing them back into the village where they will be ghettoized by the Apartheid Wall. There were two injuries as the Occupation deployed its standard violence and brutality.
So far around 400 dunums of fertile land has been destroyed and several hundred trees uprooted for the Apartheid Wall. Farmland containing grape, olive and almond trees - and which yielded the life source for the village - has been destroyed. The Wall will isolate land that is expected to be annexed into the nearby settlement of Metzadot Yehuda, immediately to the south of the village. One of the village's main water wells will also be isolated behind the Wall.
Water shortages are becoming an increasingly dire problem in Hebron district as the Wall's route has been planned to isolate many of the local natural water resources. A settler bypass road is also under construction, parallel to the Wall, which will pass just 15 metres from the village school. Located between the Apartheid Wall and settler roads, villages across Palestine are being turned into disparate and miserable ghettos, cut off from land and life.
See pictures at: http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/948.shtml
***
================= BIL'IN ===================
Bil'in, the joint struggle of the villagers continue, togather with the Israli anarchists and the wider coalition against the wall/fence. The struggle in Bil'in continues with determination and creativity. Every week for the past few months the people of Bil'in have demonstrated against the construction of the wall and the expansion of settlements on their confiscated lands.
During these months the people of Bil'in have become the symbol of non-violent resistance in Palestine; incorporating into they actions an extensive repertoire of creative elements in accordance to their commitment to direct action. Every week the people of Bil'in invented new and creative ways that included placards, art effects and communicates of political and humanist messages.
The suppression of the army try to deny the human nature of the Palestinians but the they succeed to counter act this and keep their humanity and dignity.
Last week, a segment of the fence - closest to the Bil'in - was cut by a group of young people from the village. There is a real danger that the military will retaliate against this action with severe force, using collective punishment against the local residents. This, according to the high rank commander Tsahy Segev who admitted to Miron Rapoport of Haaretz daily when he revealed to him his mode of opperation in Bil'in
In light of these developments -the presence of Israelis is needed more than ever to support this inspiring struggle.
This Friday there will be another demo in the village. All of you are most welcome.
For transportation from Tel Aviv call Yonatan
For transportation from Jerusalem call Amnon
Palestinian flags adorned the bulldozers which have razed 400 dunums of land here in the last week as villagers took back their confiscated land. Two Palestinians were injured as the Occupation Forces spent several hours pushing and beating demonstrators back.
Protestors assembled in the afternoon from the small village of Imneizil in South Hebron and marched to the hills and the worksite of the Occupation Forces and their machinery.
Villagers blocked the path of the bulldozers bringing their work to a standstill. Demonstrators rejoiced as they mounted the bulldozers and took back their land which has been confiscated for the Apartheid Wall and the expansion of the settlements.
Occupation Forces beat villagers forcing them back into the village where they will be ghettoized by the Apartheid Wall. There were two injuries as the Occupation deployed its standard violence and brutality.
So far around 400 dunums of fertile land has been destroyed and several hundred trees uprooted for the Apartheid Wall. Farmland containing grape, olive and almond trees - and which yielded the life source for the village - has been destroyed. The Wall will isolate land that is expected to be annexed into the nearby settlement of Metzadot Yehuda, immediately to the south of the village. One of the village's main water wells will also be isolated behind the Wall.
Water shortages are becoming an increasingly dire problem in Hebron district as the Wall's route has been planned to isolate many of the local natural water resources. A settler bypass road is also under construction, parallel to the Wall, which will pass just 15 metres from the village school. Located between the Apartheid Wall and settler roads, villages across Palestine are being turned into disparate and miserable ghettos, cut off from land and life.
See pictures at: http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/948.shtml
***
================= BIL'IN ===================
Bil'in, the joint struggle of the villagers continue, togather with the Israli anarchists and the wider coalition against the wall/fence. The struggle in Bil'in continues with determination and creativity. Every week for the past few months the people of Bil'in have demonstrated against the construction of the wall and the expansion of settlements on their confiscated lands.
