[wvns] Israel Shoots Non-Violent Protesters (video available)
Demonstrations lead to injuries and arrests
ISM Digest
9-16-07
1. Demonstrators shot and arrested in Qusin! (video available on
website)
2. Non-Violent Protest in Al-Walaja Turns Ugly as Israeli Army Rears
its Head (video available on website)
3. Palestinian Human Rights Worker Arrested at Qurtuba School in
Hebron
4. Almost Another Massacre in Jenin
5. Salamat Sahbi Akram
6. Reflections from an Irish Activist in Palestine
7. Tear Gas and Sound Grenades replaced with Music and Dancing: Bil'in
Celebrates... (video available on website)
8. Mass Detentions and House Searches in the Old City of Hebron
9. Settler Aggression at the Jabri Family Farm (video available on
website)
10. Succesful Road Block Removal ends in Arrests (video available on
website)
11. Aggressive Settlers Set Fire to Palestinian Olive Trees
12. Religious Fervor Induced Over Theft of Palestinian Land (video
available on website)
1. DEMONSTRATORS SHOT AND ARRESTED IN QUSIN!
video available:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/09/15/urgent-media-alert-demonstrators-shot-and-arrested-in-qusin/
September 15th, 2007
Today, at 12pm, international and Israeli activists joined Palestinian
activists and villagers in the village of Qusin to protest the system
of control imposed upon them by the Israeli army. The region has seen
a rise in demonstrations of this sort recently, with roadblock removal
demonstrations happening also in the nearby town of Sarra.
There is a road that connects both of these towns, and others, to
Nablus, and to the Nablus-Tulkarem road. This road has been deemed
usable only by Israelis, it turns what is normally a five minute
journey to Nablus into at least one hour. This constitutes daily
harassment for people going to work, going to school, or even just
visiting family.
People gathered together in the village of Qusin and marched towards
the roadblock that prevents them from accessing this road, in Qusin it
takes the form of a yellow gate chained shut. Villagers with
international and Israeli support rallied at the gate, singing,
chanting, and opened it for general use.
After some celebrations at the newly opened gate this non-violent
demonstration decided to return to the village, but soldiers from an
army base nearby spotted them and ran down the hill, preventing them
from going back peaceably to their homes. Soldiers began to push the
people gathered there, threatening them all alike. The press were
threatened and assaulted as much as the demonstrators, with one
journalist saying the commander told him "stop filming or I will break
your camera!". The soldiers did not want any evidence of what was
going to happen next.
Tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets began to shoot off into the
crowd, the demonstrators scattered, unable to reach their home and
faced with extreme army violence. People ran down a hill into a field,
trying to find an alternative way of reaching their village. The army
stood on the road, firing more tear gas and rubber-coated metal
bullets at moving targets below. Some of the soldiers chased people
into the fields, and were seen beating Palestinians. They were also
caught pointing their guns at people at point-blank range and
threatening to fire.
One international was shot in the hand at a distance of 10 meters by a
rubber-coated steel bullet and required medical attention, with blood
shooting from her hand "like a geyser" as one witness reported. Under
Israel's own military law, it is illegal to fire rubber coated steel
bullets from a distance closer than 40 meters. The soldiers were
therefore in direct violation of their own military law when
undertaking these actions today. Another international and five
Palestinians were also shot but did not need to go to the hospital.
While most people had scattered, many international and Israeli
observers were on the road asking the military to calm down and use
less violence.
After it was clear the demonstration was over, these people were all
arrested. In the end six Israeli activists, five international
activists, and two Palestinians were arrested. The Palestinians were
handcuffed and blindfolded and no information about their status has
been confirmed. Three of the international activists and one Israeli
are being charged with the false allegation of assaulting an officer
while being arrested. Although these claims are entirely baseless
lies, journalists were kept away from the scene of the arrest to
prevent demonstrators from having proof of their innocence and it will
be a case of one person's word against the other.
***UPDATE*** As of today, September 16th, all the international and
Israeli demonstrators have been released, but the two Palestinian
demonstrators are still being held in Ariel Police station. We are
still working to get them released, as the charges against them are
just as false as the dropped charges against the international and
Israeli activists. Those injured and hospitalized have returned to
their homes and are recovering.
------------------
2. Non-Violent Protest in Al-Walaja Turns Ugly as Israeli Army Rears
its Head
video available:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/09/14/non-violent-protest-in-al-walaja-turns-ugly-as-israeli-army-rears-its-head/
September 14th, 2007
Today, September 14th, demonstrators against the Apartheid Wall in the
village of Al Walaja were met with severe repression by Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF). Walaja, which is located 8 kilometers west of
Bethlehem, has taken up nonviolent resistance in protest of the
building of the Apartheid Wall, which, when completed, will completely
encircle the village. This will sever many villagers from their
livelihoods in nearby Jerusalem, resulting in increased rates of
unemployment. In Walaja 65 houses and the village mosque are slated
for demolition under Israel's policy of using state-sponsored terror
to force indigenous Palestinians to emigrate. The future of the
village appears bleak.
In today's demonstration, around 100 Palestinians, Israeli, and
international activists gathered for a march to the Apartheid Wall.
After the men of the village finished their prayer, the people
marching climbed a hill in an attempt to reach the wall, but they were
prevented from doing so by a line of IOF soldiers and military jeeps.
While soldiers attempted to push the demonstrators back, the activists
linked arms and held their ground. The activists then gathered around
a military jeep and began chanting slogans against the illegal
occupation of their land.
After about thirty minutes of non-violent demonstrating, the IOF set
off a sound bomb in the middle of the demonstration, and soldiers
began striking at the crowd with their wooden clubs. Several
demonstrators, attempting to retreat, slid on the rocks and fell, and
at least one Palestinian man was seen receiving hits repeatedly with a
club while he was on the ground. A British activist was beaten several
times with a club on his legs, hand, and chest. Soldiers also kicked
demonstrators repeatedly. While this was taking place, several
soldiers went around the crowd, attempting to arrest at least two
Palestinians, seemingly at random. These attempted kidnappings were
prevented with the help of other activists.
By this time most of the demonstrators had retreated down the hill,
and many were returning to the village. After the violent provocation
from the soldiers, some Palestinian youth began to throw a few stones.
Before the handful of youth could be dealt with by the much larger non-
violent contingent, tear gas canisters were thrown at the activists,
effectively dispersing those that remained.
