The demonstrations in Bil'in were again headed by creative theme. The previous Friday had a huge coffin... this week we had a model of the wall in metal on which various graphite were inscribed. This model was carried in the front of the march of about 150 demonstrators and media - including about 20 Israelis of the anarchists against the wall initiative (other 10 were gone to the Beit Sira demo) and about 10 internationals. We started as usually at noon from the center of village with a 20 minutes march of chanting till we arrived at the gate of the fence route at the location where it cut the road to the western lands of the village. There, the state forces blocked our way. Due to the few meter wide metal model of the wall in our front, the state forces had a problem. they could not attack us so easily or destroy the creative theme.
They trough several shock grenade that succeeded to deter only part of the people on the front. They could not use tear gas as they were too near to us. heating people wits batons was not easily done too as the metal wall protected most of our people. One comrade was hit by a baton on the head so hard that the ambulance had to take him away, but one of the state force shields was broken and taken for a while as a trophy too till a special group of state force were delegated to bring it back.
After the first power struggle of push and pull, the metal wall was static few meters from the fence but a group of our people were allowed to bang with stones on the rails of the metal gate with the sweet "music" of defiance of the state force who usually succeeded in the past to prevent us from.
During the hours of the small intensity confrontation one Israeli was detained and took to the Givat Zeev police station and released only few hours later.
As in most other Friday demonstrations in Bil'in, after the first confrontation many youngsters disperse in the adjacent olive orchards and for hours engage in parallel to the main nonviolent demonstration with stone throwing the state forces who retaliate with tear gas and rubber coated bullets.
Following this week hearing of the highest court of "justice" on the case of Bil'in which was sympathetic in a way to the struggle against the route of the fence there the media started to report again widely on the Friday demos against the separation fence. In the public radio news broadcast they reported that in this Friday demos ten demonstrators were injured and few state force persons too.
Beit-Sira - the new and hot location of joint struggle which was witnessing harsh repression by the Israeli state forces need a special report:
"In terms of organization, the demonstration was a marked improvement over last week. An artistic theme was picked, dignitaries were invited and many people attended. My own (possibly misinformed) impression was that the popular committee was working well as a group.
About 500 people marched on the route of the wall which is within 20 meters of the last houses of Macabim. It is possible that some of the people from Macabim recognized some of the people from Beit Sira. Many people from Beit Sira know people from macabim and vice versa.
However, not a single person from Macabim spoke out in protest over the confiscation of the village lands in the last two years since the route of the wall was proposed between Beit Sira and Macabim. Some people from Macabim (probably the great majority) files a court petition to move the wall further from Macabim and by that take away more of Beit Sira's land.
The march met a line of soldiers and after the dignitaries finished speaking at the refusal of the soldiers to allow the march to continue forward the march ended and a confrontation of stones vs rubber bullets and tear gas began. The Young people of the village have little patience for the soldiers who they meet twice every week day on their way to school and back. The soldiers harass them as they pass under the 443 road on their way to the high school near Safa.
Four people were injured by rubber bullets. The injuries were to the legs and backs.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Israel-Palestine, A call of the Anarchists Against The Wall for the Friday demo against the separation fence 15 Mar 2006
Today's invasion of Jericho with the tacit cooperation of the British and American governments had one predictable outcome. That is, the increase in animosity towards foreigners and the further isolation of Palestinians from the rest of the world. The Israeli government makes no secret of its wishes to isolate Palestinians and apparently they don't mind shedding blood to do so.
Those of us who have supported the Palestinian popular struggle have also felt these attempts to isolate Palestinians first hand. The army's efforts to prevent Israelis from joining Palestinians in demonstrations are another aspect of the same oppressive policy which led to the invasion. Our response to these efforts has been to continue to challenge them and insist on our right to demonstrate and our duty to support Palestinians. When we did persist we always managed to overcome the army and join the demonstrations. Our response to this latest provocation should be as always, to continue with our support, to not walk away from our partners and from our joint struggle which has been one of the few positive development of the recent years.