During these months the people of Bil'in have become the symbol of non-violent resistance in Palestine; incorporating into they actions an extensive repertoire of creative elements in accordance to their commitment to direct action. Every week the people of Bil'in invented new and creative ways that included placards, art effects and communicates of political and humanist messages.
The suppression of the army try to deny the human nature of the Palestinians but the they succeed to counter act this and keep their humanity and dignity.
Last week, a segment of the fence - closest to the Bil'in - was cut by a group of young people from the village. There is a real danger that the military will retaliate against this action with severe force, using collective punishment against the local residents. This, according to the high rank commander Tsahy Segev who admitted to Miron Rapoport of Haaretz daily when he revealed to him his mode of opperation in Bil'in
In light of these developments -the presence of Israelis is needed more than ever to support this inspiring struggle.
This Friday there will be another demo in the village. All of you are most welcome.
For transportation from Tel Aviv call Yonatan
For transportation from Jerusalem call Amnon
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Bil'in, The daily struggle continue - reports on Wednsday and Friday actions 25 Jun
The persistent struggle against the fence at Bil'in collect momentum. Friday action showed another sample of creativity. See the pictures at: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3362/index.php
The village committee of struggle against the fence who persist in nonviolent struggle, using various sorts of creative approaches, succeed to keep the media interested, and time after time confuse for a while and astonish even the Israeli forces of suppression when they get early mornings surprises. Friday morning, around 06:00, a symbolic, but massive cage was erected on the route of the fence in building which robe huge size of the village lands. The metal cage was of 3X3 meter size, surrounded with barbed wire fence, within it 4 Palestinians (3 of them women), 3 Israelis* 3 international activists... and one goat. On the cage were hanged banners: "The darkness must end, The handcuffs must be broken". Other people converged around them.
After a short time, the army force arrived. After few minutes of bewilderment the commanders got together, and regained their position that no matter what is the message or the subjective experience of the villagers or what way the choose to struggle - the only thing that count is that all the area is a closed military zone. Thus, the instructions were simple: "all the people are trespassing". "The Palestinians who surrounded the cage are to be dispersed quickly". "Use all means needed, Palestinian who dare throw a stone you down his hand". "These locked themselves in the cage will be arrested".
Within a short while the commander with Zionist inspiration got diligent: sent soldiers to shoot tear gas and shock grenades in the direction of the not far away village of Bil'in. A massive bulldozer was used to destroy the cage.
The three palestinian women (and the goat) went out of the destroyed cage without resisting and were not arrested. The other activists resisted and were taken out by force. After few hours of detention at the site, the detainees taken to Givat Ze'ev police station and were arrested there. The Palestinian was released after deposition of the equivalent of 440.- US dollars bail till his trial. The Israelis and international released on condition they will not approach the fence for the usual 10 to 15 days. So it is when you are a Palestinian under the Israeli occupation - criminal just for living on the land.
Originally by Nurit Translated for ainfos
=================== FRIDAY ===============
At noon there was the usual Friday demonstration, suppressed as usual, with moderate mass of arrest's - 12 Israelis and three internationals. At the evening the Bil'in villagers dismantled a symbolic 50 meter of the concrete structure base of the fence.
"Today too a march started from the center of the village towards the route of the fence in building, that rob most of the lands of the village. 150 Palestinians, Israelis* (about 30), and few internationals took part in it. [The Bil'in village is a small one with only about 1600 inhabitants.]
Today message was focused on the objection to the damage of that project to the nature and environment. The demonstrator carried a "presentation" with pictures of pastoral view covered with barbed wire, with the header of: "The fence destroy every thing that is beautiful". In addition, the demonstrators carried placard with the famous drawing "The scream" of Munk, as protest against the new weapon used by the army to disperse demonstrators at Bil'in [as a testing ground]. The new gadget nick named "The Scream" is a huge loud speaker that emit a frequency that can cause head aches and belly aches. (Its use was forbidden in US.) [However, as it is useless when people put ear plugs... and as last time they tried it in Bil'in people were prepared, last Friday the army did not try it on us any more.]