Several villagers from Walaja raised fears that the IOF would pursue
the demonstrators into the village, and to prevent this stones and a
garbage container were placed in the street as barriers. Fortunately,
the military did not invade the village. The demonstration ended with
villagers returning to their homes and Israeli and international
supporters leaving for other cities. For some Israeli activists
however, it did not end there. One group had parked their car within
the line of fire of the IOF and returned to find their windows smashed
in an apparent case of army-sponsored vandalism.
------------------
3. Palestinian Human Rights Worker Arrested at Qurtuba School in
Hebron
September 11, 2007
At 7.25pm on September 11th, ISM activists received a phone call
saying there was a disturbance outside Qurtuba school. The school is
in Tel Rumeida, Hebron opposite the Beit Hadassah settlement.
A group of 10 settler girls were on the school pathway having a BBQ
with a gas cylinder and a burner. A Palestinian Human Rights Worker
was filming the situation to gain evidence of settler trespass on
school land. The police turned up and told the HRW to stop filming.
The HRW was then arrested at 7.30pm on a claim of assaulting a police
officer. The police confiscated the HRW's phone and bundled him into
the back of a police van. He was taken to Kiryat Arba police station.
The arrest was caught on film by ISM activists. Attempts were made by
adult settlers to prevent filming of the incident. One activist was
spat at by a 10 year old settler girl. Four soldiers watched over the
group of settler girls, who were making access for Palestinians to
their homes difficult.
The army have consistently failed to prevent settler children from
from stoning Palestinian kids as they use the pathway. A large
presense of international HRW's is needed daily to insure safe passage
to the school. The school was attacked and set on fire on the 6th of
August.
The spurious charges against the Palestinian HRW were dropped and he
was released at 11pm. The trespass of land by settler girls and their
protection by the army and police is further evidence of settlers
advance onto Palestinian property and land in Tel Rumeida district,
Hebron.
---------------------
4. Almost Another Massacre in Jenin
September 11th, 2007
In the early morning hours one of the biggest Israeli invasions since
weeks occurred in the refugee camp of Jenin. It was also close to
becoming one of the biggest massacres.
At around 7:30am this morning, nine Palestinian boys were injured by
Israeli gunfire in the refugee camp of Jenin.
Locals reported that at approximately 3am numerous IOF jeeps entered
the camp, coming from several directions. While the governorate
officially confirmed the presence of at least 11 Israeli military
vehicles, many eyewitnesses reported more then thirty.
The army besieged the house of a local male in the east of the camp,
causing resistance by Palestinian freedom fighters. Several explosions
could be heard during the night. While some locals reported that they
were caused by grenades thrown by Islamic Jihad at Israeli soldiers,
others reported that the army caused the explosions themselves.
While during these clashes no casualties could be reported, Israeli
soldiers almost created a massacre among local schoolchildren. Between
7:15 and 7:30am dozens of young kids left their houses for school.
When some of them started to throw bottles and stones at the IOF
jeeps, soldiers began randomly shooting at the children without giving
any warning.
9 young boys aged between 13 and 16 were left wounded. Some of them
were hit by live bullets in legs and torso. They were brought to
hospitals in Jenin and Nablus. At the time being it's still uncertain
if one of the boys, who received a shot into his stomach, is going to
survive.
Potentially coinciding with this invasion the IOF conducted several
other actions during this night in Jenin area.
Security sources reported that from 9pm to 4am the IOF entered
numerous Palestinian villages, like Al-Araqa and Maithalun. At 9pm IOF
jeeps were also seen blocking Haifa road in the northwest of Jenin, as
well as Nablus road later that evening. Furthermore a number of flying
checkpoints were placed around Jenin during the night. Witnesses
reported that soldiers were searching cars with the help of dogs.
Checkpoints were placed at Arraba, Hadad, Kafr Ra'i and al-Jarba.
Meanwhile a Palestinian child from Jenin died of injuries he received,
when last Thursday an Israeli soldier shot a rubber coated steel
bullet into his head
--------------
5. Salamat Sahbi Akram
September 11th, 2007
It was meant to become one of those reports about these surrealities,
you probably only can find in Palestine. About the tension of a
nightly visit to an internet cafe, which ended up surrounded by
security forces. A story about the absurdity of a night, where every
passing Jeep spit more disguised men on an extinct street, who wished
a friendly as-salem alaikum with pointed Kalashnikovs. About the humor
of a night, where inspite of fighting lasting for hours, nine year old
children could be seen passing by on pink bicycles. And it was meant
to become a report about the tragedy of an evening, where once again
Palestinians fought against each other.
But on the next morning nothing is left but tragedy. My friend Akram
is dead, he died last night.
It was Thursday about 10 pm, when members of the Palestinian security
forces in Jenin routinely stopped a car in order to check its
registration papers. The people inside were members of Islamic Jihad
and they don't like to be checked so easily, even less so by the
disdainful security forces. Just some few dozen meters lie between
them and Jenin refugee camp. The place where they have the power, the
place where security forces are not admitted. Clashes break out,
verbally, when Akram joins the scene to arbitrate. Seconds later he
lies on the street with two bullets in his chest.
Akram Ibrahim Abu as-Sba', the man who I always took for two when I
became acquainted with him, cause I didn't recognize him in his
uniform, was brought to Jenin's government hospital and died there a
little later. Killed by fighters of Islamic Jihad. Murdered because of
a stolen car.
Barely 24 hours before we were sitting comfortably in his little
store, lounging in two blue plastic chairs. This small DVD store in
the center of Jenin, where he probably never sold a single movie, but
where you could always find him after 12. Where we so often spent time
together in aimless conversation. About the confusion of Palestinian
policy, about alcohol and our work. About the invasion last night,
about girls and stolen cameras.
But much more then our conversations, his person stays in my memory.
How he, always grinning, lingered behind his desk, nothing ever on top
except an ashtray and a pack of cigarettes. How he didn't understand
my questions, because he had had one glass of Arak too much. Or how
this man who spoke English fluently, always questioning himself after
every second sentence, if his chosen words really had the intended
meaning. How, when I moaned that I needed to meet this leader or that
chairman, he simply, without promises lasting for weeks, looked up the
suitable number in his mobile and placed the desired person next to me
minutes later.
Always when the daily life in the camp, the hospitality, became too
much, when the people became too pushy for me, I came to visit him. To
get away for a while from what is so special here, but often also
hardly bearable in this city. That is not to say that Akram wasn't a
typical inhabitant of Jenin, a typical Mucheiemi, but he was never too
extreme. He was faithful to Fatah, but did not hate Hamas. He was a
member of Abu Mazen's Force 17, but he respected the militias. He had
this typical Arabic hospitality, but you didn't have to beg him to
refuse a coffee. Some years ago the Israelis destroyed his house, but
he didn't hate those who once again turned his family into refugees.
