Over 100 internationals and about 10 Israelis joined the local weekly Palestinian demonstration in Bil'in. The demonstrators were determined not to give in to the weekly cycle of running away from soldiers under threat of arrest, and marched ready and willing. The soldiers, seeing the large demonstration from behind the fence, ran into the village and deployed along the route leading to the fence. The demonstrators continued their march and stopped only when they reached the first row of soldiers. There they chanted and sang for over half an hour, accompanied by Palestinian songs booming from a car-borne sound system. A few gas canisters shot into the flanks of the demonstration did not deter the demonstrators who stood their guard. Eventually some demonstrators insisted on marching onward toward the fence and the stolen lands. The soldiers reacted with grabbing and pushing, and within seconds the soldiers' gas and the youth's stones dispersed the demonstrators, who retreated through clouds of gas. They regrouped further back along the road, enjoyed a brief ad-lib hip-op session and ended the demonstration.
In Nabi Saleh the protest began after the Friday prayer and moved towards the land threatened by confiscation. The protest was an expression of the civil rejection of the Occupation practices and settlement expansion following a recent incident four days ago when settlers raided the village and attacked the villagers and their property.
The Occupation Forces blocked the regular route of the march, forcing the demonstrators to change their path. Significant amounts of tear gas was fired directly at the crowd, wounding a 23 years-old British activist who sustained an injury to her foot. Afterwards, violent clashes erupted between the demonstrators and the Israeli Occupation Forces who used rubber bullets and tear gas to suppress the protest.
The IOF also raided many houses and arrested Walid Daifallah (13 years-old) from his aunt's house. He was detained for more than an hour as the IOF held him hostage until the clashes subsided. Moreover, the IOF arrested an international solidarity activist and took him to an unknown destination.
In Ma'asara a bigger than usual demonstration took place, as many internationals joined the weekly procession, and activists from the neighboring village of Wad Rachal came in support as well. The demonstration marched towards the village lands, and was stopped at the main road by a group of soldiers. Demonstrators kept on walking, trying to avoid the soldiers, who responded with threats, shoving and stun grenades.
After the short chaos than ensued, demonstrators regrouped at the junction, and turned the demonstration into a festivity of Palestinian folk dance. The bewildered soldiers backed off, and the demonstration ended peacefully.
Ma'asara
The weekly protest against the Wall and settlements in the village of Ni’lin (Ramallah District) commemorated the second anniversary of the martyrdom of Ahmad Musa and Yusef Amira. Ahmad Musa was killed during a demonstration against the Wall on July 29th, 2008 from a bullet in his head and Yusuf Amira was injured fatally the next day, and died a week later.
The demonstration began after the Friday prayers and moved towards the land in front of the Apartheid Wall. Many international activists participated in the march. When the demonstrators arrived at the Wall, Israeli Occupation Forces began firing teargas canisters directly at them, causing 15 cases of suffocation due to the inhalation of tear gas. The demonstrators responded by throwing stones and throwing back the tear gas canisters that were fired at them by the Occupation Forces from behind the Wall. According to eyewitnesses, five soldiers suffered asphyxiation from the tear gas thrown back at them.
Afterwards, the Occupation Forces pursued the demonstrators and the international solidarity activists to the outskirts of the village after they had opened the gate of the Wall and fired a significant amount of tear gas and sound bombs to suppress the demonstration. However, no demonstrators were arrested in the process.
Honoring the deaths of Ahmad Musa and Yousuf Amira during Ni’lin’s weekly march underlines that Palestinians are continuing to struggle for the cause that these Palestinian died for. Protests against the crimes of Israeli Occupation will continue in spite of the violent suppression at the hands of Israeli Occupation Forces.
About 100 Palestinians and their supporters participated in this week's Saturday "Open Shuhada Street" demo in Hebron. This time the army didn't allow the protesters to get anywhere near the closed gates of Shuhada street and in order to avoid confrontation the protesters marched away from the street the soldiers were blockading at its end.
While chanting slogans against the occupation, apartheid and settlements and for freedom of movement in Hebron, the march through the old city alleys led protesters to gather in front of the soldiers from another direction, close by to the usual spot. At this point a small 'play' was performed, featuring a “settler” protecting his colonial and racist supremacy. A donkey was also used in the demo.
After some speeches, the demonstration then started another march, which is usually its ending march, but as the street that was first blocked - was now open, protesters seized the opportunity and passed through this street to chant in front of the gates of Shuhada street. The army soldiers soon came out of the gates and violently pushed the protesters away.
After a short sit-in to assert the ever-diminishing Palestinian right to protest, the demo was declared over and people were about to go away. At this moment soldiers started harassing a journalist who was covering the demo. Protesters were trying to assert that (i.e.,freedom of press) diminishing right as well and were rejoiced when the journalist managed to get away from the soldiers. With this hopeful tone and a promise to come back next week - the demo then ended for real.
Wallaja action
On Wednesday, 4.8, a direct action took place in the village of Wallaja. Tens of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals stopped the work of bulldozers on village lands, several days after the Israeli High Court of Justice declared it is considering to accept the villagers' petition to change the route of the Wall in that region.
During the action four Palestinians and eight Israelis were arrested by Border Policemen, who used excessive force in pulling the demonstrators away from the bulldozers. Two more Palestinians and an Israeli were arrested later, after the demonstration has already dispersed. All arrestees were released later that evening, with restraining orders barring them from returning to the demonstrations on the route of the wall.