The army, its brutality towards nonviolent demonstrations became a routine, put a barbed wire line that block the road near the last building of the village (500 meters from the route of the fence where no work is done there at Fridays).
When we arrived there the commander declared that any one who will touch the wire will be shot at. He also declared it is closed military zone forbidden for Israelis who must go away immediately... and any way the allotted time to the demo is only 10 minutes.
After about 10 minutes in which there was a stand still, with no one of the Youngsters throwing stones, the barbed wire was disposed of and we started to advance very slowly... and the army and border police responded as they "promised".
The Israeli forces stormed us shooting tear gas canister, shock grenades, new [experimental] rubber foam bullets and regular rubber coated bullets.
[It seems Bil'in Friday demonstrations are a favorite testing ground for the new weapons, and they do not make any more real efforts to stop the Israelis from coming to the Bil'in demos.]
During their assault, they arrested every Israeli they discerned.. [refraining from arresting the older ones of us who had some white hairs. One of us the oldies was detained by mistake, and was surprised when the arresting officer just "deserted him in the middle of the road..."]
After they finished dispersed the demonstration and arresting the outsiders, the usual attrition war between 40 of the village stone throwing youngsters and the Israeli forces.
Three of the demonstrators were injured by rubber coated metal bullets.
The 12 Israelis and 3 international were released after very short interrogation at the Givat Ze'ev police station.
Few hours after the demo inhabitants of the village dismantled about 50 meters of the concrete structure on the route of the fence on which the fence is supposed to be erected.
As the army do lately frequently, and more so after the harming of the fence, it is most probable the army will intensify the nightly harassment in the village.
Israelis presence is most needed [as it restrain the harassment a bit].
Interested can contact 972-(0)52-3928592
=================MEDIA =========================
Israeli news agency reports:
About 100 activists of the left and Palestinians demonstrated near the separation fence near the village Bil'in - West of Ramalla.
The electronic media nana.co.il reports: Bil'in: according to the anarchists claim, 10 Israelis were arrested.
Activists of the left who participated in the demonstration today told Nana news that the army detained 10 of the demonstrators. The demonstrators claim it was nonviolent demonstration in which participated 150 people, and the stone throwing started only after the army open fire on them with means for dispersing demonstrations.
The army spokesperson deny that claim.....
Bil'in, Border police person was lightly injured from stone throwing during dispersing a demonstration against the separation fence at Bil'in - so says the army spokesperson.
Activists of the left dismantled 50 meter of the separation fence which pass in the village area, between Ramalla and Modi'in.
In the website of the Israeli daily Jerusalem post:
Jun. 24, 2005 15:44 | Updated Jun. 24, 2005 18:03 7 wounded in Bil'in anti-fence rally
By HAVIV RETTIG AND MARGOT DUDKEVITCH
Border Police use teargas to disperse a group of Palestinian, Israeli and foreign demonstrators during a protest against the construction of the security fence near the village of Bill's Photo: AP [File]
Security fence
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
A border policeman and at least six demonstrators were lightly wounded Friday during a protest of some 200 Palestinians, Israelis and international activists against the West Bank security fence in the village of Bil'in, east of Modi'in.
According to the police, 12 Israeli demonstrators and three foreigners were arrested during the demonstration and taken to the Givat Ze'ev station for investigation. The arrests came after the demonstration had turned violent and security forces declared the area a closed military zone.
Bil'in has been the site of nearly weekly demonstrations by groups opposed to the construction of the fence.
Yonatan Pollak, a member of Anarchists Against the Wall, told The Jerusalem Post that security forces fired rubber bullets at the demonstrators, wounding several Palestinians, one Israeli and one foreign activist.
Pollak said the Israeli demonstrator "was wounded in his back from the barbed wire and from being dragged during his arrest."
The IDF described the protest as a violent demonstration, during which security forces were pelted with stones, resulting in the wounding of one policeman. Security forces were forced to disperse the demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets, according to the army.
Pollak told the Post that the demonstration was intended to protest "wall construction on the village's land and the blueprints of a new settlement to be constructed there."
