Category: Nablus - Page 30 - International Solidarity Movement

An area of land and an olive tree planted in Asira, in memory of Vittorio Arrigoni

17th April 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Asira, Occupied Palestine

On the 16th of April, the children of the Retaj Centre for Women and Children in Asira planted an olive tree on a piece of land which has been named after Vittorio Arrigoni. This symbolic act was made to remember the Italian volunteer killed on the 15th of April 2011.

Asira is located south of Nablus, and is a village that is frequently attacked by settlers from nearby illegal settlements. The children of the Retaj Center for Women and Children took part in an emotive memorial for Vittorio, gathered in the small center, joined by volunteers from ISM and other organisations. The song “Bella Ciao” is an Italian resistance song that Vittorio taught the children of Gaza before he died, and the children of Asira sang it together. The assembly also watched a short movie entitled, “Un fiore per la liberta” by Samantha Comizzoli.

The gathered people marched from the Retaj Centre to an area of land that the owner has named after Vittorio Arragoni, where a young olive tree was planted. The crowd screamed “Stay Human” into the sky, Arrigoni’s best known quote. The people decided that they will plant a new olive tree on this land each year.

A quote from Vittorio before he died, including a line from the Italian poet, Enzo Biagi: “Enzo Biagi said ‘Truth is like poetry, it doesn’t need any adjectives, it is freedom.’ We will keep making poetry of our lives until freedom will be declared over the broken chains of all oppressed peoples”.

This quote from Vittorio illustrates his willingness and passion to fight for freedom and to defend human rights. During these past days, Palestinians in Gaza have remembered the Italian volunteer. Vittorio loved Gaza, his memory lives on, and should serve as one reminder to continue the struggle for a free Palestine.

Harassment campaign continues in the Jordan Valley

13th April 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Al Maleh, Occupied Palestine

The Israeli military oppression of Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley can take many forms, including the systematic confiscation of essential tools and materials, to physical punishment and arrest.

The latest act of harassment by the Israeli army in the Jordan Valley took place five days ago in the Al Maleh area, where 26 water tanks were confiscated, depriving the local population access to their water supply. To reclaim the stolen water tanks, the Local Council has been forced to pay 5,000 shekels (over 1,000 euros) to the DCO (District Coordination Office). However the tanks will not be returned for a further 10 days, even after the payment has been completed.

Arif Daraghmeh, local councillor of the area, reports that in the early 1990s, the Israeli army built infrastructures diverting the natural course of the water, and that these actions might be the direct cause of several springs drying up in the region. This is just another case of deliberate harassment that ISM has previously reported.

Other acts of harassment include physical punishment, demolition of tents and constant intimidation by the Israeli army. Arif Daraghmeh reports that he was recently forced to stand for nearly two hours under the sun in a nearby checkpoint.

The Al Maleh area is only populated with nylon tents and minor buildings, generally for cattle. The council has been trying to build a school in the area in recent years, but has not succeeded yet. According to Arif Daraghmeh, there are approximately 300 children that go to school in nearby towns by bus, however this bus has only been available in the last two years. Previously the children had to walk long distances to school.

The presence of the Israeli army and settlers from nearby illegal settlers are very common in the Al Maleh area. The Jordan Valley is considered to be Area C (under full Israeli civil and security control), as well as a military buffer zone with neighbouring Jordan. Military training, therefore, takes place in Al Maleh on a regular basis and trainings in an area with a civil population often have a high price. Since 2011, two people have died and 11 have been injured due to explosives left behind from military training. The most recent injury was five months ago; a Palestinian famer lost three fingers on one of his hands.

The Local Council has contacted other authorities, including a member of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), to discuss the situation. Other contacts have been made with OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations) as well as the Red Cross; the latter in relation to the explosives frequently left in the area. It is noteworthy that such behaviour by the Israeli army goes against the Protocol (II) on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (Geneva, 10 October 1980). Article 3 clearly states that the use of conventional weapons, such as mines, can only be directed against military targets. No incidental loss of civilian life, or damage, is allowed. The Israeli state ratified this Protocol in 1995.

None of the above organisations have managed to improve the situation, and the water issue continues to be an urgent problem today.

Two Palestinians arrested during weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum

12th April 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Kafr Qaddum, Occupied Palestine

Yesterday, Friday the 11^th of April, during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum, the Israeli army arrested two Palestinian youths.

As with every Friday, the demonstration [which has taken place since 2011] began after morning prayers with the people of Kafr Qaddum marching through the village to protest against the illegal settlement of Qedumim. Located on the hills South East of Kafr Qaddum, the presence of this illegal settlement has meant the frequent closure of a road that Palestinians use to travel to the city of Nablus, as well as the illegal seizure of village land.