If they give me Mucheiem I am happy, he said once while looking at the
prospective shape of a Palestinian state. And if you know him, you
know that this was probably not far from the truth. Akram was a happy
man. He was happy as a husband, happy as a father of four children and
just happy sitting behind his big desk in his small DVD store.
Now some more dozen posters are added to the thousands on the house
walls of Jenin. Now also Akram lies here besides all the others in the
martyr graveyard of the refugee camp of Jenin. The occupation is not
exciting. The occupation is not an accumulation of bizarre everyday
situations. And even if it seems to be absurd, it is never comic. Not
even if it lasts 60 years. Occupation means suffering and dying -
everyday.
But of the few things that are left under this occupation, we at least
have friendship. In Mucheiem Jenin there is hardly a guy to find, who
can be called such a one by so many people. He was a great friend.
Salamat sahbi Akram.
---------------
6. Reflections from an Irish Activist in Palestine
September 10th, 2007
The following is not an attempt at a comprehensive analysis of the
current situation in the Occupied Territories of Palestine. Instead,
it is a reflection on the past few weeks I have spent with the
International Solidarity Movement in the city of Hebron and its
environs and what brought me here in the first place. It is completely
subjective and deliberately intended to be so. I am a firm believer
that the shortest distance between a person and the truth is a story.
Many stories I have heard and read about regarding resistance to
occupation, capitalism, imperialism have formed my sense of what is
right and wrong - and on which side of the fence I am on. So if you
manage to read through this lengthy piece of writing, I hope the
stories of resistance I have encountered over the past few weeks will
also inspire you also to keep on fighting the powers that be, wherever
and whenever you encounter them.
1.
It's 8 a.m., Tuesday morning, and the city of Hebron - in the southern
region of the West Bank of Palestine, has awoken. The initial morning
calls to prayer from the surrounding mosques have well passed, a few
Palestinian workers are wiping sleep from their eyes and some seem
like they are in sleep-walking mode as they journey to work on foot
from the heavily-militarised H2 Israeli district to the Palestinian
Authority controlled H1 section.
It could be any other city in the world given the evident rituals of
work, rest, and play - that is apart from the blatantly obvious fact
that the city of Hebron is under a brutally repressive, 6,000 Israeli
soldier strong, military occupation. And these soldiers are here to
'protect' the 600 or so settlers who live in the H2 area, which makes
up 20% of all Hebron. Approximately 40,000 Palestinians lived in the
area in 2005 but this number is steadily decreasing due to ever-
increasing repression and violence.
It is the first time I have ever lived in an occupied country. Even
though I am from Ireland, the occupation of the Northern part of our
country was a universe away for those of us who grew up in the
southern Republic. Images that flashed on the screen on a daily basis
when I was growing up remained just that - flashes on a screen. The
impact of the Northern Ireland conflict on Irish society as a whole
was nowhere to be seen, and was especially far removed from my home
town, 130 kilometres away from the border. Yet, for those who have
resisted imperialism and capitalism in the North of Ireland, the
symbols of the Palestinian people and their struggle - which can be
found in Republican areas of Northern Ireland - embody the universal
spirit for true freedom. Fights against oppressive conditions tend to
identify with each other easily and employ each others' symbols in a
clear manifestation of mutual solidarity. Hence, one can also see the
Kurdish flag and Basque flag in a variety of districts in Belfast and
Derry. That said, I have yet to see a tricolour here! But once one
says they are from Ireland the amazing hospitality and friendliness of
Palestinians elevates to even higher levels than normal.
Despite the fact that this is my first time in the Middle East, I have
had previous voluntary experience in Haiti, where I worked for 3
months in early 2001. The stark poverty there and amazing spirit of
survival manifested through their great sense humour and generosity
was a significant eye-opener for a 21 year old from the midlands of
Ireland. Haitians taught me many valuable lessons then about simple
living, just as Palestinians have been teaching me invaluable lessons
about their struggle since I arrived here almost 4 weeks ago. The
domestic societal pressures I and other Westerners face, from San
Francisco to Warsaw, Oslo to Madrid - whether to choose Nike or
Adidas, Levis or Wranglers, Coca Cola or Pepsi - seems like such
bullshit falsity when measured against the fact that it is ordinary
Haitians who slave labour for our commodity overload and Palestinians
who bear the brunt of our nation's obsession with weapons sales to the
Apartheid Israeli State.
Thankfully, groups like the ISM, Christian Peacemaker Team and many
others exist to counter the exploitation and violence perpetuated by
the political powerbrokers, cynical warmongers, and the ubiquitous
capitalists.
In my own case, on return to Ireland after volunteering in Haiti, I
had to decide whether I was to conform to the Irish Celtic Tiger
economic expectation of attaining a brand-new 2.6 litre car, producing
2.3 children, constructing an 8 room house (3 times more than
required), signing up for a 35 year mortgage in a cramped urban space
with few social services, and putting aside a sufficient quantity of
disposable income for 2 sun holidays a year in order to make up for
the eternally falling rain in Ireland - and all by the time I would
have reached 27 years old. Yes, I know, sounds pretty boring! And yet
many feel forced into such economic and social traps, and of course
not just in Ireland, by well-groomed real estate charmers, loan sharks
and city councillor land rezoners, just because they want to start a
family and bring up their kids in a secure environment.
That course of life may seem good to some, and more power to them if
they can enjoy themselves and be active citizens at the same time. But
for those of us who have had the privilege to form relationships with
those who struggle to survive in their daily lives, whether amongst
the poor and oppressed of the Global North or South, our
responsibilities to respond through sharing some of their experiences
and refusing to descend into slumber are to the fore of consciences.
And that is exactly why I decided to come to Palestine (I know, it has
taken me a while to get to this point) - to reignite my sense of
responsibility towards the other, to develop mutually beneficial
relationships with those having to confront occupation and violence in
their normal daily rituals - of work, rest, and play. A Russian
Israeli soldier recently sarcastically commented to me at Tel Rumeida
checkpoint in Hebron, 'so you're like Jesus!'