Once the demonstration began, Pollak said, the army erected a barbed-wire fence and declared the area a closed military zone. "Whenever there's a demonstration involving Israelis and Palestinians the army automatically declares a closed military zone, using its authority to block peaceful demonstrations, which is obviously not what it was meant for."
Demonstrators also said that the army gave the protestors 10 minutes to disperse. Pollak said that when the allotted time passed, soldiers charged at the demonstrators, at which point the demonstration turned violent.
According to Pollak, members of Hamas who are residents of Bil'in also participated in the demonstration. "Every demonstration includes members of Hamas from the village. High personages in the organization have been there previously, but did not participate in today's protest," he said.
Earlier this month, head of Hamas in the West Bank, Hassan Youssef, participated in the joint Israeli-Palestinian demonstration against the construction of the fence in Bil'in. Youssef told the Post at the time that he felt comfortable joining a protest that included Israeli demonstrators, and that he would be willing to join hands "with anyone who speaks out against the occupation," including Israelis.
The village committee of struggle against the fence who persist in nonviolent struggle, using various sorts of creative approaches, succeed to keep the media interested, and time after time confuse for a while and astonish even the Israeli forces of suppression when they get early mornings surprises. Friday morning, around 06:00, a symbolic, but massive cage was erected on the route of the fence in building which robe huge size of the village lands. The metal cage was of 3X3 meter size, surrounded with barbed wire fence, within it 4 Palestinians (3 of them women), 3 Israelis* 3 international activists... and one goat. On the cage were hanged banners: "The darkness must end, The handcuffs must be broken". Other people converged around them.
After a short time, the army force arrived. After few minutes of bewilderment the commanders got together, and regained their position that no matter what is the message or the subjective experience of the villagers or what way the choose to struggle - the only thing that count is that all the area is a closed military zone. Thus, the instructions were simple: "all the people are trespassing". "The Palestinians who surrounded the cage are to be dispersed quickly". "Use all means needed, Palestinian who dare throw a stone you down his hand". "These locked themselves in the cage will be arrested".
Within a short while the commander with Zionist inspiration got diligent: sent soldiers to shoot tear gas and shock grenades in the direction of the not far away village of Bil'in. A massive bulldozer was used to destroy the cage.
The three palestinian women (and the goat) went out of the destroyed cage without resisting and were not arrested. The other activists resisted and were taken out by force. After few hours of detention at the site, the detainees taken to Givat Ze'ev police station and were arrested there. The Palestinian was released after deposition of the equivalent of 440.- US dollars bail till his trial. The Israelis and international released on condition they will not approach the fence for the usual 10 to 15 days. So it is when you are a Palestinian under the Israeli occupation - criminal just for living on the land.
Originally by Nurit Translated for ainfos
=================== FRIDAY ===============
At noon there was the usual Friday demonstration, suppressed as usual, with moderate mass of arrest's - 12 Israelis and three internationals. At the evening the Bil'in villagers dismantled a symbolic 50 meter of the concrete structure base of the fence.
"Today too a march started from the center of the village towards the route of the fence in building, that rob most of the lands of the village. 150 Palestinians, Israelis* (about 30), and few internationals took part in it. [The Bil'in village is a small one with only about 1600 inhabitants.]
Today message was focused on the objection to the damage of that project to the nature and environment. The demonstrator carried a "presentation" with pictures of pastoral view covered with barbed wire, with the header of: "The fence destroy every thing that is beautiful". In addition, the demonstrators carried placard with the famous drawing "The scream" of Munk, as protest against the new weapon used by the army to disperse demonstrators at Bil'in [as a testing ground]. The new gadget nick named "The Scream" is a huge loud speaker that emit a frequency that can cause head aches and belly aches. (Its use was forbidden in US.) [However, as it is useless when people put ear plugs... and as last time they tried it in Bil'in people were prepared, last Friday the army did not try it on us any more.]
The army, its brutality towards nonviolent demonstrations became a routine, put a barbed wire line that block the road near the last building of the village (500 meters from the route of the fence where no work is done there at Fridays).
