24 September 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank
Today at 4 p.m. the settlers paraded as usual around the Old City of Al Khalil, or Hebron, from 4 to about 5 p.m. About 5 international observers, as well as members of Christian Peacemakers Team and World Council Church volunteers witnessed the pompous parade. Over 15 soldiers protected settlers during their weekly walk around the market.
“They came into my shop and started to question me about the Palestinian map I have on the wall,” said Nawal, a local merchant as she pointed to a textile map of Palestine she had on the wall.”This woman said that the map was wrong and that this area was all of Israel, I told her that it was correct and if she didn’t like it she could go elsewhere.”
The procession turned into a minor riot as Palestinian children ran and screamed through the old city while soldiers pointed guns at them, as well as several foreign journalists and about 10 observers.
A member of the armed service police videotaped the crowd. Eventually, after stating to no one in particular that Hebron belonged to the Israelis, a rabbi led the procession into their well-fortified compound and were followed by the soldiers.
22 September 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank
On Wednesday, demonstrators at the Qalandia checkpoint were met with a new weapon referred to as the “Scream,” an obnoxious siren that sounded once demonstrators had organized near the checkpoint in spirit of a future Palestinian state.
The new sound weapon was used for the first time. It emits a painfully loud high pitched noise which forces those within a range of 100 metres to cover their ears to protect them from the deafening sound. The device was mounted on the back of a jeep and could target the noise in a specific direction so as not to affect the soldiers standing behind it. The device was used at least 15 times throughout the demonstration, usually for intervals lasting about 2 minutes.
The UN bid for statehood by the Palestinian Authority has been a rallying point for Palestinians throughout the West Bank, in particular Ramallah where Yasser Arafat Square was packed with those standing in solidarity, leading to a demonstration at the Qalandia checkpoint near Ramallah that lasted from approximately 11 AM to 7PM.
The Israeli military sounded an alarm referred to as the “Scream” to disturb the demonstrators, yet they refused to disperse. Thus the Israeli military began to administer what demonstrators referred to as potent tear gas, with a Red Crescent medic stating that at least 20 were treated for tear gas inhalation by medics at the site.
As the siren continued to sound and tear gas continued to rain on the more than 200 demonstrators from the Qalandia refugee camp and surrounding areas, the Israeli military was joined by the Shabat to disperse the protesters. At least 2 Palestinian men were arrested when a 4×4 military jeep was seen taking them away.
The Israeli military began to act violently to the protest with the exclusive use of gunfire after a certain point, with at least 100 rounds fired at Palestinians and international observers. One medic was shot in the leg while a 15 year old boy was reportedly shot in the eye. At least 5 Palestinians were treated for gunshot wounds.
Wednesday’s demonstration comes in light of the UN bid for nationhood this Friday, when it is expected that another demonstration will occur in support of Palestinian statehood.
18 September 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank
While farming their land in the village of Qusra, 50 year old Fathalla and his three sons were attacked by a group of armed settlers on the morning of September 16th. The attack came amid recent increase of settler violence in anticipation of the UN vote on recognition of Palestinian state.
Fathalla and his three sons were working in a fig orchad, when one of the boys heard someone breaking the lock on their well. They saw 9 armed settlers, three of them with M-16 and the rest with pistols and a dog. The Abu Reida family decided to hold back the settlers until Israeli military arrived. Following a similar incident, Palestinians reported settler attacks to the Israeli district coordination office, but were dismissed and told to “hold back settlers” next time there is an incident until the army could arrive.
As Fathalla and his sons approached the well, they noticed that one of the settlers was taking a bath in the well, which houses water used for both farming and drinking by the Palestinian family.
“I’m afraid to drink this water now. I think they dirtied it, and maybe even poisoned it, as has happened in the past,” said Fathalla, adding that settlers believed that water from that area was holy and bathing in it rinsed all sins.
In the mean time, one of the Fathalla sons called Qusra’s local sheikh, who announced on the villages loudspeakers that settlers had invaded the village. Fathalla and his sons were preventing settlers from leaving by blocking a fenced road running through the fields. Settlers kept firing their guns in the air.
When villagers approached, settlers panicked and one of them jumped the fence. Fathalla’s19-year-old son followed one of the settler’s who was armed with an M-16.
