In Bil'in it was the 131th Friday demonstration against the separation fence and occupation. In late morning we marched as usual - Palestinians of the village and the region, many internationals as it is summer vacation now, and Israelis of the anarchists against the wall initiative. On the road to the gate of the separation fence we chanted as usual. When we arrived at the foot of the hill the gate is on its top, we set down not to give the Israeli state forces the the excuse to start fire on us. After few minutes, individuals of the group of young adults who join the demo but resent the nonviolent mode of it "succeeded to provoke" the Israeli state force who started to shower us with tear gas.
The majority of the people dispersed among the olive trees slowly retreating towards the village. However, tens of us were not deterred and stayed near the separation fence and the soldiers who failed to get rid of them as they could not use the tear gas in too short range. So, the commander ordered the arrest of few Palestinian and international activists. (When the demonstrators are about a meter or so near the state forces among the trees, it is very hard for them to drive the demonstrators away by gas or by physical violence.)
After the soldiers at the front wasted most of their stock of tear gas, the demonstrators returned again and again till the soldiers replenished their stock.
Teams of state forces that advanced up to the building area of the village and used sooting with bullets covered with rubber (mainly against stone throwing kids) failed to put end to the demonstration.
After about two hours the village popular comity for the struggle announced the end of the demo - resuming it in a second wave at noon after the Friday prayer.
After the second wave ended too, the activists who were detained during the first wave of demonstration were released.
-----------------------------------------
At the south, the relatively new front there were two demonstrations. The participants as usually in the joint actions of the last few years: local Palestinians from the village(s) involved and the region, international activists - mostly of the ISM, and Israelis - mostly of the AATW initiative.
South Bethlehem - Palestinians, internationals, and Israeli activists (mostly of the AATW) in the persistent joint struggle against the separation fence.
The first demonstration was in Um Salmuna.
The participants marched toward the construction site of the separation fence undisturbed. However, when they damaged the fence around the construction site of the separation fence, the Israeli state force arrested one Israeli activist charging him for the damage.
The second demonstration was at noon at the Walage village.
In that Friday demonstration there was no confrontation with the Israeli state forces.
--------------------------------------------
The week end joint struggle in the south continued in Saturday too...
http://awalls.org Saturday evening, report with pictures:
30 Meters of the wall dismantled in Beit Mirsim 11/08/2007
Today, Palestinian, Israeli, and International activists dismantled a section of the Israeli separation barrier at the village of Beit Mirsim.
This action is the second of such actions in the past two weeks, following a similar action in Surif
Beit Mirsim is a tiny Palestinian village in the Southern West Bank. It has been known as an archaeological site and as a site of a war crime committed in 1967 by the army.
Today, the criminals who destroyed the original village of Beit Mirsim walk free. So do the bureaucrats at the Civil Administration’ who prevent its reconstruction and order new homes destroyed, along with many others who embody the persistent Israeli urge to clear Palestinians away (Amira Hass crimes of war, destruction of civilian property). In contrast, those who tear down the criminal wall are in jeopardy from both Israeli courts and military.
No one knows that jeopardy better than the people of Beit Mirsim: the regularity with which collective punishment is meted out in the West Bank and the crimes the IDF is capable of. Still, they persist living on their lands after seeing their village destroyed and despite decades of hardship courtesy of the army.
Today they took initiative in their struggle for survival.
Together with Israeli and International supporters they physically dismantled the cage which constructed for them by the Israeli Ministry Of Defense has constructed for them.. In that, they follow the countless examples of Palestinians living near the wall.
Whenever and wherever there is an opportunity Palestinians will simply dismantle the cage they are in.
Media report: Leftists, Palestinians damage separation fence Anarchists Against the Wall activists, local residents of Hebron vicinity village cut 30 meters of barbed wire, electric fence
Thirty Palestinian and Anarchists Against the Wall activists damaged the separation fence near Hebron Saturday afternoon.
The activists managed to cut 30 meters of the barbed wire and electric fence before security forces arrived at the scene. The activists ceased their activity, and no arrests were carried out.
Activists cut separation fence
A source in the left-wing organization said that similar incidents have occurred many times over the years. "We will continue to do this, and join the Palestinian resistance to the occupation", he said.
"The fence is a political tool designed to steal as much land from the Palestinians as possible, and to ensure the Israel has strategic control over the Palestinians. We oppose the fence wherever it stands, and we intend to continue damaging it."
