Author: ISM Media Group - Page 611 - International Solidarity Movement

Never Underestimate the Power of Women

by Greta B.

More than 450 international women arrived in Be’lin on Monday, August 16 to participate in an action against the Apartheid wall being built on the land of the village. Many of us came from the International Women in Black conference that was being held in Jerusalem, many came from other organizations in support of the demonstration.

But the most remarkable aspect of the event was to see over 100 Palestinian women join us. We walked down the dusty path to the heavily-armed soldiers standing behind their plastic shields, their riot gear and guns in stark contrast to our black shirts with the big purple flower on the front, the symbol for the conference.

The shocked look on their faces as 450 of us came up and over the last hill was recorded by dozens of video and still cameras. They simply didn’t know what to do with that much estrogen facing them. The soldiers tried to spread out to cover all the angles in front of a destroyed home, but they couldn’t stretch far enough, and more than a dozen Palestinian women got behind them, dancing and singing and clapping.

Many of us yelled at the soldiers, telling them we were ashamed of their behavior. One Jewish woman kept shouting, “I’m ashamed of you. I’m ashamed of what you are doing, and you’re not doing this in my name.” As we moved closer to them, trying to push back the barbed wire, the soldiers all got on their cell phones and pulled out a video camera. And there we were, many of us, photographing the soldiers photographing us.

Suddenly, the Palestinian women began to sing, as we clapped. Then we began the sing “We Shall Overcome” as they clapped. Back and forth in Arabic, English and Italian came the songs. Even if we didn’t know the words, we sang anyhow. For almost an hour, the demonstration was magic.

Then the Palestinian women pushed back through the soldiers and onto our side of them, one young woman shoving the soldier aside, then brushing herself off in disgust. The Palestinian organizers told us it was time to leave, and we began to straggle back up the hot, dusty road to the buses. Sure enough, just as the last of the women rounded the corner, the IOF began shooting tear gas at the Palestinian boys who had tagged along with us. But for that day, we peaceful women won that battle, looking into the faces of soldiers that were young enough to be our sons and grandsons.

They will never forget the force that came up over the hill at them.

West Bank village constant target for home demolitions

Mirja, Lo, and Nils.

Israel’s Next Step: Destroying Financial and Economic Structures
Report from Idna just outside Hebron

Idna is a village with 21,000 citiziens. Since 1948, Israel has stolen more than half of Idna’s land for illegal settlements.

The most recent loss has cut Idna off from 3,000 dunams (667 acres) of their own land, because of the illegal annexation wall. The vast majority of this stolen land had once been used for growing olive trees and vegetables. That land also fed the farmer’s sheep and goats. Since the wall’s completion, the local economy has been ruined. About 20,000 olive trees had been located on the other side of the wall, many which the Israeli army burned while building the wall.

During the first Intifada, many homes in Idna were destroyed by the Israeli military, and they haven’t stopped that destruction, with two farms destroyed just three months ago — including the homes situated on the farms.

One of the families, formerly prosperous shepherds with 500 to 600 sheep, now lives in tents provided by The Red Crescent. The same day that this family’s farm was demolished, the military also destroyed a local shop and trading post. Vilagers say that the military has started to focus on destroying the financial and economic structures of Idna.

Most of the houses that have been demolished during the last years have been outside the city. The army either claims that the people don’t have a license and permission to live there, or insists that they are too near the wall. When the farmers try to receive permissions to be on their own land, they have been repeatedly denied.

In most cases, the military comes in the morning without any announcement, and demolishes the houses. Now, there are about 10 houses outside Idna that the army has threatened to demolish for over a year. But, since they can come in at any time, no one really can really prepare for what might happen.

Also, electricity has been destroyed for some of the farmers, and more than 20 wells and springs have been ruined. Idna has a problem with water resources, because an Israeli company delivers the water, and they never get enough. Outside the town is an illegal settlement with 1000 people; those settlers receive more water from the company than Idna does city for its 21 000 people.

Idna villagers have suffered a lot because of the wall. Before it was built, many worked inside Israel. Now unemployment is about 65%, and farmers can’t make a living, since they have lost most of their land and their houses are being demolished.

So the situation here is very uncertain, and, like the rest of Palestine, Israel is making life as difficult as possible for the Palestinian people, trying to make them leave their own land.

Occupation on the wall

Israel’s wall along the Qalandia checkpoint road heading from Ramallah has become a giant backdrop for images of the occupation. Regularly on Thursday, and occasionally other days of the week, Passers by heading toward Qalandia see videos and slides of demonstrations, artwork and documentaries in opposition to the occupation, Israel’s illegal settlements and annexation wall.

Members of the Sharek Youth Forum came up with the idea. Teens went to a section of the wall a few meters away from the checkpoint and painted a large white square for a screen. They’ve since been showing a section of photojournalism slides and a presentation of photos from George Azar’s photography called “This is Palestine.”

More video clips and films also are planned for screening on the Palestinian side of Israel’s wall in the coming weeks.

“Most people really seem to like it,” said Mohamed Jaradat, a coordinator for Sharek Youth Forum. “It’s a new thing and it’s a peaceful way to use the wall to continue demonstrating against it and the whole occupation.”

Human rights activist facing deportaton as military continues intimidating West Bank villagers

Since Friday’s peaceful demonstration against Israel’s illegal barrier being constructed in Bil’in, soldiers have stepped up intimidation tactics against the 1,200 villagers there, driving jeeps through town at high speeds, prowling neighborhoods at night taking pictures of homes at random and parking in front of homes for lengthy stays without explanation.

As this goes on, a human rights activist who has maintained a constant presence in Bil’in since his arrival is now in Ben Gurion airport with the Department of the Interior and facing likely deportation.

Devon Mohr of Santa Rosa, California, has kept an around- the-clock presence in the village of Bil’in, offering accompaniment to Palestinians as they deal with Israeli soldiers and documenting human rights abuses. He was arrested Friday during one of the peaceful demonstrations that Bil’in villagers stage weekly.

The move to deport Devon is part of a larger, illegal strategy aimed at limiting the number of witnesses of human rights abuses. The villagers in Bil’in invite international visitors to witness what is happening there. The Israeli army is working to keep them out. It is obviously the latter that has something to hide
from the world.

Mirror, mirror on The Wall

Reflecting the True Face of The Occupation

By Sarita

Two days after the disengagement deadline for the four settlements in Jenin District, the villagers of Bil’in and their supporters challenged the ongoing Isreali occupation and illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank. Over 40and 30 Internationals accompanied the villagers to the path where the Israeli army is constructing it’s illegal Apartheid Wall, carrying mirrors that reflected written slogans such as “No to the Wall,” “Gaza Disengagement means more West Bank Settlers,” and “End the Occupation” — onto the soldiers blocking the way.

Four international peace activists were
detained Friday in Bil’in. Two were arrested.

While the demonstrators sat in front of the barbed wire chanting and singing, the army suddenly started shooting sounds bombs and tear gaz into the crowd. People dispersed quickly, but the soldiers chased down the protestors and began to arrest them. Four Isrealis and four internationals were detained, some were severely beaten as demonstrators attempted to de-arrest them.

Two Internationals are still being held at the police station and will be brought before the judge tomorrow to face their charge. So far only one international has been officially accused, charged with throwing stones. Supporters have gathered at the police station with video clips to prove the contrary. All the Israeli activists and one International have been released with no charge.