Maybe it had more to do with the fact I hadn't shaved for 10 days then
what he perceived as an activist's sense of moral superiority (though
most human rights activist's I've met are a very humble bunch). I
ain't no Jesus, and I hammer this home to the soldier calmly. I
replied: 'Well, for sure I'm not Jesus, but don't forget either that
at least he never carried a weapon with him nor harassed people!' I
doubt it resonated. He's the same soldier that I mentioned earlier who
guzzles back beer while on duty and harasses us with his armed buddy
when we film him being abusive.
Anyhow, enough about soldiers. Thankfully I was free to come here,
albeit for a short period of time, having no mortgage, kids (the only
part of this triangle I would like to have) nor gas-guzzling car - and
having a very understanding and supportive girlfriend and family to
support me. I look upon it as a huge privilege and yet great challenge
and responsibility to be able to travel and experience resistance
against occupation by the people here. They have much to teach us who
live in countries ridden with individualism and materialism.
Even though I'm from Ireland, for the past two years I have been
residing in Poland, teaching English and desperately struggling to
learn the nightmarish Polish language. So when I decided to initiate
contact with the ISM about the possibilities of working alongside them
in Palestine, I started to recall previous stories of theirs which I
had followed. A good friend of mine had been shot in the leg by an IOF
soldier in 2002 while others had volunteered as short-termers. Last
year I attended a very well produced play in Ireland which was based
on the journals by the very inspiring ISM'er Rachel Corrie. And before
I left Poland by train to make my way here I just managed to finish
reading Jocelyn Hurndall's book about her son Tom, fatally shot by an
IOF soldier in the Gaza Strip in 2003, just shortly after Rachel had
been murdered.
2.
The border police at Al-Ibrahimiye mosque and Cave of Machnela
Synagogue checkpoint evidently need serious doses of caffeine to get
into harassment mode. They knock back glass after glass of Saada
(black Arabic coffee), becoming gradually more vocal towards each
other and Palestinian passers-by. This ultimately reaches fever-pitch,
whereby the Master and Commander of the unit and one of the female
officers are shouting for no apparent reason, apart from the fact that
they like to do so. Ever hear of the proverb 'empty barrels make most
noise?'
It was the first thing that I thought of when trying to figure out why
they felt the need to assert themselves in such a verbally
intimidating manner. Said, one of the first victims of detentions that
morning, is in his mid-twenties - cleaner shaven than I am and
impeccably dressed, he attempted to enter the mosque for prayers. 1
hour and 15 minutes later of standing in the sun (despite our appeals
he be allowed to stand in the shade), the army and police having
warned him not to talk to the international monitors nearby, he is
informed that he cannot enter the mosque. His calmness acts as a sign
that this is not the first time he has been refused, nor will it be
the last.
He informs me through a Red Crescent delegate friend that he has been
rejected for 2 reasons. For having CD-Roms in his folder, and for
allegedly being a member of Hamas. The CD's are not confiscated and
thus are hardly deemed a security threat. Said is also obviously not
anyone of political significance, even if he is a member of Hamas, as
he is allowed to go back the same he came. Freedom of movement is one
of the basic tenets of a democracy, one we all take for granted, and
one learns quickly to appreciate it even more while living in such a
militarised area.
As I walked and talked with Said through the economically devastated
Old City market area, a sizeable rock - about 7 inches in diameter -
thrown from the roof of the adjoining Synagogue, narrowly missed us
and local shop-owners. Unfortunately no steel mesh protection roofing
has been constructed here so pedestrians are an open target for stone
throwers. Not the ideal area to construct a moderately successful
business in order to sustain your family with their daily needs! Hence
the fact that shop owners have had to bolt up and get out - the
tourism industry being all but devastated as a result of the
occupation and consequential lack of security, bad publicity.
In Ireland, visitors often comment that our towns and cities are laden
with pub after pub after pub. In the West Bank that can be rephrased
to read - checkpoint after checkpoint after checkpoint or - barrier
after barrier after barrier. According to B'tselem, the leading
Israeli human rights organisation, the West Bank alone has over 40
manned and 470 physical obstacles that prevent freedom of movement. It
is always unpredictable when one approaches a soldier, border police
or police officer. The aim is to aid a detained Palestinian, to
diplomatically (or not so diplomatically, depending on the situation)
put pressure on them to speed up the process and subtly remind them
that they are being watched. I have no doubt that the fact we take
video camera footage while they are breaching people's civil liberties
annoys them to a great extent, because they know they can't get away
with their usual humiliating tactics which they deploy upon
Palestinian civilians.
One can get used to their aggression, guns and ignorance easily. By
attempting to divide and conquer, the Israeli security apparatus
deliberately try to ruin the good relationships between internationals
and Palestinians. But they have been without success, and the
reciprocal respect between Palestinian locals and internationals, who
have come alongside them to fight the occupation, only gets stronger
and stronger against the occupier.
The consequences for our Palestinian friends, whether politically
active or not, is cruel and arbitrary. Question the police or army's
decision-making process with logic and persistence and you are sure to
find yourself landed into a holding-cell, or maybe even prison -
sometimes for up to six weeks, without any charges being brought or
access to a lawyer, upholding of one's basic human rights. Habeas
Corpus, a basic legal principle that has helped protect individual's
civil liberties worldwide, quite simply does not exist here. Arbitrary
detentions can last years without a person being charged or convicted.
I've only spent 6 weeks in jail in Ireland (www.peaceontrial.com) for
nonviolent political activity, so to begin to imagine such a nightmare
scenario where there is no certainty of one's future nor for the
welfare of one's family, is quite simply impossible and dreadful at
the same time.
Being an 'international' monitor at military checkpoints and generally
behaving as a non-violent activist at actions against the Apartheid
Wall, to give but one example, is a excellent experience, yet requires
a great deal of patience, high energy levels and an ability to remain
logical and organised under stress. In a sense, being an activist in
Hebron at the moment is somewhat similar to a soldier's life. Long
periods of relative inactivity are interspersed with spurts of intense
activity. Things can flare up rapidly - settler attacks, new army
checkpoints and harassment measures.
If things are relatively peaceful in our region of Palestine then we
must be grateful for that peace and not fall into the trap of feeling
bored. Being an activist doesn't always mean you have to be 'active'
on the frontlines or attend every action. Often, not being present in
the local area can adversely affect your everyday ordinary work of
living in a community and being on call if locals require your
assistance.
I suspect there can be a tendency in all of us who have come here to
be politically active and with an engaged activist mindset that if
you're not being active by removing roadblocks, dodging tear gas
canisters or confronting bulldozers then you are being under-utilised.