When we arrived there the commander declared that any one who will touch the wire will be shot at. He also declared it is closed military zone forbidden for Israelis who must go away immediately... and any way the allotted time to the demo is only 10 minutes.
After about 10 minutes in which there was a stand still, with no one of the Youngsters throwing stones, the barbed wire was disposed of and we started to advance very slowly... and the army and border police responded as they "promised".
The Israeli forces stormed us shooting tear gas canister, shock grenades, new [experimental] rubber foam bullets and regular rubber coated bullets.
[It seems Bil'in Friday demonstrations are a favorite testing ground for the new weapons, and they do not make any more real efforts to stop the Israelis from coming to the Bil'in demos.]
During their assault, they arrested every Israeli they discerned.. [refraining from arresting the older ones of us who had some white hairs. One of us the oldies was detained by mistake, and was surprised when the arresting officer just "deserted him in the middle of the road..."]
After they finished dispersed the demonstration and arresting the outsiders, the usual attrition war between 40 of the village stone throwing youngsters and the Israeli forces.
Three of the demonstrators were injured by rubber coated metal bullets.
The 12 Israelis and 3 international were released after very short interrogation at the Givat Ze'ev police station.
Few hours after the demo inhabitants of the village dismantled about 50 meters of the concrete structure on the route of the fence on which the fence is supposed to be erected.
As the army do lately frequently, and more so after the harming of the fence, it is most probable the army will intensify the nightly harassment in the village.
Israelis presence is most needed [as it restrain the harassment a bit].
Interested can contact 972-(0)52-3928592
=================MEDIA =========================
Israeli news agency reports:
About 100 activists of the left and Palestinians demonstrated near the separation fence near the village Bil'in - West of Ramalla.
The electronic media nana.co.il reports: Bil'in: according to the anarchists claim, 10 Israelis were arrested.
Activists of the left who participated in the demonstration today told Nana news that the army detained 10 of the demonstrators. The demonstrators claim it was nonviolent demonstration in which participated 150 people, and the stone throwing started only after the army open fire on them with means for dispersing demonstrations.
The army spokesperson deny that claim.....
Bil'in, Border police person was lightly injured from stone throwing during dispersing a demonstration against the separation fence at Bil'in - so says the army spokesperson.
Activists of the left dismantled 50 meter of the separation fence which pass in the village area, between Ramalla and Modi'in.
In the website of the Israeli daily Jerusalem post:
Jun. 24, 2005 15:44 | Updated Jun. 24, 2005 18:03 7 wounded in Bil'in anti-fence rally
By HAVIV RETTIG AND MARGOT DUDKEVITCH
Border Police use teargas to disperse a group of Palestinian, Israeli and foreign demonstrators during a protest against the construction of the security fence near the village of Bill's Photo: AP [File]
Security fence
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
A border policeman and at least six demonstrators were lightly wounded Friday during a protest of some 200 Palestinians, Israelis and international activists against the West Bank security fence in the village of Bil'in, east of Modi'in.
According to the police, 12 Israeli demonstrators and three foreigners were arrested during the demonstration and taken to the Givat Ze'ev station for investigation. The arrests came after the demonstration had turned violent and security forces declared the area a closed military zone.
Bil'in has been the site of nearly weekly demonstrations by groups opposed to the construction of the fence.
Yonatan Pollak, a member of Anarchists Against the Wall, told The Jerusalem Post that security forces fired rubber bullets at the demonstrators, wounding several Palestinians, one Israeli and one foreign activist.
Pollak said the Israeli demonstrator "was wounded in his back from the barbed wire and from being dragged during his arrest."
The IDF described the protest as a violent demonstration, during which security forces were pelted with stones, resulting in the wounding of one policeman. Security forces were forced to disperse the demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets, according to the army.
Pollak told the Post that the demonstration was intended to protest "wall construction on the village's land and the blueprints of a new settlement to be constructed there."
Once the demonstration began, Pollak said, the army erected a barbed-wire fence and declared the area a closed military zone. "Whenever there's a demonstration involving Israelis and Palestinians the army automatically declares a closed military zone, using its authority to block peaceful demonstrations, which is obviously not what it was meant for."