Alternative media:
http://mishtara.org/blog/?p=228
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihb_XIFc518&eurl=http://awalls.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihb_XIFc518&eurl=http://awalls.org/#
Palestinian, Israeli and International activists dismantled a section of the Israeli separation barrier at the village of Beit Mirsim.
This action is the second such action in two weeks.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
US, NYC: Aug. 27th, Anarchist perspective on Israel & Palestine 10 Aug 2007
Comrades, Please pass this information on far and wide. Workers Solidarity Alliance (WSA) and NEFAC-Open City will host Israeli narchist Eyal for a dicussion of events in Israel and Palestine from an anarchist erspective.
DATE: Monday, August 27th
TIME: 7 PM
PLACE: Muste Room in the WRL Building 339 Lafayette Street (corner of Bleecker & Lafayette Street's)
Contact: wsany@hotmail.com
DATE: Monday, August 27th
TIME: 7 PM
PLACE: Muste Room in the WRL Building 339 Lafayette Street (corner of Bleecker & Lafayette Street's)
Contact: wsany@hotmail.com
Friday, August 3, 2007
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle continue in Bil'in, Artas, Walage, and Jafa 03 Aug 2007
In Bil'in it was the 130th Friday demonstration against the separation fence and occupation. At noon, we marched as usual - Palestinians of the village and the region, internationals, and Israelis of the anarchists against the wall initiative. On the road to the gate of the separation fence we chanted as usual - thinking about the lands of the village beyond it (55% of the village lands) and about the settler colonialist company building on that land that just got bankrupt (which the struggle of Bil'in contributed to it by freezing their project more than a year ago by court order). When we arrived at the foot of the hill the gate is on its top, the Israeli state force started to shower us with tear gas. The people dispersed among the olive trees slowly retreating towards the village. However, due to the persistence of many participants, and the frequent change of direction of wind, tens of us were not deterred and stayed near the separation fence and the soldiers who failed to get rid of us. (When the demonstrators are about a meter or so near the state forces among the trees, it is very hard for them to drive the demonstrators away.)
After the soldiers wasted most of their stock of tear gas, and fire caused by the shooting of tear gas canisters caught the dry grass among the trees, a kind of non formal truce arrived at and the state forces let the demonstrators extinguish it and nearly mingled with the soldiers.
After two hours the demonstration finished - leaving behind some kids who confronted the state force with stones.
On the way back to Tel Aviv a comrade who stayed about two hours at the front, described the many cases he seen when the changing wind blew the tear gas back to the soldiers with the demonstrators near them ridiculing them. and at south of Bethlehem too. -----------------------------------------
At the south, the relatively new front there were two demonstrations. The participants as usually in the joint actions of the last few years: local Palestinians from the village(s) involved and the region, international activists - mostly of the ISM, and Israelis - mostly of the AATW initiative.
The first demonstration was late morning at the village Artas. A comrade who participated there report: "At the Artas demo we marched to the site of the uprooted trees. The army was perhaps unprepared or else decided to not interfere. So, we managed to do that without any trouble. After surveying the area and making some speeches we returned to the village."
The second demonstration was at noon at the Walage village. The comrade describe: "At Walaga, a very large crowed was present, reinforced by buses from Hebron. The mosques were all closed so people would come to pray (the Friday noon prayer) on the land at the demo. After prayer at the edge of the work site of the separation fence, we marched down the road towards the old checkpoint and again the army did not interfere. We went home without any trouble." -----------------------------------------------------
At Jafa, Activists organized together with the local Palestinian citizens of Israel started today a project of rebuilding a demolished house of a Palestinian family. This demolition is part of a municipality and state project to demolish about 500 houses of Palestinians in Jafa in a gentrification/Jewfication efforts. Following is an excerpt of the call for action. (This action is part of ongoing struggle against the demolition of Palestinian houses in Jafa the AATW participate in.)
Home Rebuilding in Jafa, starting August 3rd 2007
Jafa for it's Residents, not for the Capitalists!
Three weeks ago, the Israel Land Administration destroyed the home of Zina and Omar Al-Adassi in Ajami neighborhood. Following the demolition, the Jafa Popular Committee, acting together with the Al-Adassi family, decided to initiate the rebuilding of the home.
