An Nabi Saleh
In response to the attempts by the Hallamish Settlers to re-annex the land, around 120 residents of An Nabi Saleh were joined by Israeli anti-occupation activists and internationals from the International Women's Peace Service and the International Solidarity Movement in a non-violent demonstration, which marched to the land which the Hallamish Settlers have attempted to re-annex. During the course of the demonstration, the residents of An Nabi Saleh successfully blockaded 465, the illegal Settler highway, for more than two hours. Mid-demonstration, one section of the non-violent demonstration also broke off from the highway and successful reached the land re-annexed by Hallamish, tearing down the illegally built Settler structure.
Both sections of the non-violent demonstration, however, were met with force by the Israeli military, who deployed more than 17 jeeps and at least two dozen soldiers to the area. During the course of the two hour demonstration, the Israeli military proceeded to fire up to 100 canisters of teargas, as well as firing rubber steel coated bullets and live ammunition at the un-armed demonstrators. More than 20 residents of the village were injured as a result, including three who were hospitalized. Those hospitalized, included two people injured by rubber bullets, and one teenage boy who received a head injury when he was struck in the head with a tear gas canister.
Many of the non-violent demonstrators were also injured by rocks which were thrown by illegal Settlers from Hallamish from the hillside below the Settlement and above the demonstration. One IWPS volunteer narrowly missed being hit by one of the rocks thrown by the Settlers.
Despite a large presence, the Israeli military did little to stop the illegal Settlers' violent attack on the unarmed Palestinian demonstration. In one instance, when the Israeli military did attempt to prevent the illegal Settlers from descending the hill in order to reach the non-violent Palestinian demonstration, the illegal Settlers also attacked the soldiers. For several hours after the conclusion of the non-violent Palestinian demonstration, Settler youth repeatedly threw rocks at passing Palestinian vehicles on the road below Hallamish colony.
A few days following the demonstration Israeli channel 10 news aired a report about it, critical of the army's actions. The video shows the commanding officer at the scene explaining that he is only responsible to guard Jews (including violent settlers) from Palestinians, and doesn't care what happens to Palestinians at the hands of Jews. The officer also calls Israeli activists at the scene "traitors", claiming they ought to be executed. This is the report:
Maasara
Meanwhile, in spite of threats made by the army recently to break the resistance in the village as of 2010, and in spite of the repression of last week's demonstration, about one hundred Palestinians, Israelis and internationals gathered after the Friday noon prayer for the weekly demonstration against the fence and the settlements in Ma'asara. Amongst these was a massive group of internationals who have just gotten to Palestine from Egypt, where as part of the Gaza Freedom March they tried to break the siege and ran into Egyptian police in a row of Cairo demonstrations.
The procession crossed the village to the sound of Samba drums, only to find the regular bunch of soldiers and boarder policemen waiting on the road towards the agricultural lands, shutting off the road with razor wire. Speeches were carried in Arabic, English, French and Hebrew, stressing the non-violent, popular and joint nature of the struggle. Everything around was peaceful.
After an hour the demonstration ended and the marchers turned around towards the village when suddenly two stones were thrown at the soldiers. A member in the popular committee says this was likely the act of army sent provocateurs that infiltrated the demonstration. This was used as an excuse for the soldiers to cross their fence and attack the demonstration. Activists tried to deescalate the situation, promising the soldiers that if they don't proceed and allow the demonstration to end – no harm will come to them.. Demonstrators then marched back towards the village, leaving the soldiers to themselves. However, this was not enough for the military commander, who then ordered the soldiers to proceed into the village itself, claiming the army has a right to be wherever it wants to. The soldiers charged at the demonstrators again, beating some of them and trying to arrest some.
Once already at the village the soldiers called their jeeps, and stormed into the main street with loaded guns, throwing stun grenades all over the place and into people's yards. Only after realizing that they failed to arouse the required response (more stone throwing) did the soldiers leave.
This is the second week that soldiers storm into the village, proving that they intend to make good their threats. The struggle, however, continues, and the popular committee in Ma'asara needs your help as well.
Ni'ilin
This Friday in Ni'ilin the military spokesman issued a press release announcing the entire village of Ni'ilin "Closed Military Perimeter". Indeed, the military spokesman usually supplies half truths (if not complete lies) regarding the popular demonstrations (and in general), yet this time soldiers occupied all the roads to the village, forcing the visiting demonstrators to pave their way walking through fields. Journalists were not allowed in the village, and did not defy the warrant. The demonstrators that managed to enter Ni'ilin met the village people in time for the Friday prayer, and the following demonstration. The latter started with a march to the wall that separates the village from a substantial part of its agricultural land, a march that ended in front of a gate in the wall. There, the demonstrators called for the end of the occupation and the dismantling of the wall with slogans and chants. As soldiers invaded the fields at this relatively early stage, confrontations erupted and some of the village youth retaliated with stone throwing to the tear gas shot at the crowd in various means.
Bilin
In Bil'in, Palestinian, Israeli, and International activists demonstrated against the apartheid wall and Israel’s illegal occupation. Following the afternoon prayer demonstrators marched to the wall holding pictures of Bassem Abu Rahmah and Palestinian flags. Those who have been lost due to Israeli violence were commemorated for the Martyrs Anniversary. During the demonstration Iyad Burnat head of the popular committee sent a message to US President Obama and Egypt’s Mubarak to stop supporting the apartheid wall, and to start working towards peace. He also denounced the Irish company C.R.H. who continues to support the building of the apartheid wall. While he spoke the army started to shoot tear gas and sound bombs at the demonstrators. Three people were injured. Abbas Al-Moumani from the AP press and Ratib Abu Rahma a member of the Bil’in popular committee were both hit in the back of the head with tear gas canisters that had been shot at short range, and an Israeli activist was hit in the leg. Later, smoke bombs were shot into the crowd and three soldiers attempted to arrest an Israeli activist. The activist managed to break free when the soldiers outside the fence shot tear gas towards the three who were trying to make the arrest. Bilin has experienced two day time raids by the Israeli army in the last week. The army entered the village on Sunday January 3rd as well as Wednesday, January 6th.
Walaja
Some 150 demonstrators marched on the hilltops of Walaja village near Jerusalem Friday morning, protesting against initial plans to build a new settlement on their lands – Giv'at Yael. The new settlement is planned to surround the village on all sides, taking away most of its agricultural lands and establishing Israeli control on the area with a corridor of settlements running from Jerusalem to the outskirts of Beit Jala.
In the demonstration, called by ICAHD, Rabbis for Human Rights, Combatants for peace and villagers, speeches were carried explaining the severe consequences of the new plans on the future of the village. A joint prayer of the three monotheistic religions was then held, following which the demonstration ended quietly.
Sheikh Jarrah
This friday, about 170 demonstrators gathered in the centre of jerusalem and marched towards the neighborhood of Shikeh Jarrah. The border police placed barricades in the entrance to the neighborhood and tried to prevent the entrance of demonstrators. The protest was thus halted in a nearby park where speeches were given and symbolic cardboard houses were decorated by kids. It was then attempted to place the decorated cardboard houses into the blockaded street but this was prevented by the police and at around 16:30 the protest dispersed.
