Author: ISM Media Group

Settler Riots in Al Funduq

Last night settler riots ravaged the West Bank town of Al Funduq, causing an estimated $25,000 worth of damage. The riots began at approximately 8pm, after a congregation of 300 settlers from Qedemim, who had come to pray at the site of a recent shooting, turned violent. The settlers then proceeded to surround Palestinian homes, throwing stones, smashing windows, damaging cars, and beating local men who were walking in the vicinity of the riots. Human Rights Workers (HRWs) arrived at the scene at approximately 10:30pm to find the Israeli Military and police firing live ammunition at Palestinians. Making no attempt to stop the riots, they instead turned their attentions to the HRWs and local Palestinians, firing sound bombs, flares and live ammunition. Seven Palestinian men were beaten and one was arrested.

The settlers continued their riot unhindered until 1am, smashing the windows of approximately 20 houses, 10 cars, 1 truck, and a Palestinian bulldozer. Water pipes in the village were cut, and once again the marble factory was attacked, causing $7,000 worth of damage. This follows the raid on Monday 19th when settlers broke $17,000 worth of marble.

The marble factory, and Al Funduq, have borne the misfortune of being the site of a settler shooting on Monday night. Israeli soldiers have admitted to villagers that the shooter did not come from Al Funduq but last night’s riots, and the previous attacks, can be read as part of a strategy to collectively punish the village for the shooting. The curfew of Al Funduq continues, and the three recently erected earth mound roadblocks that seal off all passage to the north are still in place.

The people of Al Funduq have always coexisted peacefully with local settlers, who even came to village for shopping. Street signs are in Hebrew and Arabic. They are being punished for an incident in which they played no part.

Today the Israeli army have moved into the nearby town of Haja. A new system of roadblocks continues to obstruct movement between villages and hinder economic activity in the region. The collective punishment of the Qalqilya region shows no sign of abating.

above: the water pipe cut in last nights riots

Israeli Army Invades Azzoun Again, Two Boys Arrested

Today, in the Qalqilia region, the village of Azzoun again came under intense military repression as two Palestinian youths were abducted by Israeli soldiers. This follows weeks of Israeli army invasions, mass arrests, home invasions, curfews and road closures that have seen the residents of the village terrorized.

At approximately 4pm, Israeli soldiers invaded Azzun, firing live ammunition and sound bombs. An army Jeep drove directly to a carpark where local boys were playing football. Soldiers continued shooting, terrifying residents, and proceeded to grab at random a 15 year old boy, forcing him into the jeep and driving off – all the while threatening distressed family members who watched helplessly. He was released 30 minutes later.

Soldiers then returned to the village, and, after threatening to kill the International Human Rights Workers who were questioning at to why the army was invading the village, arrested a twelve year old boy who happened to be walking past with his father. The boy was driven off in the jeep with no explanation, and was later released.

Settlers Cause $17,000 Worth of Damage to Al Funduq Factory

On Monday night, a group of Israeli settlers attacked a marble factory in Al-Funduq, causing damage of over $17000. The owner, Hani Mohammad Salman, believes the attack was revenge of the killing of an Israeli settler, who was shot in his car just next to the factory.

As the attackers managed to break into the yard, they smashed several marble discs, continuing with the factory’s office, breaking a television and the glass of the windows. Hani Mohammad Salman points out the broken marble, shattered in hundreds of pieces across the yard.

“Even if it’s a big economical setback, I have to continue my business. I have ten employees, all with children. How will they be able to support their families without work?”

According to Hani Mohammad Salman, the majority of customers come from the nearby settlement of Qedemim, reflecting the economical situation of the village with commercial signs in both Arabic and Hebrew.

Despite the connections with the settlers, the Israeli military decided the night of the killing to impose a curfew and block the main road with large rocks and mud, violating international law by using collective punishment against a population.