The decision is part of the Committee's general policy, supported by Jafa residents:
We will not stop opposing home demolitions!
Every house demolished will be build anew!
A complete solution must be found for Jafa's residential problems, for the current generation as well as the next!
On the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of August, there will be a rebuilding effort.
Business owners and builders from Jafa have volunteered, as well as the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD). We invite you to join the effort and to help with your labor and your presence in the rebuilding of the Al-Adassi home and in protest against the racist policy of the Israel Land Administration, the Amidar company, the Tel Aviv municipality, and the Ministry of Housing.
We will meet on Friday, at 14:30 in the park, corner of Yefet st. and Dr. Erlich st. in Jafa
After the soldiers wasted most of their stock of tear gas, and fire caused by the shooting of tear gas canisters caught the dry grass among the trees, a kind of non formal truce arrived at and the state forces let the demonstrators extinguish it and nearly mingled with the soldiers.
After two hours the demonstration finished - leaving behind some kids who confronted the state force with stones.
On the way back to Tel Aviv a comrade who stayed about two hours at the front, described the many cases he seen when the changing wind blew the tear gas back to the soldiers with the demonstrators near them ridiculing them. and at south of Bethlehem too. -----------------------------------------
At the south, the relatively new front there were two demonstrations. The participants as usually in the joint actions of the last few years: local Palestinians from the village(s) involved and the region, international activists - mostly of the ISM, and Israelis - mostly of the AATW initiative.
The first demonstration was late morning at the village Artas. A comrade who participated there report: "At the Artas demo we marched to the site of the uprooted trees. The army was perhaps unprepared or else decided to not interfere. So, we managed to do that without any trouble. After surveying the area and making some speeches we returned to the village."
The second demonstration was at noon at the Walage village. The comrade describe: "At Walaga, a very large crowed was present, reinforced by buses from Hebron. The mosques were all closed so people would come to pray (the Friday noon prayer) on the land at the demo. After prayer at the edge of the work site of the separation fence, we marched down the road towards the old checkpoint and again the army did not interfere. We went home without any trouble." -----------------------------------------------------
At Jafa, Activists organized together with the local Palestinian citizens of Israel started today a project of rebuilding a demolished house of a Palestinian family. This demolition is part of a municipality and state project to demolish about 500 houses of Palestinians in Jafa in a gentrification/Jewfication efforts. Following is an excerpt of the call for action. (This action is part of ongoing struggle against the demolition of Palestinian houses in Jafa the AATW participate in.)
Home Rebuilding in Jafa, starting August 3rd 2007
Jafa for it's Residents, not for the Capitalists!
Three weeks ago, the Israel Land Administration destroyed the home of Zina and Omar Al-Adassi in Ajami neighborhood. Following the demolition, the Jafa Popular Committee, acting together with the Al-Adassi family, decided to initiate the rebuilding of the home.
The decision is part of the Committee's general policy, supported by Jafa residents:
We will not stop opposing home demolitions!
Every house demolished will be build anew!
A complete solution must be found for Jafa's residential problems, for the current generation as well as the next!
On the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of August, there will be a rebuilding effort.
Business owners and builders from Jafa have volunteered, as well as the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD). We invite you to join the effort and to help with your labor and your presence in the rebuilding of the Al-Adassi home and in protest against the racist policy of the Israel Land Administration, the Amidar company, the Tel Aviv municipality, and the Ministry of Housing.
We will meet on Friday, at 14:30 in the park, corner of Yefet st. and Dr. Erlich st. in Jafa
Monday, July 30, 2007
Media*, Anarchists under fire - A battle is being waged in the Israeli courts against anarchists who help Palestinian villagers. 30 Jul 2007
Over the past five years the Israeli peace camp has dwindled. Last month marked the occupation's 40th anniversary, and no more than 4,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv to protest against Israel's longstanding military rule. Of the demonstrators who did show up, only a few hundred are what one could call ardent activists - people who have dedicated their life to peace and justice
Among the most committed of these are Israel's anarchists. Yet, over the past two years they have been under attack, and it is becoming more and more difficult for them to continue their struggle.