Demonstrators also said that the army gave the protestors 10 minutes to disperse. Pollak said that when the allotted time passed, soldiers charged at the demonstrators, at which point the demonstration turned violent.
According to Pollak, members of Hamas who are residents of Bil'in also participated in the demonstration. "Every demonstration includes members of Hamas from the village. High personages in the organization have been there previously, but did not participate in today's protest," he said.
Earlier this month, head of Hamas in the West Bank, Hassan Youssef, participated in the joint Israeli-Palestinian demonstration against the construction of the fence in Bil'in. Youssef told the Post at the time that he felt comfortable joining a protest that included Israeli demonstrators, and that he would be willing to join hands "with anyone who speaks out against the occupation," including Israelis.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Palestine-Israel, Hirbet Imnezil, a new front in the joint struggle... and Bil'in 23 Jun
"I arrived at Hirbet Imnezil on Sunday, with few other from the Anarchist against the fence group. We joined the first demonstration there against the fence.
Being there the first activity of this kind was apparent. Especially the encounter with Israeli activists and the expressions of despair on the faces of the villagers - especially these of the oldest people.
Hirbet Imnezil located in the South Hebron mountain region. Near it the settlement Bit Yatir/Metsudat Yehuda. (The double names is a known trick of the settlers, in their efforts to cover up their presence behind the Green Line - the preoccupation border.)
The settlement is obviously built on lands of Hirbet Imnezil. Before the 1948 war, their lands were up to Tel Arad where now stands the Israeli new town Arad. The fence around the settlement surround a big part of the lands of the village. That fence is a "dynamic" one - during the last few years it is moved again and again towards the houses of the village and annex few more lands to the settlement.
This week arrived a new fence... the mother of all the fences. A kind of cage was erected especially for the bulldozers and the tractors made by Caterpilar company - the accomplice of the israeli occupation.
This week the works on the fence started by the leveling of the lands on the route the fence will be built along it. The original route [which was abolished following previous struggle and the verdict of the Israeli highest court of "justice"] would be annexing the village and including it on the Israeli side of the fence. The present route in this region is aproximally along the Green Line [the 1948 border], but the Israeli state did not give in regarding the Beit Yatir settlement. In order to include it in the Israeli side the fence is departing there from the green line and encyrcle it. In part of the activists organization the village is not even marked as it is a small place of only 150 families. Soon it will become even smaller as the fence annex to the Israeli side about 5000 Dunams (five square killometers). The orders of confiscation their lands arrived at March 2005. Few of the owners of the lands submitted their formal objections to the Israeli occupation administration. They attached to their appel documents of ownership. As a responce, they received an official letter - including in it the documents of ownership they previously attached to their appeal, with very short reply: "We can not relate to your objection-appeal as there were not attached to it documents of ownership". Big part of the lands of the village are not tilled - a fact that make the confiscation easier as according to an old law from the time of the Othman empire (dismantled 90 years ago) that said that lands not tilled for three years become public and can be confiscated by the government.
At the time we arrived there still were not works for flatening the route. (It is redundant to add that after we left, the works did start in ernest.) We started to march along the proposed route of the fence, stopping for a while at the well used to supply water for the school but will be on the other side of the intended fence. We continued towards the hangar of the Caterpilar equipment. There we mer the the army forces. They were not ready for the demonstration, and thus did not have the so called "means for dispersing demonstrations". They appeared as people just aroused from their deep sleep....
They did not have haterad in their eyes - just a deep gaze of contept. One of them asked me: "have you nothing to do in Tel Aviuve in such day ?" Another one complained he had to return earlier from his Saturday at home because of the demo. Their apathy depressed me even more than the gazes full of haterad seen on the eyes of the soldiers with the same role in other villages. The banality of evil... We marched around the encloser of the bulldozers, holding hands - inhabitants of the village amongst them boys and girls, Israelis, and internationals. At a certain point, we set down as an expression of protest in front of the heavy equipment.