It challenges our preconceptions of what work we thought we would be
engaged in. The latter are of course all quintessential to going about
the work of nonviolence, yet the daily drag of the occupation and the
benefits of peaceful moments should not be under-played. They are
opportunities to immerse into the community more, to meet as many
people as possible, to play street soccer with the kids, to learn
Arabic and teach English or other languages and to skills share with
other activists, e.g. video editing, arts and crafts, language
learning, juggling, chess playing, report and journal writing - the
list is endless.
I greatly admire those who have put themselves forward and suffered
much to oppose the occupation without use of arms. Yet for anyone who
intends on joining the ISM for a short length of time my advice is not
to be an activist tourist during you month or so long stay. Wherever
you find yourself, be there fully with both mind and body.
3.
Jewish settlers driving by give antagonistic glances and stares, while
cars and bus loads of visitors to the nearby Jewish cemetery and
'tomb' of the ancient biblical figures of Jesse and Ruth every now and
again have one ruthless passenger who rolls down the window and
comments, 'Drop dead!' Being called a 'Nazi' by Jewish settlers is a
regular occurrence here - you just have to get used to it and not get
pissed off.
Fawaz, a 21 year old English student, informed me this evening that he
twice evaded a beating from the army and police as a result of the
mere presence of International Solidarity Movement activists. It's
good to get positive feedback and to know that one is at least
preventing such crimes.
Later on in the day two semi-drunk Israeli soldiers of Russian origin
aggressively break up our peaceful Tuesday evening by demanding we
stop filming them. Understandably so, seen as we had earlier recorded
them knocking back some cans of beer in the vicinity of the
Palestinian house we were taking care of. They sexually harass one of
the female internationals present before cowering behind their
military outpost once again.
The story behind Issa's house in Tel Rumeida district is a key part of
the successful nonviolent resistance waged here. The legal owners of
the property carry blue I.D., meaning they are residents of East
Jerusalem. The Israeli police informed them 7 years ago that they
would lose their blue I.D. if they continued to live in the Hebron
region, so they went back to Jerusalem and soon after the army
occupied their house. They remained their on and off for the next 6
years. When they eventually left in early 2007 settlers occupied the
house and stripped it bare. All this despite the fact that Palestinian
activists managed to legally receive confirmation from the Israeli
High Court that only the owner should be allowed to live there, or a
tenant of the owner. Now, though the house was ransacked by the army
and settlers, Palestinian ISM'ers intend on developing it into a
nonviolent base to confront the occupation. It's geographically
positioned in a very significant area. Surrounded by olive groves, it
finds itself located between the Tel Rumeida and Beit Hadassah
settlements, hotbeds of extremism which have caused fear amongst the
local Palestinian community for decades.
Atrocities have been committed against moderate, orthodox and
extremist Israelis - but the concept that this is a war between two
equals is a fallacy. It's more like pitching Barcelona against
Doncaster United in the F.A. Cup (no offence intended).
The life of an activist in Hebron at the moment can be summarised as
follows - early to rise in order to be at military checkpoint watch.
Long periods of time being alert which needs to be constructively
filled to pass the day due to the nature of the work involved. Anyone
who has seen the Thin Red Line will know what I am talking about.
Patience is the greatest of all virtues here. Not losing your cool is
tough when you daily see such violations of peoples' civil liberties.
And even when things are quiet, matters can escalate in a matter of
minutes. Yesterday morning I walked out the door with a colleague to
do checkpoint watch at Tel Rumeida hill and Shuhadah st., especially
in order to ensure local kids and teachers starting school were not
attacked by settlers nor harassed by soldiers. The Palestinian kids
school in the H2 district, Qurtuba, suffered an arson attack just a
few weeks ago and the school is still under repairs.
We were very surprised, as were our neighbours, to see a small machine
gun stationed at a new checkpoint just 10 metres from the ISM
apartment. A blue landmine (we've yet to confirm whether it was live
or a dummy - the latter is likely) was positioned under the temporary
roadblock, constructed just one hour before. So each and every person,
man woman and child, were obliged to walk down a narrow passage by the
road with an intimidating machine gun facing them and a very obvious
belt of ammunition adjacent to it. At 10pm the same day soldiers were
demanding the men who wanted to pass the checkpoint pull down their
trousers. A couple of phone calls later from people who know the law
alleviates the situation and the soldiers are disempowered from
engaging in their completely unacceptable behaviour.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Israeli and U.S.
government on August 17th, regarding a 25% increase in the already
colossal aid they are granted annually, though yet to be passed
through Congress - which is but a mere formality at this stage, goes
to the core of the problems which exist here. $33 billion is to be
granted over a 10 year period and half of this is planned to be spent
on defence - or rather, offence. This blood money will be delivered
efficiently and the occupation will be bankrolled for the next 10
years. So who will bankroll the nonviolent communities which need to
grow and continue their quintessential work in the Occupied
Territories? I can safely presume that those who have managed to read
this far do not have over-bulging bank accounts, and are probably
weighed down with debt most of their lives. But we have to push
ourselves as much as possible to shake the bushes when we get back
home and do all we can to ensure people know how and why to contribute
to the ISM's work in Palestine.
In our common humanity we reap the seeds we sow, or all too often, we
reap the seeds our governments choose to sow in our names. It's an
anarchist cliché at this stage, but it's well worth remembering: 'war
is the health of the state.' It rings true when one also takes into
consideration the internal tensions and huge amounts of finance spent
on weaponry by Israel, the P.A., Hamas, etc. So rather than gun
factories being built, all of us who have worked with the ISM know
that the anti-occupation forces here could do with a lot more
nonviolent infantry, video and digital camera factories, checkpoint
observers, rakes and mattocks to assist farmers tend to their land
under attack from colonial settlers, ropes and tractors to remove
roadblocks, bolt cutters to cut the Apartheid fence and sledgehammers
to bring down the wall. And even if you can only come for a short
time, which unfortunately I was only able to afford this summer, the
relationships one can develop with locals and the knowledge one can
gain and share is invaluable.
And that is why I guess it is important to remember that the work of
the international ISM'er is 20% in Palestine and 80% back in their
home turf. I am so grateful to have worked alongside Palestinians and
internationals whose efforts to struggle on despite the odds is truly
inspiring. Celebrating our common Palestinian/International humanity
and our nonviolent action victories, our ability to remain nonviolent
despite the daily violence we face, and telling our stories (by the
way, thanks for reading this far) is so important to ensure that the
next wave of ISM'ers know what to expect upon arrival.