Established in 2003, the anarchists are made up of young Israelis, mostly in their twenties, who work closely with the Palestinian popular village committees in order to resist Israel's occupation. They have no official leaders, no office, and no paid staff, and yet they have managed to accomplish more than many well-oiled NGOs and social movements. They are perhaps best known for their efforts in the small village of Bil'in, where for more than two years weekly demonstrations have been staged against the wall that Israel is building on Palestinian land.
The anarchists are active in numerous other villages and towns as well. Day in and day out, they travel in small groups through the West Bank, supporting non-violent direct action that helps Palestinian farmers gain access to their fields and crops, while opposing the construction of the separation barrier and the confiscation of occupied land.
One of the most remarkable qualities of these young Israelis is their subversive use of their own privilege, employing it not for self-interested social, economic or political gain - as most people do - but rather in order to stand up to power. The anarchists, in other words, exploit the privilege that comes with their Jewish identity and use it as a strategic asset against the brutal policies of the Jewish state.
As Jewish activists they are well aware that the Israeli military behaves very differently when Israeli Jews are present during a protest in the West Bank and that the level of violence, while still severe, is much less intense. Indeed, according to Israeli soldiers the military has more stringent open fire regulations for demonstrations in which non-Palestinians participate. So when a village's public committee decides to carry out non-violent protests against the occupying power, the anarchists mingle with the demonstrating villagers, thus becoming a human shield for all of those Palestinians who have chosen to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
Even though the anarchists are frequently beaten and arrested, they do not desist. To date, about 10 Palestinians have been killed in demonstrations against the separation barrier and thousands have been wounded, a number that would no doubt have been much greater had it not been for the fearless dedication of the anarchists.
These unsung heroes are currently regarded in Israel as a fifth column. And when the Israeli police began to realise that beating and detaining them would not stop their stubborn resistance, a different strategy was adopted. Scores of legal indictments were issued by the state prosecutor.
The anarchists took this as a new challenge. They have launched a legal campaign, whose aim is to defend the basic civil right of all Israelis to resist their government's rights-abusive policies. Leading this battle is Gabi Lasky, an energetic lawyer, who spends many of her weekends releasing anarchists from detention and her weekdays representing them in court.
Unlike the struggle inside the Occupied Territories, the legal battle to protect civil liberties requires financial resources, which the anarchists do not have. The state knows this is the anarchists' Achilles heel and has been trying to undermine their peace-building activities by making them pay hefty legal fees. Although Lasky is working for little more than minimum wage, the anarchists' struggle cannot be sustained without help from concerned individuals around the world. Click here to find out how you can help.
------------------------------------------------
* By Neve Gordon, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Politics and Government, Ben Gurion University. For more information on Anti-Israel Israeli academics, go to: www.israel-academia-monitor.com
http://israel-academia-monitor.com/
and click on the university's name.
Among the most committed of these are Israel's anarchists. Yet, over the past two years they have been under attack, and it is becoming more and more difficult for them to continue their struggle.
Established in 2003, the anarchists are made up of young Israelis, mostly in their twenties, who work closely with the Palestinian popular village committees in order to resist Israel's occupation. They have no official leaders, no office, and no paid staff, and yet they have managed to accomplish more than many well-oiled NGOs and social movements. They are perhaps best known for their efforts in the small village of Bil'in, where for more than two years weekly demonstrations have been staged against the wall that Israel is building on Palestinian land.
The anarchists are active in numerous other villages and towns as well. Day in and day out, they travel in small groups through the West Bank, supporting non-violent direct action that helps Palestinian farmers gain access to their fields and crops, while opposing the construction of the separation barrier and the confiscation of occupied land.
One of the most remarkable qualities of these young Israelis is their subversive use of their own privilege, employing it not for self-interested social, economic or political gain - as most people do - but rather in order to stand up to power. The anarchists, in other words, exploit the privilege that comes with their Jewish identity and use it as a strategic asset against the brutal policies of the Jewish state.
As Jewish activists they are well aware that the Israeli military behaves very differently when Israeli Jews are present during a protest in the West Bank and that the level of violence, while still severe, is much less intense. Indeed, according to Israeli soldiers the military has more stringent open fire regulations for demonstrations in which non-Palestinians participate. So when a village's public committee decides to carry out non-violent protests against the occupying power, the anarchists mingle with the demonstrating villagers, thus becoming a human shield for all of those Palestinians who have chosen to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
Even though the anarchists are frequently beaten and arrested, they do not desist. To date, about 10 Palestinians have been killed in demonstrations against the separation barrier and thousands have been wounded, a number that would no doubt have been much greater had it not been for the fearless dedication of the anarchists.