Afterwards, we marched towards the fence of the Beit Yatir settlement for an expression of protest. This aroused a bit the soldiers. As they did not have regular means for dispersing demonstrations they become physical, pushing and felling demonstrators to the ground - including people with advanced ages... This did not stop the people from shouting: "No to the fence, no to the settlements", "No peace with the fence". At this point the demonstration ended and we walked towards the village center. The coming Friday there will be another demo at Imnezil - another village joining to the chain of non violent mass protest against the fence.
For further details:
Elki
photographs: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3358/index.php
====================== Bil'in ==================
Photographs of the previous week demo of the children of Bil'in on the day that the village's fate was sealed in the Supreme Court in Jerusalem.
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3283/index.php
============================================
The latest from Bil'in:
At 6:00 in the Wednesday morning today, June 22, ten people - villagers, as well as international and Israeli activists of the AATW initiative ... a sheep, locked themselves into a cage on the planned route of the annexation wall. Of course there followed arrests, but today the untiring advocate Peleg succeeded in getting all out...
-----------------------------
Electronic Media reported:
22/06/2005 - 6 demonstrators against the fence at the Bil'in village were detained including three internationals activists. Part of them locked themselves in a cage but the security authorities succeeded to "free" them after a short time.
=============================
TV main (late evening) news program reported on a new link the chain of demos of the Bel'in villagers and supporters and showed a short part of the struggle of the state forces with the caged people.
Being there the first activity of this kind was apparent. Especially the encounter with Israeli activists and the expressions of despair on the faces of the villagers - especially these of the oldest people.
Hirbet Imnezil located in the South Hebron mountain region. Near it the settlement Bit Yatir/Metsudat Yehuda. (The double names is a known trick of the settlers, in their efforts to cover up their presence behind the Green Line - the preoccupation border.)
The settlement is obviously built on lands of Hirbet Imnezil. Before the 1948 war, their lands were up to Tel Arad where now stands the Israeli new town Arad. The fence around the settlement surround a big part of the lands of the village. That fence is a "dynamic" one - during the last few years it is moved again and again towards the houses of the village and annex few more lands to the settlement.
This week arrived a new fence... the mother of all the fences. A kind of cage was erected especially for the bulldozers and the tractors made by Caterpilar company - the accomplice of the israeli occupation.
This week the works on the fence started by the leveling of the lands on the route the fence will be built along it. The original route [which was abolished following previous struggle and the verdict of the Israeli highest court of "justice"] would be annexing the village and including it on the Israeli side of the fence. The present route in this region is aproximally along the Green Line [the 1948 border], but the Israeli state did not give in regarding the Beit Yatir settlement. In order to include it in the Israeli side the fence is departing there from the green line and encyrcle it. In part of the activists organization the village is not even marked as it is a small place of only 150 families. Soon it will become even smaller as the fence annex to the Israeli side about 5000 Dunams (five square killometers). The orders of confiscation their lands arrived at March 2005. Few of the owners of the lands submitted their formal objections to the Israeli occupation administration. They attached to their appel documents of ownership. As a responce, they received an official letter - including in it the documents of ownership they previously attached to their appeal, with very short reply: "We can not relate to your objection-appeal as there were not attached to it documents of ownership". Big part of the lands of the village are not tilled - a fact that make the confiscation easier as according to an old law from the time of the Othman empire (dismantled 90 years ago) that said that lands not tilled for three years become public and can be confiscated by the government.
At the time we arrived there still were not works for flatening the route. (It is redundant to add that after we left, the works did start in ernest.) We started to march along the proposed route of the fence, stopping for a while at the well used to supply water for the school but will be on the other side of the intended fence. We continued towards the hangar of the Caterpilar equipment. There we mer the the army forces. They were not ready for the demonstration, and thus did not have the so called "means for dispersing demonstrations". They appeared as people just aroused from their deep sleep....