No Pasaran
----------------
7. Tear Gas and Sound Grenades replaced with Music and Dancing: Bilin
Celebrates...
September 7th, 2007
To view the CNN report on the BIl'in victory celebration see:
www.americanhummus.com
On Friday, September 7th, the villagers of Bil'in were joined by
international and Israeli comrades. Normally they come together every
Friday to express their outrage of the unacceptable Apartheid Wall.
Normally the day is filled with military violence, tear gas, sound
bombs, and billy clubs are common. Once the military begins to fire
gas into the crowds, the non-violent protesters tend to back off
eventually leaving only the Palestinian children throwing rocks in
anger. A mild response in comparison to the rubber coated steel
bullets used against them.
This day was different, one can say it was not a demonstration, but a
celebration. There was still a reason to demonstrate, the Israeli
Occupation Forces were still standing en masse behind the gate, guns
ready and cameras recording. The wall was still there and though due
to be moved, it will still be re-located onto Palestinian land,
blocking the area to the illegal Matityahu East settlement, also on
Palestinian land. There is also the knowledge that though this is a
clear victory, it is also a rare victory. Around 120 cases have been
brought to court about the Apartheid Wall and the its devastating
effects on Palestinian land, water, economy, and culture, but only
four have not been rejected.
But this was a victory, and a day to be victorious. Of the now four
cases of success in Israeli courts, three of them have been fought
with joint non-violent struggle. Activists, demonstrators and
participants gathered at the International House in Bilin where
baklava, a traditional Palestinian sweet, was served to the guests
passing through. At the entrance was an arrangement created out of
tear gas canisters collected over the many demonstrations laid out to
acknowledge the brutality that has been faced by the village and the
demonstrators over the three years it has been going on.
The villagers and their supporters marched towards the wall today,
committed to non-violence, stopping people before the gate and telling
them not to speak, provoke, or argue with the soldiers. This was not a
day to run from tear gas, but to speak, listen, and dance freely.
During the celebrations speeches were given, songs sung and music and
dancing ensued. In the midst of this, the appointed Palestinian Prime
Minister, Salam Fayyad made an appearance, undertaking a speech and
further walking up to the gate where Israelis held their position on
the other side.
The celebration lasted around two hours, at the end of which a couple
of children threw a few stones. The organizers, keen to ensure the
demonstration would not escalate into aggression and violence, quickly
called off the celebrations and told everyone to return to the
village. They stopped the children they could while the army gathered
to pass through the gate once more into the village land. Only a few
stones were thrown and the villagers put a stop to it as quickly as
they could. Celebrations continued back at the village.
-----------------------
8. Mass Detentions and House Searches in the Old City of Hebron
September 6th, 2007
Last night at 9.30pm dozens of soldiers were in the old city of
Hebron. They called on loud speakers for all the men aged 18 to 35 to
come out of the houses and then they detained them. Three
international Human Rights Workers (HRWs) from ISM arrived at the
Ibrahimi Mosque at 10.15pm to see 150 Palestinian men in a metal pen
sitting in rows on the ground. About 10 0ther HRWs (from CPT and TIPH)
were also there. More men were being brought to the mosque while HRWs
maintained their presence. Released detainees said that they were
being processed in groups and then released.
The processing involved passing through a metal detector, being
photographed and then each man had to explain where he lived and have
his body searched. They said this was being done by Israeli
Intelligence Service. Other detainees said they had been given papers
to report later to the Israeli Intelligence Service for more
interrogation. The Border Police forced HRWs to leave the mosque area
after 30 minutes.
The HRWs then entered the old souk by another route and found the
streets and passages full of soldiers going to all the houses and
disturbing the women and children. Some women were outside their
houses with their distressed children. The soldiers would not explain
why they were doing this when asked.
Israeli Army Commander Nir, the commander of Hebron, said that he was
an Israeli protecting Israeli Settlers 'here in Israel' as he checked
the passports. HRWs reminded him that it was his duty to protect all
the civilians including Palestinians in Israeli occupied parts of
Hebron (H2).
At 11.35pm a released detainee said that the soldiers were carrying
out a survey of the occupants of all the houses in parts of the old
city. There was also a report of one detainee being beaten.
-----------------------
9. Settler Aggression at the Jabri Family Farm
video available
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/09/02/settler-aggression-at-the-jabri-family-farm/
August 31st, 2007
A group of 40 activists, Palestinians, internationals, Israelis, ISM,
CPT, the Children of Abraham and Taayush came to the Jabri farm in
Hebron for to demonstrate with the family, which faces displacement
due to settler expansion. They came to collect hay for the owner's
goats clear the land of rocks and shrubs, and ready the land for
planting fruit. A group of 80 settlers turned up to try and prevent
the activists from working the land. The settlers stole tools from the
activists that put them down so they could rest. A settler leader went
looking for tools on the ground and then instructed other settlers the
take the tools and hide them in the synagogue (a tent that the
settlers illegally erected on the Jabri family's land). When this
happened the military did nothing to intervene. The activists tried to
negote the return on the tools with the military but they still did
not return the tools. This lead to several scuffles breaking out where
settlers punched and kicked the activists. One settler was taken away
out of the group of ten that started the malicious attacks. At one
point a Palestinian was rugby tackled to the floor with no provocation
and had to be taken to hospital for further treatment as his back was
badly hurt. This lead to some of the settlers leaving and the
situation calmed down for a while.
Settler children shouted abuse and threw stones at the activists as
they tried to work. This went on throughout the day. As the activists
got closer to the path which cuts the farm land in half, the settlers
returned to cause more trouble. With the new arrivals the settlers
started to get excited. When it came time for the Israeli activists to
leave the settlers felt that they could now start shouting abuse at
the Israeli activists. This caused some of the activists to become
angry and they returned to the land to talk with the settlers this
lead to the military to intervene and get in between the two groups of
people, lucky the Palestinians did not get involved with the arguments
although there where still on the land. The arguments went on for
about 20 minutes.
When we tried to leave again the children started moving large rocks
back on to the land which the activist spent all day clearing. As the
police and military did nothing to stop this from happening, the
activists returned to the farm land and arguments started again. The
arguments were all in Hebrew but an Israeli activist translated parts
of one of them:
"these kids need to be taken away by social workers. They throw stones
at us; they shout abuse at use; and the funny thing is my taxes pay
for their [settler children's] education."
When we left again the kid started to throw rocks on to the land
again. This time the police tried to stop it but it looked more like a
game of chase between kid of about 12. The police didn't know how to
act with the children and the children showed them no respect.