These unsung heroes are currently regarded in Israel as a fifth column. And when the Israeli police began to realise that beating and detaining them would not stop their stubborn resistance, a different strategy was adopted. Scores of legal indictments were issued by the state prosecutor.
The anarchists took this as a new challenge. They have launched a legal campaign, whose aim is to defend the basic civil right of all Israelis to resist their government's rights-abusive policies. Leading this battle is Gabi Lasky, an energetic lawyer, who spends many of her weekends releasing anarchists from detention and her weekdays representing them in court.
Unlike the struggle inside the Occupied Territories, the legal battle to protect civil liberties requires financial resources, which the anarchists do not have. The state knows this is the anarchists' Achilles heel and has been trying to undermine their peace-building activities by making them pay hefty legal fees. Although Lasky is working for little more than minimum wage, the anarchists' struggle cannot be sustained without help from concerned individuals around the world. Click here to find out how you can help.
------------------------------------------------
* By Neve Gordon, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Politics and Government, Ben Gurion University. For more information on Anti-Israel Israeli academics, go to: www.israel-academia-monitor.com
http://israel-academia-monitor.com/
and click on the university's name.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Palestine-Israel, The joint struggle against the separation fence and occupation continues both in Bil'in and the south of Bethlehem 27 Jul 2007
The weekend actions started a bit early. It started with a Thursday action of cutting the fence where they least expect it. Every one of the hundreds of kilometers of the fence/wall is hated and despised by the people on whose land it is built and who are imprisoned by it. Yesterday, on the lands of the village of Surif, Palestinians internationals and Israelis (of the AATW initiative) demonstrated what this resentment means: At any moment any part of the hated wall might be dismantled when an opportunity arises. In an Isolated point along the path of the separation fence, south of Bethlehem such an opportunity presented itself. A small number of people were able to cut through the fence in two minutes and disappear before the army knew what has happened. When soldiers did arrive, the only thing left for them to do was to explain to their superiors how their patrols can not possibly prevent this from happening again.
With the same ease, the same action can be repeated in other locations and just like at Surif, it will be virtually impossible for the army to prevent it. (see video at the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC4lvXfeHvY) nice stills at: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7169/index.php
Not that they could not do it for a while if they dedicated huge amount of resources and harsher repression... but the Israeli state have both limits on resources and conflicting trends in the ruling elite. (Expressed again and again in the change of policies about the weekly demonstrations in Bil'in - while new regional commanders tried again and again to put end to the weekly joint demonstrations by harsh repressions and soon Higher levels intervened to restrict the measures used.)
In Friday demonstration in Um Salmuna, the army failed to play its part... People suspect one of the reasons they did not come was that on the previous Friday, in which the usual demonstrations in the region were canceled because of the release of 250 FATAH prisoners, a handful of activists who did came to the site provoked the Israeli unit to lot of maneuvers with out any result...
The Israeli state forces just stayed far away in the near by colonialist settlement just keeping eye contact with the demonstration.
In Bil'in we had again a more "interesting" demonstration than the usual. This Friday we had a very big contingent of internationals who make the march more lively. when we were out of the built area of the village we left the road leading to the gate in the separation fence - where the state forces were waiting for us. We took a path leading to a northern part of the fence and a unit of the state forces rushed there to confront us. when the first demonstrators approached the fence, the state force started to shower us with tear gas... just to discover that the wind carry part of it towards them forcing them to regroup back a little. However, the direction change of the wind enable the small unit to use hand grenades of tear gas which are easier to aim, and they gradually forced us to return inside the village... alas, their stock of tear gas grenades ended so they had to stop the pursuit and return to the point near the gate where the main force stayed. The village comity decided at that point to end the demonstration at this point of tactical victory... promising to the exited and disappointed internationals that there will be more Friday demonstrations to attend to in the near future.