In addition the court cases of Bil'in against the construction of Modi'in Ilit on the village's lands will start tomorrow (Wednesday). It is important to continue the pressure while the case is in court.
Please make every effort to join the Friday demonstrations this week. Please register with us before Thursday evening.
If you are coming from Tel Aviv please call Shay From Jerusalem, call Sa'ar Thank you.
Those of us who have supported the Palestinian popular struggle have also felt these attempts to isolate Palestinians first hand. The army's efforts to prevent Israelis from joining Palestinians in demonstrations are another aspect of the same oppressive policy which led to the invasion. Our response to these efforts has been to continue to challenge them and insist on our right to demonstrate and our duty to support Palestinians. When we did persist we always managed to overcome the army and join the demonstrations. Our response to this latest provocation should be as always, to continue with our support, to not walk away from our partners and from our joint struggle which has been one of the few positive development of the recent years.
In addition the court cases of Bil'in against the construction of Modi'in Ilit on the village's lands will start tomorrow (Wednesday). It is important to continue the pressure while the case is in court.
Please make every effort to join the Friday demonstrations this week. Please register with us before Thursday evening.
If you are coming from Tel Aviv please call Shay From Jerusalem, call Sa'ar Thank you.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Israel, Tel-Aviv, Demonstration against Iisraeli war mongering in Jericho 14 Mar 2006
Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc) : "URGENT - demo at 7 (NOW!) Defence Ministry T-A old place Kaplan street Anarchists initiated it, Women's Coalition came up with the slogan "Kadima to War" - everybody to participate
>> [againstwall] URGENT: DEMO TODAY INFRONT OF HAKIRYA, 19.00:
Kadima to War
Olmert is leading us to another bloody war!
A Demonstration today, 19.00, infront of the ministery of defence in Tel Aviv against the IDF invaison to Jericho
for the release of all political prisoners.
for more details
Yana
Yossi
Media report:
Left activists demonstrate in Tel Aviv against the action in Jericho
Tuseday, 14 March 2006, 20:56 Walla editors tens of left activists demonstrate in front of the defence (war) compaund in Tel Aviv in protest of the activity in Jerico.
In the Kol Israel (public radio broadcasting) was reported that in parallel to them demonstrated a small group of the Baruch Marzel people (the exreme fascists racists).
>> [againstwall] URGENT: DEMO TODAY INFRONT OF HAKIRYA, 19.00:
Kadima to War
Olmert is leading us to another bloody war!
A Demonstration today, 19.00, infront of the ministery of defence in Tel Aviv against the IDF invaison to Jericho
for the release of all political prisoners.
for more details
Yana
Yossi
Media report:
Left activists demonstrate in Tel Aviv against the action in Jericho
Tuseday, 14 March 2006, 20:56 Walla editors tens of left activists demonstrate in front of the defence (war) compaund in Tel Aviv in protest of the activity in Jerico.
In the Kol Israel (public radio broadcasting) was reported that in parallel to them demonstrated a small group of the Baruch Marzel people (the exreme fascists racists).
Friday, March 10, 2006
Palestine-Israel, Media, The joint struggle against the separation fence contine - Friday 10-03-06
The joined struggle of villages popular comities and the Israeli Anarchists Against The Wall initiative continued this Friday with two demonstrations: The Abud village was not included this Friday as there is in force a Highest Court stay - blocking the work of the separation fence there for two weeks. The Bil'in traditiional Friday regained the creative thema mood with a huge coffine. In Beit-Seera village the struggle continued in spite of the harsh repression applied by the state forces trying to prevent the devolopment of a second Bil'in style arena.