An hour later as we were sitting in the Jabri house, a settler came
with his dog to scare the goats and cause trouble. As we came to film,
he immediately ran up the hill with his dog. He then walked down
shouting abuse at us and the few remaining Israelis. He then continued
down the hill to tell the police that the Palestinians at the farm had
attacked his dog. The police then came up the hill to talk with the
Palestinians. There was then 20 minutes of negotiation before the
police finally left satisfied that nothing happened. From then on the
rest of the afternoon was quiet. A few activists stayed the night to
insure that nothing happened.
------------------
10. Succesful Road Block Removal ends in Arrests
August 31st, 2007
On Friday, 31.08.2007, international and Israeli Human Rights
Activists joined the people of Sarra village in another demonstration
against a roadblock that for years has obstructed direct access into
Nablus city.
For the last five years the people of Sarra have had a trip of five
minutes from their town to Nablus turn into circuitous journey taking
nearly an hour. The Israeli Occupation Forces have closed their road
with the help of one meter squared cement blocks. There have been
repeated attempts by the town to get this roadblock removed, as it
needlessly damages the lives of the people inside, when they need to
go to work, or to school, or to visit family. Though they have tried
to work through government channels, speaking to the DCO and lawyers,
it has come to no avail. Last week they were told that the army would
open the roadblock, what the army did was invade and shoot up their
village. Members of the village have become frustrated and impatient
waiting for the government to act. Nothing has been done to help their
situation and they have been lied to or ignored when they voice their
complaint. In the end it has come to this; the people have taken their
situation into their own hands, they are waiting for no one. They
gathered on friday to demonstrate non-violently against the continued
presence of a cage around their town, part of the cage around Nablus.
Around 300 people came together at the village mosque after friday
prayer and made their way down the road towards the road closure.
People's spirits were high while marching down, waving Palestinian
flags, chanting, cheering each other on. When they arrived, several
soldiers could be seen with sniper rifles hiding behind trees on the
hill right behind the roadblock. People were standing around the stone
blocks, chanting slogans for some time. As the sprit of the people
increased they began to drag barbwire, left on the side of the road by
soldiers, across the road which leads to an army watchtower. People
found old tires on the side of the road also, dragging them into the
middle of the road and setting fire to them. Soon after a couple of
army and police vehicles approached. Part of the group then walked
towards the jeeps on the military road, attempting to prevent them
from reaching the roadblock. They sat down in a row right in front of
the vehicles and managed to stop them where they had parked. Some
people from the group went to try and talk to the soldiers,
negotiating about the presence of the roadblock. Several times the
army drove closer towards the people blocking them in and attempting
to threaten them. The Israeli military managed to capture and detain
two of the Israeli activists, for being in a closed military zone,
taking them away in a jeep.
The people who had stayed around the roadblock then started to move
the stones off the road with the help of ropes. Soldiers increased
their harrassment of the village, throwing several sound bombs and
tear gas canisters into the crowd. Nonetheless, after dispersing for a
moment, the people regathered, and continued to move all of the
concrete road blocks out of the way.
People were cheering and continued chanting slogans, no more violence
was at this point used by the army. The activists who had blocked the
army vehicles then started retreating towards the other group around
the roadblock. Some more discussions between the villagers and the DCO
followed, another promise to look into the matter of the roadblock
followed, which proved to be an empty promise once again.
The villagers and activists retreated back into the village, the
internationals gathered in a house right next to where the roadblock
was placed. All the people seemed to be very satisfied about the
course of action that day.
Approximately two hours later however, the Israeli army came back with
a bulldozer to re-close the just opened road. As the internationals
saw them arriving, they rushed to the place and sat down on the cement
blocks on the side of the road to prevent the army from moving it back
in place. They were able to stop them for some time, and soldiers
approached them and tried to make them leave the area. The
internationals however refused, insisting on defending their just
accomplished success. Unfortunately they were only five, as
Palestinian and Israeli activists had already left the area. Like this
they could not resist being taken away and arrested by the soldiers.
The army with its bulldozer closed the road again, putting the stones
in place and after tore up the village's land nearby, covering the
cement blocks with a mound of dirt. The street is closed once again,
but the people of Sarra don't talk of giving up.
The two Israeli activists captured by the Israeli army were held until
10 pm, until they signed conditions stating they would not enter
Sumeria for 15 days.
The international human rights workers arrested that day stayed in
jail two more days. The men were given dingy cells and denied food
beyond a few pieces of fruit the first night, the women were chained
to a bench in a room with a television blaring all night. The women
were not given blankets, and were ignored or mocked by the policemen
on duty. They were forced to use the toilet chained to each other, and
watch movies which bordered on pornography, while the policemen
laughed at them. One was released the next day after nearly 24 hours
in detention, the further three were dragged into court to be charged.
The first activist released was made to sign a condition forbidding
her from entering Sumeria for 15 days. The police wanted to ban the
others from the West Bank for 30 days. The judge however simply asked
them where they had friends in the West Bank; they replied Bethlehem,
Ramallah, and Nablus. The judge then banned them from entering those
cities for 30 days, fining them a total of 7,500 NIS each if they
break their conditions. The other three activists could not readily
find identification and so were thrown back in jail another night. The
next day they returned to court, at which point their passports
arrived in Tel Aviv and conditions of their release were confirmed.
All activists detained that day have all now been released, they would
like to say a big thank you to everyone that supported them during
their ordeal and assisted in obtaning their release.
For additional information relating to Sarra including video footage
of the documented events please click onto Nablus Region Reports for a
full outline of history and footage.
-----------------
11. Aggressive Settlers Set Fire to Palestinian Olive Trees
August 27th, 2007
On Monday, August 27th, at 2pm, a family of seven settlers, headed by
the father, Moshe Zohar, came down from their illegally built house
next to the Qadumim settlement, on to Palestinian land and set fire to
around 300 olive trees.
The Zohar family live in a house illegally built three years ago on
the land of the Tel Village, with a military watchtower standing next
door built at the same time. A year and a half ago an Israeli high
court decision stated that the settlers of Qadumim must stay off the
land of the Tel village and the Zohar family must leave their home.
Around a thousand settlers from Qadumim came and successfully resisted
attempts by the military to evict the Zohar family, and they still
live there today.
When international human rights workers visited the village today,
wednesday the 29th, it was this family that villagers told us cause
all their problems. They said that when the smoke was visible from the
village, the local sheikh spoke over the megaphone of the mosque to
tell people to go help put out the fire and prevent more settler
aggression. Around 150 villagers came but the military watchtower saw
them approaching and the army was there in force when they arrived.
