This Friday some 400 protesters participated in a march from the center of Jerusalem towards the nieghborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in east Jerusalem. The police did not grant a permit for the march and the participants hence decided to divide into smaller groups and regroup at the entrance to the nieghrbohood. Although the demonstration was (as per usual) non-violent, twenty seven protesters were arrested and detained for 24 hours.
Following the arrests and after the police violently dispersed the demonstration, local settlers arrived at the neighborhood and provoked the Palestinian residents. Two Palestinians were arrested, the settlers were not. The following night 200 people held a solidarity demonstration for the twenty seven arrested. The arrestees were subsequently released on bail and the condition that they not participate in any demonstrations. Eight were indicted.
In Bil'in, the demonstration organized by the Popular Committee against the Wall was joined by dozens of leaders, members and supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. As every Friday a number of international and Israeli peace activists and people from Bil'in and neighboring villages took part to the demo. After the Friday prayers, a joyful and wet group of demonstrators carried banners condemning the Israeli occupation and its repressive practices while they marched towards the wall built on Bili'n land. Slogans and speeches called for national unity and reminded the principles of the Palestinian. When the demonstrators approached the wall the Israeli army fired sound bombs and tear gasses and after a while a soldier also shot some rubber-coated metal bullets.
Bil'in
The demonstration was followed by a night invasion carried out by five military jeeps full of soldiers and Immigration police officers. The armed forces of the IDF entered the village of Bi'lin for the first night raid in over 1 month. Around 30 soldiers struck at the international and media house clearly showing Israel's determination to shut down the coverage on their occupation and apartheid. After dragging all international out of their houses and into the night rain they checked their passports and searched the house for item. Nothing was found and nothing was confiscated. After 1 hour the soldiers left in two separate groups, some in armored cars and others who left on foot into the night.
In Ma'sara, About 70 Palestinians, Israelis and foreigners marched in this week's demonstration against the wall, in spite of hostile weather conditions. This week's protest was joined by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who came to show their solidarity with the popular struggle. Leaving the village towards the route of the wall demonstrators were met by soldiers and border policemen, who blocked the road with barbed wire as usual. The occupiers did not present any warrant to justify their actions, and were quite determined not to talk to the demonstrators, even while these were explaining to them in three languages about the wrongs of the occupation and the alternative options they have – those of refusal and joint action. A few children tried to pull at the barbed wire. This week the soldiers did not use much violence, and in stead simply crossed the wire and formed a line to protect it for harm. The picture was an occupation classic: soldiers protecting a fence that protects other soldiers who protect a fence. Guns and fences are all they can offer us. The demonstration went on for another half hour, and eventually dispersed peacefully.