Following are Israeli Media on the injury of Matan Cohen* two weeks ago at the Beit-Seera Friday demo [1], and a Bannoura-IMEMC report on last Friday's tween demos [2]:
[1] Injured anti-fence 'anarchist' speaks out - ynetnews.com
Matah Cohen* has sustained eye injuries while protesting the security fence near Ramallah; Says: 'I feel like the blood of Left-wing activists is cheap'
Meital Yasur Beit-Or
Matan Cohen, 17, from Tel Aviv, and a member of the "Anarchists Against the Fence" organization, was injured while demonstrating against the security fence near Ramallah.
"My feeling is that the blood of Left-wing activists and the Palestinians is cheap," he said.
Cohen was shot by Border Police and injured in his eye, and has been hospitalized in the Tel Hashomer Medical Center since Friday.
If bleeding does not stop within 24 hours, Cohen will undergo surgery. In either case, doctors believe his eye has sustained damage. In the best case, his visual range will be affected, and in the worst case, he would lose complete vision in the eye. "Up until now I can't see out of the eye, and they'll be able to see if there's damage only in a few days. I'm worried about damage in my eye and I really hope the bleeding stops," said Cohen.
Cohen sustained an injury to his eye (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
Members of the organization have begun documenting their demonstrations due to past experiences with violence. "We have recordings of an army commander who said that he doesn't want the situation to turn violent, and who tried to calm things down, saying not to shoot. But a Border Police is also heard saying 'shoot everyone one of them with a rubber bullet.' When I was shot I was standing with three people, within around a 20 meter range from a Border Police force. We said: 'Don't shoot, we are not threatening you and we are not endangering you,' but they opened fire, and also directed it to the head, violating all of their rules of engagement. I felt the impact in the eye, and with the remainder of my strength, I managed to run from them. My entire hand and head were filled with blood," said Cohen.
'No connection to Amona'
Cohen says there is no connection between violence of soldiers against Right-wing demonstrators in Amona and Left-wing demonstrators: "In our demonstrations, they shoot live bullets in order to kill. In Right-wing demonstrations, no gas or shock grenades have ever been thrown. This is violence which is many times larger. The feeling is our blood is cheap. But violence which takes place when the life of a police officer is not under threat should be condemned, it doesn't matter from which side it occurs."
Three soldiers and Border Police officers were injured by rocks thrown at them. One police officer was taken to hospital.
According to police, two disturbances of the peace took place on Friday in the Ramallah area, as part of protests against the construction of the security fence. Hundreds of Palestinians, Left-wing activists, and foreigners took part in the disturbances, whom entered a closed military zone. Demonstrators threw rocks at security forces, who responded with crowd dispersal means.
Cohen, who completed his high school studies, has been taking part in protests against the route of the fence for three years, and says he witnessed harsh violence on the part of soldiers and Police officers. "The approach is that it's legitimate to fire at demonstrators, even when they are nonviolent. The IDF and Border Police use live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets, and hundreds of people have been injured in this period. In yesterday's demonstration another 11 Palestinians were injured, one of them was even operated on at a hospital in Ramallah," he said.
--------------------------
[2]
Residents, Israelis and International peace activists protest against the annexation Wall Saed Bannoura-IMEMC & Agencies - Friday, 10 March 2006, 19:14
Image Several residents, Israeli and International peace activists and a reporter were injured, on Friday afternoon, during protests against the annexation Wall in the villages of Beit Seera and Bil'in, near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Soldiers attacked the peaceful processions in the two villages and fired rubber-coated bullets and gas bombs at the protesters before attacking them with batons.
The Maan News Agency reported that Abbas Al Momany, a local reporter working with an international news agency was hospitalized after suffering a rubber-coated bullet injury in his head.
Also, a medical source at the Red Crescent Society reported that four residents identified as Abdul-Nasser Abu Rahma, 17, Mustafa Jamil Abu Rahma, 13, Sameer Burnat, 33, and Rateb Abu Rahma, 40, were among the protesters injured during the procession.
The source added that soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets at the ambulance causing damage to its windows.