The soldiers did nothing to the settlers, nothing to help put out the
fire, the settlers left when the villagers came and the soldiers
watched as the people put out the fire themselves. The land burned
belongs to around 20 different families.
The aggression did not stop there however. The Zohar family later
found a Palestinian shephard, a man from the Hebron region who took
his sheep up to the Nablus region to find more green land and readily
accessible water. The family held knives to his wrists and told him
that if he continued to stay here, they would cut off his hands before
killing him. They stole all of his sheep (there were around 20) before
leaving him there.
------------------
12. Religious Fervor Induced Over Theft of Palestinian Land
video available:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/08/28/religious-fervor-induced-over-theft-of-palestinian-land/
August 18th-22nd, 2007
>From August 18th, 2007 through to the 22nd, international Human Rights
Workers (HRWs) in the Susiya region noticed an increase of activity on
Palestinian land. The land in question, belonging to a family in the
region, has been arbitrarily declared by the military as a "special
security area,". The essential meaning being that Palestinians are not
allowed to be on the land. Along with this order, no one is to be
allowed to build on or work the land.
At least one month ago settlers erected a tent on the hilltop of the
land in question. The tent, a square, roofed structure, co-joined a
rectangular garden surrounded by cut tree branches.
On August 19th, 2007 the settler erected a second, smaller, roof-less
tent in the area of the first tent. The following day, he moved much
of the contents of the first tent to the second, including: a mattress
and alarm clock, a low table with many books, and several religious
items. It was believed that the tent served as a synagogue and also
that the settler was sleeping there.
According to Palestinians within view of the tents set-up, the settler
arrived in the evening and left in the morning. The morning departure
was viewed also by HRWs. The Palestinian witnesses also report seeing
the settler working the land in the night.
During the last few weeks, approximately 25 olive and fig trees have
been planted on the land between the two tents and recognized
Palestinian land. The settler draws water from the cistern, also on
the appropriated Palestinian land, to tend his trees. As with the land
itself, Palestinians are unable to access this valuable water
resource.
Wednesday August 22nd, four HRWs observed the settler's van leaving
the tents area early in the morning, shortly after 6 am. By the time
they arrived at the tents, no one was present.
Shortly after 9 am the same morning, one HRW alerted the other three
HRWs of the returned presence of the settler van at the tents.
Arriving at the scene around 9:30 am, the HRWs were immediately
approached by the settler who had been tending the trees. The settler
told the HRWs to leave the area, claiming that it was his land:
Israeli land. The settler continued to tell the HRWs to leave,
continued to claim rights to the land, and continued to block passage
of the HRWs to the land beyond him. The settler was zealous in his
declarations, fervently repeating: "Father, this is your land, this is
my land," in Hebrew, while throwing his arms up to the sky. HRWs found
it impossible to discuss legal aspects of the land with someone whose
entire claim was based on religious fervor, and spoke no English.
Approximately 20 minutes later, a soldier arrived to discuss the
situation. The soldier maintained that he had no authority to decide
whose land it was, that he was only present to prevent violence from
occurring. He left after a few minutes, saying that he had called
senior military officers to the scene and that both parties- the
settler, and the HRWs- were allowed to remain in the area.
At 10:20, HRWs tried to contact the Kiryat Arba police, requesting
their presence in Susiya.
A jeep of about four officers later arrived who told the HRWs that
they also could do nothing to prevent the settler from working or
living on the land, as well as that they had no authority to decide
who the owners of the land are. They also showed little interest in
pursuing the matter, seeming to side with the settler. They did,
however, coerce the settler away from HRWs and over to the tents area.
During this time, HRWs continued their presence on the land, standing
and sitting in the area where the settler trees had been planted. HRWs
erected a small tarp structure as protection and shade against the
sun. At one point, the settler broke away from the soldiers, running
at the HRWs and tearing down their shade structure, attempting to
steal the tarp from them. Soldiers eventually intervened, long after
HRWs had struggled, non-violently, to keep a hold of their tarp.
A second military jeep arrived, with three more soldiers. Among these
reserve soldiers, one who speaks very English quite well explained
that, for the soldiers, the situation and jurisdiction is complex and
that ownership of the land in question is difficult to determine. He
repeatedly recommended just waiting for the Israeli court system to
decide on who has property rights. HRWs contested that while the case
is in courts, a very long and drawn-out process, Palestinians are
prevented from accessing and using the land, while at the same time
the settler is cultivating the land, establishing grounds for future
attempts at claiming ownership. The HRWs continued to reiterate that
the land has been declared a "special security area" by the military
and that the settler should not be cultivating the land or living on
it.
At approximately 1:00 pm, the police arrived, hours after having been
called. The main officer maintained an aggressive posture and
displayed a blatant lack of concern for the law he was supposed to be
enforcing. As with the soldiers, the police also passed on
responsibility for making decisions and enforcing law. And as with the
soldiers, the police contradicted themselves by stating that while
ownership of the land is unclear, the settler may remain on it while
the Palestinians may not.
The main police officer continued in his aggressive posture and
questioning, asking irrelevant questions about HRWs thoughts on
September 11th and avoiding the issue at hand. He collected HRWs
passports for ID and visa checks shortly after arriving. These were
not returned until approximately over 2 hours later, in an unofficial
sort of detention.
HRWs continued their presence on the land, alternately discussing the
illegality of the settler's actions and the military and police
complicity in stealing Palestinian land, as well as raising the issue
of the blatant and gross unfairness of the legal system in Israel for
Palestinians.
Police eventually returned the four HRWs passports and departed the
scene. Soldiers reported that the police had phoned the land
administration police and asked them to come to the scene to discuss
the disputed land and resolved the issue of territory and blurred
boundaries. Soldiers reported that the land administration police
refused to come to the scene.
Shortly after the police left the soldiers also left, telling HRWs
that they would return if violence occurred and the entire process
would begin anew.
HRWs stayed on for another 15 minutes before deciding to leave for the
time being, deciding also to make their presence on the stolen and
disputed land a regular one, visiting on a daily basis.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Thank you for your continued interest and support for the
International Solidarity Movement!
Please consider a financial donation to help continue the important
work of the ISM. You may donate securely online at our website:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/donations
For more information, visit the ISM website at
http://www.palsolidarity.org
PLEASE FORWARD THIS UPDATE WIDELY
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