Bil'in
About 10 Israelis and over 20 internationals joined a larger than usual weekly Palestinian demonstration against the land & naval blockade on Palestinian communities that Israel implements by means of fences and bullets.
Due to the blockade, getting into Bil'in was trickier than usual with many entries blocked by mobile checkpoints, covering both entries to Kufr Naama. The demonstration was led by a model of the Marmara mounted on a car and staffed by demonstrators, surrounded by enthusiastic singing and chanting. When the procession reached the fence, demonstrators dressed up as pirates and waving a black-and-white Israeli/army/pirate flag charged the ship in an enactment of the flotilla raid, but failed to take over.
The Israeli soldiers, obviously keen on a more realistic reenactment of the raid, flooded the area with gas and stormed in right after someone called through a loudspeaker that the demonstration was not violent and no repression was necessary. Several demonstrators and journalists were injured by the soldiers who tried to grab them and by the gas. Three were arrested: a 73 years old Israeli demonstrator (who spent the day being examined in a hospital and then released), the local Palestinian who had been shot in his leg while cuffed and blindfolded (and who was arrested and released more times than anyone cares to remember), and one of the organizers of the flotilla, the Palestinian citizen of Israel Howeyda Arraf (for whom this was the second arrest in three days). The army's weapons set fire to some olive trees, and was extinguished by Palestinian firemen in purple camouflage.
New Beit Nuba
One hundred and fifty Israelis joined about a thousand Palestinian demonstrators to commemorate 43 years of occupation in New Beit Nuba Friday. Coordinated by the popular committees in the West Bank and the Coalition against the Occupation the demonstration focused on the right of return of the those internally displaced Palestinians from the villages of Yalu, Amuas and Beit Nuba, which were demolished to the ground by Israel in 1967, and on the demand to open the Apartheid Road 443 for Palestinians.
Following the noon prayer the demonstration marched towards the fence which separates New Beit Nuba from the lands of the demolished villages, on top of which now lay the illegal settlement of Mavo Horon and the Canada Park. Amongst the demonstrators was also MK Hanin Zoabi, who has just returned from the Free Gaza Flotilla. Once demonstrators reached the first fence, that protects the Separation Fence itself, they started decorating it with Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans against the fence and for the founding of true peace.
Several minutes later some demonstrators managed to break the gate in the fence and approach the Apartheid Fence itself, decorating it too with flags. At this point the twenty or so soldiers present attacked the demonstration with repeated rounds of tear gas. The greater part of the demonstration retreated, and few stayed an hour longer for a game of catch with stones and gas.
Nabi Saleh
A short demonstration was held in Nabi Saleh due to a village mourning. The Israeli army raided immediately into the village and blocked its main intersection, forbidding any vehicle to pass through. After an hour of clashes with the army, demonstrators had gone home or to console the mourning family. Nevertheless, Israeli army soldiers remained in their newly claimed post hours after, harassing the local community. One Israeli demonstrator was arrested for simply talking to the soldiers.
Hebron
On Saturday June 5th in Hebron, around 60 demonstrators protested in solidarity with the Freedom Flotilla victims and against the severe Israeli apartheid and freedom of movement violations in the city and throughout Palestine. Some demonstrators were carrying a boat with many flags and on top of it 2 kids held a coffin covered with the Turkish flag and written over "human rights" and "justice". After some speeches and chants, the demonstrators turned to march as usual through the allies of the old city but were soon blocked by dozens of Israeli soldiers, which refused to explain their discriminatory behavior, allowing settlers to march just an hour earlier. To avoid further army violence and arrests, the demonstration was declared over.
Beit Jala
On Sunday June 6th, A group of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals demonstrate against the building of the Wall in Beit Jala, 06.06.2010. This week, the demonstrators honored the dead of the flotilla to Gaza, by carrying a mock coffins, and flags from different nationalities. The demonstrators managed to surprise the Israeli soldiers by taking another route. After being stopped, they managed to get through and reached the bulldozers which are now working only a few meters from Palestinian homes. As soon as the demonstrators reached the bulldozers, the Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters directly at them. The soldiers then violently pushed back the demonstrators to the road. One Israeli activist was arrested.