The protesters carried a symbolic 10-meter coffin wrapped with a white cloth representing the villages strangled by the Wall.
"The deceased: residents of Bil'in and villages surrounded by the Wall, Cause of death: The Annexation Wall, Time: 2006, Place; Palestine", was written on the coffin.
One of the protesters said that this coffin symbolizes the Palestinian villages that are strangled by the Wall and the residents who became isolated and unable to reach their orchards, their only source of livelihood.
"We are here to resist, and continue our resistance against this Wall that annexed 2300 Dunams of the orchards in Bil'in”, the protester stated, "They annexed 60% of our orchards and isolated them behind the Wall, they want to starve and isolate us in our villages”.
He added that the protesters want to convey a message to the world that settlements and the Wall are annexing the orchards, the only source of livelihood of the residents.
David Nier, member of an Israeli movement against the Wall, said that the Israelis who came to the protest with the residents, are here to protest against the Wall that isolated the residents and made their lives hard and bitter.
A Palestinian protester [Ranny], sitting on his wheelchair, said that he was injured and paralyzed by the Israeli army during the first Intifada, and that he came today to Bil'in to protest against the annexation wall and the Israeli policy of land grab and apartheid.
"Each time I protest I inhale gas fired by the army”, he said, “But I, as well as every Palestinian, am determined to protest against Israel's policy of segregation”.
Meanwhile, an Israeli army source claimed that six soldiers were mildly injured during the clashes.
Local, Israeli and International peace activists confirmed that troops violently attacked the peaceful protesters and attempted to bar them from reaching the construction site of the Wall.
---------------------------------------
* Matan Cohen is long time member of the Israeli Anarchists Aagainst The Wall initiative who was on a speacking towr in Europe last Summer. After his injury was all over the media he was also intreviewd in main radio and TV channels.
** Rateb Abu-Rahma is a social work and psychology professor of the Palestinian Bir Zeit university.
Following are Israeli Media on the injury of Matan Cohen* two weeks ago at the Beit-Seera Friday demo [1], and a Bannoura-IMEMC report on last Friday's tween demos [2]:
[1] Injured anti-fence 'anarchist' speaks out - ynetnews.com
Matah Cohen* has sustained eye injuries while protesting the security fence near Ramallah; Says: 'I feel like the blood of Left-wing activists is cheap'
Meital Yasur Beit-Or
Matan Cohen, 17, from Tel Aviv, and a member of the "Anarchists Against the Fence" organization, was injured while demonstrating against the security fence near Ramallah.
"My feeling is that the blood of Left-wing activists and the Palestinians is cheap," he said.
Cohen was shot by Border Police and injured in his eye, and has been hospitalized in the Tel Hashomer Medical Center since Friday.
If bleeding does not stop within 24 hours, Cohen will undergo surgery. In either case, doctors believe his eye has sustained damage. In the best case, his visual range will be affected, and in the worst case, he would lose complete vision in the eye. "Up until now I can't see out of the eye, and they'll be able to see if there's damage only in a few days. I'm worried about damage in my eye and I really hope the bleeding stops," said Cohen.
Cohen sustained an injury to his eye (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
Members of the organization have begun documenting their demonstrations due to past experiences with violence. "We have recordings of an army commander who said that he doesn't want the situation to turn violent, and who tried to calm things down, saying not to shoot. But a Border Police is also heard saying 'shoot everyone one of them with a rubber bullet.' When I was shot I was standing with three people, within around a 20 meter range from a Border Police force. We said: 'Don't shoot, we are not threatening you and we are not endangering you,' but they opened fire, and also directed it to the head, violating all of their rules of engagement. I felt the impact in the eye, and with the remainder of my strength, I managed to run from them. My entire hand and head were filled with blood," said Cohen.