Video of previous Friday demonstration in Bil'in:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nJgsO-n8-o
Ilan
http://ilan.shalif.com/anarchy/glimpses/glimpses.html
With the same ease, the same action can be repeated in other locations and just like at Surif, it will be virtually impossible for the army to prevent it. (see video at the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC4lvXfeHvY) nice stills at: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7169/index.php
Not that they could not do it for a while if they dedicated huge amount of resources and harsher repression... but the Israeli state have both limits on resources and conflicting trends in the ruling elite. (Expressed again and again in the change of policies about the weekly demonstrations in Bil'in - while new regional commanders tried again and again to put end to the weekly joint demonstrations by harsh repressions and soon Higher levels intervened to restrict the measures used.)
In Friday demonstration in Um Salmuna, the army failed to play its part... People suspect one of the reasons they did not come was that on the previous Friday, in which the usual demonstrations in the region were canceled because of the release of 250 FATAH prisoners, a handful of activists who did came to the site provoked the Israeli unit to lot of maneuvers with out any result...
The Israeli state forces just stayed far away in the near by colonialist settlement just keeping eye contact with the demonstration.
In Bil'in we had again a more "interesting" demonstration than the usual. This Friday we had a very big contingent of internationals who make the march more lively. when we were out of the built area of the village we left the road leading to the gate in the separation fence - where the state forces were waiting for us. We took a path leading to a northern part of the fence and a unit of the state forces rushed there to confront us. when the first demonstrators approached the fence, the state force started to shower us with tear gas... just to discover that the wind carry part of it towards them forcing them to regroup back a little. However, the direction change of the wind enable the small unit to use hand grenades of tear gas which are easier to aim, and they gradually forced us to return inside the village... alas, their stock of tear gas grenades ended so they had to stop the pursuit and return to the point near the gate where the main force stayed. The village comity decided at that point to end the demonstration at this point of tactical victory... promising to the exited and disappointed internationals that there will be more Friday demonstrations to attend to in the near future.
Video of previous Friday demonstration in Bil'in:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nJgsO-n8-o
Ilan
http://ilan.shalif.com/anarchy/glimpses/glimpses.html
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Israel, the various struggles for roof over the head cross national borders 25 Jul 2007
As the anarchist against the wall (AATW) get more credit as serious activists, we are both invited to (and on our own initiative) join other struggles. Among the struggles within the Israeli border, there are lately four main struggles we were invited to participate. There is the gentrification project in the old Palestinian neighborhood of Jafa (now annexed as the southern district of Tel Aviv). About 500 Israeli citizens Palestinian families were issued court order of demolition (of the whole or part of their homes) - to clear the area for gentrification by the rich (mostly Jews from Tel Aviv). By few direct actions AATW people were involved some demolitions were already prevented for a while. Following that, in connection with the Jafa struggle, we were invited to participate in the struggle of 30 families of the Cfar Shalem who were issued the eviction order to make space to building project. (This is the old Salame village area immigrant Jews were placed in after the original Palestinian inhabitants were transfered out in the 1948 war.)
A third struggle is that of the Palestinian bedwins of the Negev - the south part of Israel. These are the indigenous semi nomad Palestinian dwellers of the arid lands in the region Beer Sheva city is located. Many of the original inhabitants were driven away to Egypt (Sinai) and Jordan at the 1948-1952 years at the beginning of Israel. Some were forced to relocate within that region. All the years, the Israeli state made efforts to confiscate their land used for marginal agriculture and villages, and concentrate them into few new towns. The last wave of suppression involve the demolition of more than 100 houses with court orders for the destruction of whole villages. Lately, as part of the struggle they and their Jewish supporters invited AATW activists to join them. A protest tent camp was built lately in Jerusalem - near the Parliament.
And the fourth, a bit different project is that of the homeless tent compound in the center of Jerusalem. They are the present tip of the iceberg of some tens of thousands of people who lost their homes due to the neoliberal policy of the Israeli state who privatized the public housing projects and refuse responsibility to the hosing problems of the very needy. The tent camp is organized by veteran social struggle activists with long time contacts with the out of parliament left and with the antiauthoritarian left. We were naturally invited to join them. Members of ours spent there days and nights. The struggle against homelessness in general and against the eviction of the camp in particular is on the agenda.
Yesterday evening, we had a joint demonstration in Jerusalem of the three struggles: the homeless camp (which initiated this demo), The Cfar Shalem people who will soon be homeless too, and the bedwin activists. About 300 participated in the demonstration. We marched about an hour in the two main streets of center of Jerusalem towards the prime minister official house. The AATW drummers circle and team of clowns made the march livelier. The speeches carried by the activists of the three struggles stressed the joining of hands of Israeli Jews and Israeli Palestinians. Afterwards we marched to the homeless camp in the center of city and socialized there before dispersing.