Yesterday the march stopped at a place on the road where Area B [Palestinian civil control and joint Palestinian and Israeli security control] and Area C (solely Israeli civil and security control) meet. The march was halted by an onslaught of tear gas canisters by the Israeli forces, while Palestinian youths threw stones towards the soldiers.

The violence continued to escalate, as two Israeli military jeeps, a “skunk” truck [a large vehicle capable of firing chemicals at a high velocity that leaves a putrid smell for over a week and burns the skin], a military bulldozer, and around 12 Israeli soldiers arrived at the demonstration. Unusually a traditional wedding also joined yesterday’s protest march. The groom’s family and friends danced amongst the marchers giving the weekly protest an optimistic and happy feel, until the Israeli army attacked and arrests began to take place.

Two young Palestinians were captured during the demonstration. Raleb Halmi (21), a student at Birzet University and Ibrahim Adunan Iomma (21), a student at Al Quds Open University. They have both been taken to Huwwara’s army base with no information available on when they will be released or what they are charged with. The clashes continued until the afternoon, with Israeli soldiers using the bulldozer to clear large stones from the road in order to access the village. At around 4:30PM the army moved back to the settlement and fortunately, despite an abundant use of tear gas, the protest ended without any injuries.

New road in Burin met with settler violence and harassment

11th April 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Burin, Occupied Palestine

Villagers in Burin are attempting to open a new road, in order to connect the village with the main road heading towards the city of Nablus. This project has been met with much violence and protest from the nearby illegal settlements.

The village of Burin has a long history of violence from the surrounding illegal settlements of Givat Roven (to the East), Bracha (to the North) and Yitzar (to the South). Additionally, to the West of Burin is a military training camp for Israeli forces.

Due to their illegal neighbours, Burin has had to face attacks against the village mosque, theft of animals from local farmers, and settlers throwing stones at villagers. The building of the illegal settlements surrounding the village has stolen over 14000 dunams of Burin’s land.

ISM activists met with Bilal, a Palestinian working on the new road. He described how on the 8^th April, settlers from the illegal settlements of Givat Roven and Yitzar arranged a demonstration against the attempted new road, which runs from Burin village, over a large hill, connecting with the road to Nablus. The settlers were marching alongside of the hill and shooting live ammunition up into the air. Bilal described how settlers and Israeli soldiers regularly attempt to prevent the building work and harass those working on the road. Bilal also explained that last year, settlers from the illegal settlements of Yitzar and Givat Roven burnt nine cars belonging to villagers in Burin.

The area where the intended road will be built is in Area B [Palestinian civil control, joint Israeli and Palestinian security control]. When the road is finished, it will pass only 15 meters from the illegal settlement of Givat Roven. Some of parts of this illegal settlement, which lies within Area B, were recently declared illegal by the Israeli High Court and were evicted by Israeli forces two days ago. This led to a clash between settlers and the Israeli military, with some settlers injuring soldiers, leading to their arrest.

Israeli forces destroy a camp where farmers live and work

11th April 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team | Jawana, Occupied Palestine

Yesterday morning at approximately 7am, the Israeli army destroyed five tents donated by the Red Crescent to a group of farmers in the area of Jawana, between the village of Beit Furik and the ruins of Tana.

Five military jeeps and two civil administration vehicles arrived with a demolition order and proceeded to destroy all the tents. Farmers reported that the Israeli soldiers told them they had to leave the land where the camp was located, claiming that it was in Area C [under full Israeli security and civil control]. They also said the area was being used as a military training ground.

Jawana is actually in Area B [Palestinian civil control, joint Israeli and Palestinian security control], and sources close by have said that there are no military training areas close to the village. There were three families living in Jawana’s camp, with a total of 22 children. The Red Crescent was supporting the families by donating the tents, but after this recent attack, it does not seem possible to replace them. The families are now in a very difficult position, Israeli soldiers have also threatened to take away their water tank if they continue to stay in the area.

This is not the first time Israeli forces have entered Jawana to destroy tents and farmers have been told by Israeli forces to make enquiries at Beit El check point in Ramallah and discuss the situation with the DCO [District Coordination Office]. Haled Khald Hanani, a 46-year-old man, lives in this camp with his wife and eight children, normally spending five months a year in the nearby valley and the rest of the year in Jawana. Three years ago, the Israeli army confiscated his tractor and he was forced to go to Beit El and pay 3000 NIS to reclaim it. Haled and his family have lived in this area for generations, however since 2013 the Israeli army has systematically destroyed and confiscated his property, approximately every three months.

Reports from local Palestinians say that Israeli soldiers destroyed more tents located one kilometer away from the Hanani family. Moreover, settlers from the nearby illegal settlement of Itamar have been entering the village of Beit Furik, provoking and harassing the local population.