'No connection to Amona'
Cohen says there is no connection between violence of soldiers against Right-wing demonstrators in Amona and Left-wing demonstrators: "In our demonstrations, they shoot live bullets in order to kill. In Right-wing demonstrations, no gas or shock grenades have ever been thrown. This is violence which is many times larger. The feeling is our blood is cheap. But violence which takes place when the life of a police officer is not under threat should be condemned, it doesn't matter from which side it occurs."
Three soldiers and Border Police officers were injured by rocks thrown at them. One police officer was taken to hospital.
According to police, two disturbances of the peace took place on Friday in the Ramallah area, as part of protests against the construction of the security fence. Hundreds of Palestinians, Left-wing activists, and foreigners took part in the disturbances, whom entered a closed military zone. Demonstrators threw rocks at security forces, who responded with crowd dispersal means.
Cohen, who completed his high school studies, has been taking part in protests against the route of the fence for three years, and says he witnessed harsh violence on the part of soldiers and Police officers. "The approach is that it's legitimate to fire at demonstrators, even when they are nonviolent. The IDF and Border Police use live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets, and hundreds of people have been injured in this period. In yesterday's demonstration another 11 Palestinians were injured, one of them was even operated on at a hospital in Ramallah," he said.
--------------------------
[2]
Residents, Israelis and International peace activists protest against the annexation Wall Saed Bannoura-IMEMC & Agencies - Friday, 10 March 2006, 19:14
Image Several residents, Israeli and International peace activists and a reporter were injured, on Friday afternoon, during protests against the annexation Wall in the villages of Beit Seera and Bil'in, near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Soldiers attacked the peaceful processions in the two villages and fired rubber-coated bullets and gas bombs at the protesters before attacking them with batons.
The Maan News Agency reported that Abbas Al Momany, a local reporter working with an international news agency was hospitalized after suffering a rubber-coated bullet injury in his head.
Also, a medical source at the Red Crescent Society reported that four residents identified as Abdul-Nasser Abu Rahma, 17, Mustafa Jamil Abu Rahma, 13, Sameer Burnat, 33, and Rateb Abu Rahma, 40, were among the protesters injured during the procession.
The source added that soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets at the ambulance causing damage to its windows.
The protesters carried a symbolic 10-meter coffin wrapped with a white cloth representing the villages strangled by the Wall.
"The deceased: residents of Bil'in and villages surrounded by the Wall, Cause of death: The Annexation Wall, Time: 2006, Place; Palestine", was written on the coffin.
One of the protesters said that this coffin symbolizes the Palestinian villages that are strangled by the Wall and the residents who became isolated and unable to reach their orchards, their only source of livelihood.
"We are here to resist, and continue our resistance against this Wall that annexed 2300 Dunams of the orchards in Bil'in”, the protester stated, "They annexed 60% of our orchards and isolated them behind the Wall, they want to starve and isolate us in our villages”.
He added that the protesters want to convey a message to the world that settlements and the Wall are annexing the orchards, the only source of livelihood of the residents.
David Nier, member of an Israeli movement against the Wall, said that the Israelis who came to the protest with the residents, are here to protest against the Wall that isolated the residents and made their lives hard and bitter.
A Palestinian protester [Ranny], sitting on his wheelchair, said that he was injured and paralyzed by the Israeli army during the first Intifada, and that he came today to Bil'in to protest against the annexation wall and the Israeli policy of land grab and apartheid.
"Each time I protest I inhale gas fired by the army”, he said, “But I, as well as every Palestinian, am determined to protest against Israel's policy of segregation”.
Meanwhile, an Israeli army source claimed that six soldiers were mildly injured during the clashes.
Local, Israeli and International peace activists confirmed that troops violently attacked the peaceful protesters and attempted to bar them from reaching the construction site of the Wall.
---------------------------------------
* Matan Cohen is long time member of the Israeli Anarchists Aagainst The Wall initiative who was on a speacking towr in Europe last Summer. After his injury was all over the media he was also intreviewd in main radio and TV channels.