A third struggle is that of the Palestinian bedwins of the Negev - the south part of Israel. These are the indigenous semi nomad Palestinian dwellers of the arid lands in the region Beer Sheva city is located. Many of the original inhabitants were driven away to Egypt (Sinai) and Jordan at the 1948-1952 years at the beginning of Israel. Some were forced to relocate within that region. All the years, the Israeli state made efforts to confiscate their land used for marginal agriculture and villages, and concentrate them into few new towns. The last wave of suppression involve the demolition of more than 100 houses with court orders for the destruction of whole villages. Lately, as part of the struggle they and their Jewish supporters invited AATW activists to join them. A protest tent camp was built lately in Jerusalem - near the Parliament.
And the fourth, a bit different project is that of the homeless tent compound in the center of Jerusalem. They are the present tip of the iceberg of some tens of thousands of people who lost their homes due to the neoliberal policy of the Israeli state who privatized the public housing projects and refuse responsibility to the hosing problems of the very needy. The tent camp is organized by veteran social struggle activists with long time contacts with the out of parliament left and with the antiauthoritarian left. We were naturally invited to join them. Members of ours spent there days and nights. The struggle against homelessness in general and against the eviction of the camp in particular is on the agenda.
Yesterday evening, we had a joint demonstration in Jerusalem of the three struggles: the homeless camp (which initiated this demo), The Cfar Shalem people who will soon be homeless too, and the bedwin activists. About 300 participated in the demonstration. We marched about an hour in the two main streets of center of Jerusalem towards the prime minister official house. The AATW drummers circle and team of clowns made the march livelier. The speeches carried by the activists of the three struggles stressed the joining of hands of Israeli Jews and Israeli Palestinians. Afterwards we marched to the homeless camp in the center of city and socialized there before dispersing.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Israel, Anarchists* Against the Wall (AATW) initiative request support*1* 23 Jul 2007
Dear friend, The mounting legal cost of the joint Palestinian-Israeli struggle against the occupation is forcing us to send this urgent appeal for funds. We are asking for your support to continue the work of the Israeli group Anarchists Against the Wall (AATW). For the past four years*2*, the group has supported*3* the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation and specifically against Israel's segregation wall. Week after week, AATW joins the Palestinian popular resistance against the wall, in diverse areas of the West Bank, including the villages of Bil'in west of Ramallah, al-Ma'asara, and Ertas, south of Bethlehem, and Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.*4* Activists have often been arrested and indicted for their participation in the struggle. Fortunately, the group is represented by a dedicated lawyer, Adv. Gaby Lasky. Adv. Lasky has tirelessly worked to defend activists arrested at demonstrations or direct actions in the West Bank and in Israel. Though the legal defense she provides AATW is almost a full-time job*5*, she has agreed to be paid only a token fee. However, the group has not managed to cover even this sum, and now owes approximately $40,000 in legal expenses for over 60 indictments. In addition to this enormous legal debt, AATW activists are forced to spend large sums on transportation and phone bills*6*.
Please make a donation that will enable us to continue this struggle*7*.
Thank you for your solidarity.
Anarchists Against the Wall
For more information about AATW, our actions and how to make a donation, visit our website: www.awalls.org or contact us at donate@awalls.org .
===============================
I. S. Editor notes:
* The name Anarchists Against the Wall (AATW) was adopted though the spectrum of activists most involved in it is a bit wider. (Not all of them will even define themselves as antiauthoritarian anticapitalists...) This name was a nick name to the direct action against the separation fence at Mas'ha about four years ago that got huge amount of media publicity and thus adopted as a permanent name.
*1* During the years, there was support in various ways: Like minded people and others who just sympathize our struggle did happenings all over the world and besides distribution of information did fund rising for us. Whenever possible, activists from AATW traveled too to these actions.
*2* After a workshop in Leiden conference of the PGA (Summer 2002) about the struggle in our region in which the idea of a joint camp was contemplated, such a camp materialized (Spring 2003) in Mas'ha - near the route of the separation fence. In this camp participated Israeli anarchists and other sympathizers of the idea of joint struggle, and local Palestinians. Gradually, joint actions started and the initiative collected momentum and media cover.
