Heading this week’s demonstration was a big sign reading "the internal killings" with mock nooses tied to it, and around the necks of a few Palestinian demonstrators, who were calling for an end to Palestinian infighting harming the struggle against the occupation. About a hundred villagers were joined by thirty international activists and Israelis from the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative.
Arrested demonstrator, Farhat Burnat, on the right, participating in the mock gallows presentation
On arrival to the closed gate in the wall, demonstrators put the mock gallows on the ground. A few of the protesters separated from the bigger group and started dismantling the razor-wire which forms the first obstacle of the wall. Soldiers quickly attacked the group with concussion grenades and then teargas.
Demonstrators dismantling razor-wire fortifications of the wall
As soldiers started to use teargas, an exchange of rubber coated steel bullets and stones began at the gate, with the army attacking anyone in their surrounding indiscriminately. The group who was previously busy with the razor-wire returned to the gate as the demonstration tried to regroup, and found the soldiers brutally beating a Palestinian demonstrator, and trying to arrest him. They eventually gave up on the arrest after demonstrators piled around him.
Their pride hurt, the soldiers insisted on making another baseless arrest, and after a short scuffle with Israeli anarchists who tried to stop them, dragged Farhat Burnat, a 26 year old from the village, past the gate towards the army's staging area.
In a rare display of emotion, an Arabic speaking soldier, apparently of Druze origin, started crying after villagers asked him how can he come and actively banish them from their lands, while even a group of Israelis stand by them. His commanders swiftly took him back to the army's staging area, shortening the enactment of one of Israel's "enlightened occupation" myths – shooting and crying.
Five people were injured this week. Three of them by rubber coated steel bullets, and two from beatings.
Farhat was later taken to a police station in a nearby settlement, and is falsely accused of assaulting a soldier. His arrest was extended by 96 hours and he was sent to a military detention camp. Under Israeli law, the police can only hold a person for 24 hours before being brought in front of a judge. Palestinians however live under military rule, and can be held for 96 hours before being brought in front of a judge
Click here to watch a video from the demonstration