** Rateb Abu-Rahma is a social work and psychology professor of the Palestinian Bir Zeit university.
Monday, March 6, 2006
Palestine-Israel: 3 demonstrations against the Apartheid Wall - Bil'in/Beit Sira, Abud, Tulkarem 06 Mar 2006
This Friday, 3 demos took place simultaneously against the apartheid wall. A direct action took place in Bil'in earlier in the morning where 10 activists (Palestinian/ Israeli and internationals) chained themselves to the fence until forcefully removed by the IDF.
The usual Friday protest then took place at 12 o'clock. Most of the Israeli activists were diverted from Bil'in to Beit Sira after the morning direct action with only a handful of Anarchists Against the Wall (AATW) members remaining in Bil'in for a smaller demonstration. Following the protest, as a response to the ritualistic stone-throwing of the shabab (youth), the army entered the village and fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anybody who was outside, but also into houses.
Success at Abud, where protestors took copies of the newly-issued Supreme Court cease-work order issued for the next two weeks. The soldiers reacted with tear gas but as soon as the order was shown to them they relented and made sure the fence's construction was halted.
In Beit Sira a large number of Palestinian protestors showed up, as well as 15 Israelis and members of the Bil'in village committee to face off only 30 IDF border police. Last week, the IDF violently suppressed the Beit Sira protest, shooting rubber bullets at close range (as near as 10-15m), leading to the wounding of 14 protestors including a Palestinian whose kidney was penetrated by a rubber bullet, and an Israeli who was shot in the eye. This week the army kept its cool, even though more protesters showed up than were expected, and they had to call for reinforcements from the Bil'in units. No rubber bullets were fired, but tear gas and stun grenades were used to disperse the demo. One Israeli activist was hit by a stone thrown by the shabab and received stitches.
On Saturday 3rd March, a few representatives of the AATW joined a small demonstration in Tulkarem against the Jbara checkpoint. The checkpoint sits on the one road which still connects a small village called Hirbet Jbara to the outside world. For a few years, the village has been completely surrounded by the wall and its inhabitants live in a literal jail.
The handful of soldiers at the checkpoint were shocked and unprepared for the demonstration. Unable to control the crowed they panicked and shot live rounds into the air. The demonstrators held their ground and after making their point for about an hour decided to head back.
Although the demonstration was small, it was significant for a few reasons. It is the beginning of a new initiative for joint popular struggle in Tulkarem inspired by the efforts of the Bil'in committee. The organizers say that there are plans to repeat it every Saturday. Most of the demonstrators from Tulkarem were from the general women's union. Given how under-represented women are in many Palestinian demonstrations, this is an important sign. The Palestinian media at least seemed quite interested in the demonstration, the Tulkarem television station aired a report on the demonstration and the Al-Ayyam newspaper wrote a story.
M.
The usual Friday protest then took place at 12 o'clock. Most of the Israeli activists were diverted from Bil'in to Beit Sira after the morning direct action with only a handful of Anarchists Against the Wall (AATW) members remaining in Bil'in for a smaller demonstration. Following the protest, as a response to the ritualistic stone-throwing of the shabab (youth), the army entered the village and fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anybody who was outside, but also into houses.
Success at Abud, where protestors took copies of the newly-issued Supreme Court cease-work order issued for the next two weeks. The soldiers reacted with tear gas but as soon as the order was shown to them they relented and made sure the fence's construction was halted.
In Beit Sira a large number of Palestinian protestors showed up, as well as 15 Israelis and members of the Bil'in village committee to face off only 30 IDF border police. Last week, the IDF violently suppressed the Beit Sira protest, shooting rubber bullets at close range (as near as 10-15m), leading to the wounding of 14 protestors including a Palestinian whose kidney was penetrated by a rubber bullet, and an Israeli who was shot in the eye. This week the army kept its cool, even though more protesters showed up than were expected, and they had to call for reinforcements from the Bil'in units. No rubber bullets were fired, but tear gas and stun grenades were used to disperse the demo. One Israeli activist was hit by a stone thrown by the shabab and received stitches.
