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Direct action around Palestine

Posted on: July 1, 2010
Member of Al-Ma'asara Popular Committee confronts soldiers

International Solidarity Movement

1 July 2010

Al Ma’asara

The people of Al-Ma’asara’s again demonstrated peacefully last Friday, protesting against land seizures and settler harassment. Twenty villagers were joined by a handful of Israelis and internationals, marching from the village out towards the confiscated fields.

For the second week running, the group was allowed to reach the fields; Israeli army jeeps appeared as always, but this week the soldiers escorted the protest group to the fields, rather than attempting to stop them. Protestors were pushed and shouted at if they tried … Continue reading


Updated on November 23, 2010
Posted under: Reports
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Civil Administration backtracks on granting Palestinians access to Bir el-Eid

Posted on: January 6, 2010

Amira Hass | Haaretz

6 January 2009

The Civil Administration ordered Palestinian residents of the West Bank this week to stop erecting tents and building animal enclosures in the Bir el-Eid area – even though the state allowed them access to the site only two months ago, after a 10-year enforced absence and a protracted legal effort.

Tomorrow, the Civil Administration’s supervisory committee is to discuss the next step, which could involve demolition of the tents and restoration of the site to its prior condition. The site, which is in the southern Hebron Hills, is in Area C, meaning that … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: In the Media
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After period of daily harassment from Israeli soldiers and settlers, residents of Bir el-Eid celebrate small victories

Posted on: December 28, 2009

28 December 2009

When I arrived in Bir el-Eid on 15 November 2009, it was obvious that international accompaniment was needed. There was daily harassment from soldiers and settlers. The villagers were not allowed to use the road. They were officially restricted by the army (DCO) to 20 dunums of land around the village.

With support from internationals living in the village (usually two), and daily visits by Israeli activists, plus legal support from Rabbis for Human Rights, and larger groups of Israeli activists coming to the village on Saturdays (and sometimes other days as well), the villagers engaged in … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: Reports
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Palestinians in Bir el-Eid win the right to use local road

Posted on: December 15, 2009

Art (Jaber) Gish

13 December 2009

It seems that a major victory has been won regarding Palestinians using their road to get to and from town. Israeli settlers have demanded that only Jews be allowed to use the Palestinian road. For the most part, Israeli soldiers have been following setter orders, not the orders of their superiors or the Israeli courts.

The Israeli courts and the Israeli military have agreed that the Palestinians may use Palestinian roads. Another factor is that the fields the villagers have have been using have now been planted, so it is less tempting for the … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: Journals
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Notes from Area C / The right to return to the caves

Posted on: December 13, 2009

Amira Hass | Ha’aretz

11 December 2009

This is a story of return, the return of Palestinians to their land in Area C. Just over a month ago, on November 8, two out of 15 families returned to Khirbet Bir el-Eid, in south Mount Hebron. By yesterday their number had reached eight.

“Everyone waited to see if they would kill us before they decided whether to return,” joked Ismail I’dra, 63, as he worked energetically to clean up one of the caves that serve as homes to residents the village. Indeed, less than two weeks ago, I’dra, too, was afraid to enter the … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: In the Media
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Letter to family and friends: Bir el-Eid, West Bank

Posted on: December 6, 2009

I have now been in the village of Bir el-Eid for three weeks. This has been a great time of connecting with the people here, helping with chores with the sheep, going out in the hills with the sheep, and helping rebuild the village.

Israeli settlers attacked a flock of sheep on Saturday, November 28. About 30 Israeli soldiers and police came and did nothing except to remove all the Israeli peace activists from the area.

A major issue continues to be whether Palestinians can use the road they built and paid for back in 1984, or whether they have … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: Journals
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Palestinians from Bir el-Eid continue reclaiming their land in spite of army harassment

Posted on: November 28, 2009
Palestinians from Bir el-Eid continue reclaiming their land in spite of army harassment

27 November 2009

For the last 3 weeks, ISM activists have stayed with a community of cave-dwellers in Bir el-Eid, south east of Hebron, on the very border to the Negev desert. The villagers, who live off raising sheep and goats as well as seasonal farming, moved in recently, after a court order gave them permission to do so following 10 years in exile. In 1999, the Israeli army forcibly evicted 700 people living in the area, destroying stone houses and blowing up caves. Until now, attempts by the villagers to reclaim … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: Reports
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Palestinians moving back to Bir el-Eid, a village from which they were expelled in 1999

Posted on: November 22, 2009

22 November 2009

After spending a week in the modern city of Jerusalem, camping out on the street with a Palestinian family that the Israeli government had evicted from their home so that Israeli settlers could move into their house, I now have been down in the South Hebron Hills for two weeks near At-Tuwani where I spent the past five winters. I know most of the people in the area.

I am now living in Bir el-Eid, an ancient village which the Israeli military forced the Palestinian residents to abandon in 1999. Through the work of Israeli peace groups, especially Rabbis … Continue reading


Updated on January 6, 2010
Posted under: Journals
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