*3* It is more joining a common struggle than external support... Though as an Israeli citizens with "Israeli democratic privilege" we could do some services our Palestinian partners could not do.
*4* Our policy is to come when invited by local villagers initiatives to meet and coordinate and participate when we can. As our fame got momentum, we are invited to join struggles within the borders of Israel too - both by Israeli Palestinian citizens, and by social struggles of the most suppressed (victims of gentrification projects and homeless.) Lately, even a No Border initiative in support of the Darfur refugees is starting.
*5* Due to the internal conflicts within the Israeli system, the permanent availability of an attorney to pressure the various bureaucrats, enabled her to block lot of police harassments. Thus, during the years, thousands of less committed sympathizers and even many curious people of the Israeli left felt immune enough from police harassments and dared to participate in our actions that are nearly always declared illegal. Due to her efforts only few of us spent more than few hours in army or police detention. Very few spent a day till brought before a magistrate that always released them. Some got "work in the service of society". Only two comrades who preferred jail over service or fine served short period in jail.
(Due to her services, even Palestinian partners arrested in the joint demonstrations got less harsh treatment than what the Palestinians usually get.)
*6* As most of the participants are students and high school age with more willing to join the struggle than money to pay for the direct expenses money collected from various supporters is needed even for the subsidizing of transportation costs to the regular Friday demonstrations against the separation fence.
*7* As many more than our like minded comrades are interested in the joint struggle of Israeli Jews and Palestinians against the separation fence and occupation, recruiting their support in various fund rising activity is possible even when the like minded comrades are poor too.....
Please make a donation that will enable us to continue this struggle*7*.
Thank you for your solidarity.
Anarchists Against the Wall
For more information about AATW, our actions and how to make a donation, visit our website: www.awalls.org or contact us at donate@awalls.org .
===============================
I. S. Editor notes:
* The name Anarchists Against the Wall (AATW) was adopted though the spectrum of activists most involved in it is a bit wider. (Not all of them will even define themselves as antiauthoritarian anticapitalists...) This name was a nick name to the direct action against the separation fence at Mas'ha about four years ago that got huge amount of media publicity and thus adopted as a permanent name.
*1* During the years, there was support in various ways: Like minded people and others who just sympathize our struggle did happenings all over the world and besides distribution of information did fund rising for us. Whenever possible, activists from AATW traveled too to these actions.
*2* After a workshop in Leiden conference of the PGA (Summer 2002) about the struggle in our region in which the idea of a joint camp was contemplated, such a camp materialized (Spring 2003) in Mas'ha - near the route of the separation fence. In this camp participated Israeli anarchists and other sympathizers of the idea of joint struggle, and local Palestinians. Gradually, joint actions started and the initiative collected momentum and media cover.
*3* It is more joining a common struggle than external support... Though as an Israeli citizens with "Israeli democratic privilege" we could do some services our Palestinian partners could not do.
*4* Our policy is to come when invited by local villagers initiatives to meet and coordinate and participate when we can. As our fame got momentum, we are invited to join struggles within the borders of Israel too - both by Israeli Palestinian citizens, and by social struggles of the most suppressed (victims of gentrification projects and homeless.) Lately, even a No Border initiative in support of the Darfur refugees is starting.
*5* Due to the internal conflicts within the Israeli system, the permanent availability of an attorney to pressure the various bureaucrats, enabled her to block lot of police harassments. Thus, during the years, thousands of less committed sympathizers and even many curious people of the Israeli left felt immune enough from police harassments and dared to participate in our actions that are nearly always declared illegal. Due to her efforts only few of us spent more than few hours in army or police detention. Very few spent a day till brought before a magistrate that always released them. Some got "work in the service of society". Only two comrades who preferred jail over service or fine served short period in jail.
(Due to her services, even Palestinian partners arrested in the joint demonstrations got less harsh treatment than what the Palestinians usually get.)
*6* As most of the participants are students and high school age with more willing to join the struggle than money to pay for the direct expenses money collected from various supporters is needed even for the subsidizing of transportation costs to the regular Friday demonstrations against the separation fence.
*7* As many more than our like minded comrades are interested in the joint struggle of Israeli Jews and Palestinians against the separation fence and occupation, recruiting their support in various fund rising activity is possible even when the like minded comrades are poor too.....
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