On Saturday 3rd March, a few representatives of the AATW joined a small demonstration in Tulkarem against the Jbara checkpoint. The checkpoint sits on the one road which still connects a small village called Hirbet Jbara to the outside world. For a few years, the village has been completely surrounded by the wall and its inhabitants live in a literal jail.
The handful of soldiers at the checkpoint were shocked and unprepared for the demonstration. Unable to control the crowed they panicked and shot live rounds into the air. The demonstrators held their ground and after making their point for about an hour decided to head back.
Although the demonstration was small, it was significant for a few reasons. It is the beginning of a new initiative for joint popular struggle in Tulkarem inspired by the efforts of the Bil'in committee. The organizers say that there are plans to repeat it every Saturday. Most of the demonstrators from Tulkarem were from the general women's union. Given how under-represented women are in many Palestinian demonstrations, this is an important sign. The Palestinian media at least seemed quite interested in the demonstration, the Tulkarem television station aired a report on the demonstration and the Al-Ayyam newspaper wrote a story.
M.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Palestine-Israel: Four Anarchists Against The Wall members arrested, beaten at an anti-IDF violence demo [it] 28 Feb 2006
Saturday 25/02/06, Tel Aviv - 150 activists demonstrated outside the Kiria army base in Tel Aviv in response to the violence of the IDF and the police in anti-wall demonstrations, as seen in the shooting of 17-year-old Anarchists Against The Wall member, Matan Cohen. Matan was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet at an anti-wall demo the previous day. Four protesters were arrested and beaten by the police. AATW is now demanding an immediate investigation into "the use of unnecessary force by the security forces on activists".
In 2003, AATW activist Gil Na'amati was shot in the leg by security forces while protesting against the wall in the village of Mas'ha. Na'amati and an American protester were shot and wounded while trying to cut a section the apartheid fence. After a lengthy investigation, none of the soldiers or commanders involved in the shooting were prosecuted.
Ed. note: Matan has had surgery to remove a blood clot from his eye. It is still unclear if he will be able to see again, or not.
In 2003, AATW activist Gil Na'amati was shot in the leg by security forces while protesting against the wall in the village of Mas'ha. Na'amati and an American protester were shot and wounded while trying to cut a section the apartheid fence. After a lengthy investigation, none of the soldiers or commanders involved in the shooting were prosecuted.
Ed. note: Matan has had surgery to remove a blood clot from his eye. It is still unclear if he will be able to see again, or not.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle against the separation fence continue in Bil'in, Abud, Beit-Sira 24-02-06
Because Bil'in is in the focus of media, the demonstration there was very peaceful - even more than ever. Half hearted efforts of state forces could not prevent the Israelis from arriving to the demo in Bil'in or the other villages. In Bil'in we started the march march at noon with about 100 people - 70 Palestinians, about 15 Israelis organized by the anarchists against the wall initiative, and about 15 internationals. We took the road to the less visited section of the fence where the armed forces of Israel were not expecting us. When we came near the fence route about 50 of us rushed to the fence - a minute before the running soldiers who had to come fast from the usual place we meet every Friday... Taking advantage of an Eastern wind that blew towards the state forces, we ignited many cars tiers taken from a garbage dump the heavy smoke was added to the tiredness of the soldiers.
What ever the reason, the state forces just kept us from entering the fence route, and let us bang as much as we wanted on the rails of the fence bordering the route.
After a while, we marched and banged along the route to the usual place where there is a gate and passages to the other side of the fence. There we had a low intensity confrontation with the state forces till ending the demo.
Even the traditional confrontation between the soldiers tear gas and the stone thrower youngsters was very mild: three tear gas canisters with no pursuit and no much more from the stone throwers.
In Abud and Beit-Sira the story was entirely different.