Day of Violence at Nonviolent Demonstrations Accross the West Bank

Today at around 12 pm, in the village of kheirbet al musbah, 200 non-violent Palestinian activists, joined by Israelis and internationals, gathered from the surrounding villages to demonstrate against the closure of route 443. The demonstrators marched towards what was once the access route to route 443, but which has been blocked as part of Israel’s apartheid policies. 443 has been designated a pass road for Israelis only, in contradiction to the Supreme Court’s ruling. The demonstrators chanted against the occupation and against the closure. On the access road, blocked by cement, there were a few soldiers who tried to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They beat several youth who were among the demonstrators. The march continued, however, despite these efforts. The march stopped at the 443 road and the demonstrators stood in front of a line of police and soldiers, continuing to chant and to wave Palestinian flags. Some of the youth, after the demonstration dispersed, threw stones at the assembled soldiers and police. A few jeeps carrying border police and soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets towards the demonstrators the village and surrounding olive groves. The organizers of the demonstration invited Israeli and international demonstrators to continue to attend the protest, now regularly scheduled for once a week.

At the demonstration today in Bil’in, three demonstrators, two Palestinians and one Israeli, were seriously hurt. The first wounded demonstrator was a 40 year old resident of Bil’in and was shot in the hand and chest with a teargas canister which burned through his coat and shirt, broke the palm of his hand and injured his chest. The teargas canister was fired directly at the protester from short range. The Israeli who was wounded was hit in the head with a rubber coated steel bullet. The Israeli who was hit with the rubber bullet was standing at the side of the road leading to the wall. When he was hit he fell unconscious and was evacuated with the injured Palestinian. He is bruised and in pain and shock. Another Bil’in resident, Adib Abu Rahme, was arrested and beaten in the head. He was near the wall and was caught by the soldiers, who battered his head and threw him to the side of the road while he was still bleeding. Abu Rahme, after coming to, identified the soldier who had beaten him to a photographer. At this stage, the soldiers arrested him again and held him for two hours, even though he required urgent medical care. All three were taken to the Ramallah hospital. The Israeli was sent to a hospital in Israel and has been released. The two Palestinians were released and are recuperating.

60 Palestinians and 5 Israelis converged on Road 60 near Umm Salamuna today to nonviolently protest the theft of 30 Dunums of Palestinian land for the expansion of the road to Efrat settlement. The army set up checkpoints around the protest and denied many Palestinains and Israelis access. Soldiers made regular incursions into the protest to beat demonstrators, one Palestinian man was seriously wounded.

Strong Repression Continues in the Qalqilya Region as the Israeli Army Invades Azzoun

The village of Azzoun was invaded once again by the Israeli Army on Friday 23rd November. Two international Human Rights Workers (HRWs) were beaten and had their cameras stolen as they attempted to document the incursion.

At approximately 11am soldiers entered the village, shooting sound bombs and firing live ammunition. They continued in this manner through the streets in a clear attempt to intimidate the local population. When approached by the two HRW’s and questioned as to the reason for the invasion, one soldier replied, “This is Israeli land…This is Jewish land. Go away”. He then asked the HRWs whether they understood the term ‘Shoot To Kill’, advising that this was the policy under which they were operating.

As the HRWs refused to leave the area and continued to document the proceedings, the soldiers became increasingly threatening, with one soldier saying, “We have been nice. Soon we will not be nice”. Upon repeated questioning one of the soldiers claimed that the army were searching the village for the suspect in the shooting of a settler that took place near the village of Al-Funduq on the night of Monday 19th November.

The soldiers then proceeded to lead the HRWs up a quiet side street where upon command the seven soldiers swiftly turned, split up and grabbed the HRWs, punching and kicking one and wrestling the other to the ground, stealing their cameras. The commander of the team then aggressively pointed his machine gun at the heads of the HRWs, telling them to go away.

This is but one incident in a spate of repressive measures being levelled at the village of Azzoun and others in the Qalqilya region, that includes ongoing curfews, army invasions, mass arrests and road closures.

These actions are suspected to be part of a strategy to garner High Court approval for a four kilometre wall to be built along the highway from Izbat Al Tabib to Kafr Laqif – a wall that will effectively seal the main gate of Azzoun forever and impede travel for Palestinians throughout the region – for which the markings already exist. Locals fear that Israeli army repression will continue in the village of Azzoun in order to fulfil this aim.

As shown by the robbery of HRWs filming the incursion, the army clearly don’t want evidence of their activities being made public.