They did not have haterad in their eyes - just a deep gaze of contept. One of them asked me: "have you nothing to do in Tel Aviuve in such day ?" Another one complained he had to return earlier from his Saturday at home because of the demo. Their apathy depressed me even more than the gazes full of haterad seen on the eyes of the soldiers with the same role in other villages. The banality of evil... We marched around the encloser of the bulldozers, holding hands - inhabitants of the village amongst them boys and girls, Israelis, and internationals. At a certain point, we set down as an expression of protest in front of the heavy equipment.
Afterwards, we marched towards the fence of the Beit Yatir settlement for an expression of protest. This aroused a bit the soldiers. As they did not have regular means for dispersing demonstrations they become physical, pushing and felling demonstrators to the ground - including people with advanced ages... This did not stop the people from shouting: "No to the fence, no to the settlements", "No peace with the fence". At this point the demonstration ended and we walked towards the village center. The coming Friday there will be another demo at Imnezil - another village joining to the chain of non violent mass protest against the fence.
For further details:
Elki
photographs: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3358/index.php
====================== Bil'in ==================
Photographs of the previous week demo of the children of Bil'in on the day that the village's fate was sealed in the Supreme Court in Jerusalem.
https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/3283/index.php
============================================
The latest from Bil'in:
At 6:00 in the Wednesday morning today, June 22, ten people - villagers, as well as international and Israeli activists of the AATW initiative ... a sheep, locked themselves into a cage on the planned route of the annexation wall. Of course there followed arrests, but today the untiring advocate Peleg succeeded in getting all out...
-----------------------------
Electronic Media reported:
22/06/2005 - 6 demonstrators against the fence at the Bil'in village were detained including three internationals activists. Part of them locked themselves in a cage but the security authorities succeeded to "free" them after a short time.
=============================
TV main (late evening) news program reported on a new link the chain of demos of the Bel'in villagers and supporters and showed a short part of the struggle of the state forces with the caged people.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Tel-Aviv, Refusing to serve the occupation* - press announcement 21 Jun 2005
Activists of the "letter of the shminists" [twelfth graders] demonstrated near the villa of the chief of army staff Dan Haluts lighting candles in the memory of the victims of the occupation: "refusing to be war criminals". About 50 activists of the "letter of the sminists" [signed by more than 250 twelfth graders supposed to be drafted this Summer] and other activist of the left** demonstrated in a garden near the villa in protest of the slaughter of Palestinian children by Haluts. The twelfth graders stressed they will refuse to take part in the war crime called occupation. They shouted: "Not Shooting, Not Crying, Refusing To Be Occupiers", and "Haluts Haluts Do Not Worry, We Will See You In The Hague".
In addition, the demonstrators lighted hundreds of candles in the memory of the victims of both sides who died because of the blood circle. They said: "since the beginning of the occupation died more than twenty thousands Israelis and Palestinians. The price is awful, and the only way to stop the blood chain is to stop the occupation. The occupation is a war crime and we will not take part in it".
Among the demonstrators were the conscientious refusenics Alex Kun and Eyal Barami that will be arrested the next day for a fourth term in jail for refusing to be recruited to the occupation army and will join Wisam Kablan and Misha Hadar who are already in the military prison.
For additional information:
Omri Evron
Aviv Sela
shministim (at) gmail.com * http://www.shministim.org
================================
** Among them activist of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative, people of the coalition against the wall, and people of previous years twelfth graders refusenics who served more than two years jail time.
In addition, the demonstrators lighted hundreds of candles in the memory of the victims of both sides who died because of the blood circle. They said: "since the beginning of the occupation died more than twenty thousands Israelis and Palestinians. The price is awful, and the only way to stop the blood chain is to stop the occupation. The occupation is a war crime and we will not take part in it".
Among the demonstrators were the conscientious refusenics Alex Kun and Eyal Barami that will be arrested the next day for a fourth term in jail for refusing to be recruited to the occupation army and will join Wisam Kablan and Misha Hadar who are already in the military prison.
For additional information:
Omri Evron
Aviv Sela
shministim (at) gmail.com * http://www.shministim.org
================================
** Among them activist of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative, people of the coalition against the wall, and people of previous years twelfth graders refusenics who served more than two years jail time.
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