In Abud the demonstration march was of about 100 villagers and 10 Israelis and internationals. At about one kilometer from the point the works on the separation fence are done, civilian guards blocked the demo with live ammunition shooting... to whom joined very soon the state forces who did the same with the edition of tear gas and shock grenades. However, till the end of the demo there was not reported on any injury.
The inflammation occurred in Beit-Sira.
The struggle in Beit-Sira intensified last two weeks, with not just Friday demo. Yesterday, a stormy demo resulted with the injury of few Palestinians and the arrest of two Israelis. A short report of a comrade said:
"Item about the demo in Beit Sira tonight on Channel 1 (of public TV) will be broadcast on mabat (main news program), starting at 21:00. the palestinians who were wounded from rubber bullets are back home from the hospital. jonathan and kobi who got arrested were released..."
Today - Friday noon, in parallel to the demos in Bil'in and Abud, another demonstration was in Beit-Sira. About 300 people - among them 10 Israelis and internationals. Along the march to the route of the fence, state forces in cars "accompanied" the demo. People from the demo tried to block these cars which resulted with harsh response of the state forces.
When the march arrived near its destination, the state forces made a line the demo people confronted. rough pushes as the first step. Shock and tear gas grenades from one side and stones from the other. And escalation to shower of rubber bullets causing lot of damage. About 6 Palestinians and one Israeli were rushed to treatment in hospitals.
A note sent by a comrade:
"hi everybody, in case you're not updated i thought its important we'll all know: In Beit-Sira demo today Matan hakatan was shot by robber bullet both in the leg and in his eye.. At the moment he is still in the hospital and its not clear yet how bad is the damage.
The repression today included gas and rubber bullets, around 14 injured from rubber bullets and of course much more from the gas...."
What ever the reason, the state forces just kept us from entering the fence route, and let us bang as much as we wanted on the rails of the fence bordering the route.
After a while, we marched and banged along the route to the usual place where there is a gate and passages to the other side of the fence. There we had a low intensity confrontation with the state forces till ending the demo.
Even the traditional confrontation between the soldiers tear gas and the stone thrower youngsters was very mild: three tear gas canisters with no pursuit and no much more from the stone throwers.
In Abud and Beit-Sira the story was entirely different.
In Abud the demonstration march was of about 100 villagers and 10 Israelis and internationals. At about one kilometer from the point the works on the separation fence are done, civilian guards blocked the demo with live ammunition shooting... to whom joined very soon the state forces who did the same with the edition of tear gas and shock grenades. However, till the end of the demo there was not reported on any injury.
The inflammation occurred in Beit-Sira.
The struggle in Beit-Sira intensified last two weeks, with not just Friday demo. Yesterday, a stormy demo resulted with the injury of few Palestinians and the arrest of two Israelis. A short report of a comrade said:
"Item about the demo in Beit Sira tonight on Channel 1 (of public TV) will be broadcast on mabat (main news program), starting at 21:00. the palestinians who were wounded from rubber bullets are back home from the hospital. jonathan and kobi who got arrested were released..."
Today - Friday noon, in parallel to the demos in Bil'in and Abud, another demonstration was in Beit-Sira. About 300 people - among them 10 Israelis and internationals. Along the march to the route of the fence, state forces in cars "accompanied" the demo. People from the demo tried to block these cars which resulted with harsh response of the state forces.
When the march arrived near its destination, the state forces made a line the demo people confronted. rough pushes as the first step. Shock and tear gas grenades from one side and stones from the other. And escalation to shower of rubber bullets causing lot of damage. About 6 Palestinians and one Israeli were rushed to treatment in hospitals.
A note sent by a comrade:
"hi everybody, in case you're not updated i thought its important we'll all know: In Beit-Sira demo today Matan hakatan was shot by robber bullet both in the leg and in his eye.. At the moment he is still in the hospital and its not clear yet how bad is the damage.
The repression today included gas and rubber bullets, around 14 injured from rubber bullets and of course much more from the gas...."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