Another settler released the dog, which attack the young man. As he was being attack and fell to the ground, the settler broke his leg. His brothers left the other settlers to flee, while they assisted their injured brother.
As they were escaping the scene, settlers shot random series of live ammunitation in the direction of villagers, wounding Fathalla Abu Reida in his thigh.
Tought by the previous experience with reporting settlers attacks, Fathalla sons took plenty of pictures documenting the entire incident. Abu Reida family submittted pictures and their testimonies to the Palestinian Authority, who in turn said they would communicate with the Israeli district coordination office.
“I don’t believe they will react. But I still have to do everything that is possible to try to save my land,” said Fathalla.
The Israeli military forces, claiming they were coming to arrest one of the settlers, arrived to Qusra around 1 pm on the same day.
“There were 200 soldiers! Why would they send so many soldiers to arrest one man?, said Fathalla.
Soldiers cracked down on the village, showering it with tear gas at the southern outskirts of the village. Women, men, and children reportedly protested this second invasion by Israelis.
Qusra inhabitants felt their village has become a scene of increasing settler violence over last four months. Settlers activity typically occurs every Friday during the congregational prayer time for Muslims.
The last attack took place on September 5th, when settlers from an outpost of the illegal settlement Migron torched a mosque. Just few days earlier, on August 28th, settlers uprooted 100 hundred olive trees. The entire village came to stop them, yet the army arrived soon after, ordering people to disperse. As Jamal Adli Hassan was walking away, an Israeli officer shot him with live ammunition in his leg.
The surge in violence coming from the illegal settlements in the West Bank last week might be connected to arming and training settlers by the Israeli miliatary in anticipation of Palestinian protests against lack of recognition of their basic right to self-determination as the Palestinian Authority approach the UN for their bid as the 194th country in the world.
17 September 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank
The people of Kufr Qaddoum demonstrated on Friday, September 16th, against the illegal settlement Qadumim, which is situated west of the village. They demanded access to their main road which passes adjacent to the settlement and leads out from the village.
The demonstration started at 1:30 pm and consisted of around 300 villagers and four internationals from the ISM. The demonstrators carried a coffin covered by the Israeli flag which symbolized the funeral of the Israeli Occupation in spirit of the Palestinian Authority’s bid for statehood at the UN this month. The coffin was then burned.
Kafr Qaddoum is surrounded by a red line which prevents the villagers from crossing. When this boundary line was reached, just a few hundred meters from the center of the village, the demonstration stopped for speeches, chants and dancing, and the spirit was positive.
Inside the illegal settlement compound one settler family and a few soldiers were seen watching the procession. From outside the settlement boundaries 3 military vehicles were waiting for the protesters to cross the line, which they eventually did. Just a few steps over the line was enough to make all the vehicles drive in full speed against the peaceful protest. Immediately the soldiers started to fire tear gas in high volumes, and the young protesters began throwing stones.
At least four soldiers were also watching from the hill north of the village from where tear gas also was shot.
As the protesters were moving back into the village, the soldiers followed and tear gas was fired into the village. At least one family was affected by the gas inside their home and was seen fleeing. Two people were taken away from the scene by ambulances, and a significant amount of people were helped by doctors from the Red Crescent.
The demonstration ended at 2:30 pm with celebrations inside the village.
This was the 12th week of Friday protests in Kufr Qaddoum, and the first time in three weeks since the army left the settlement to violently obstruct the demonstration.
15 September 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank
The Israeli military invaded al Aqaba village east of Tubas at 6am this morning and demolished a home and main road.
The operation consisted of two bulldozers and ten military vehicles. The Israeli army set up a closed military zone stopping all access to the village. No Palestinians or internationals were allowed within the closed military zone leading to the location of demolition, including the governor of Tubas. This is illegal as all governors of villages hold a permit to enter all military zones within the West Bank.
The closed military zone was re opened at 10:30am. All Palestinians, press and internationals were then allowed through to witness the damage. The damage consisted of 1 destroyed kilometre of the As Salam street leading from Al Aqaba to the Tayasir checkpoint. This road was newly reconstructed by the PA four months ago. The house of Khaled Abd-Al Rahman Subaih was also demolished, and the main electricity cable was cut.
This house was the home of 12 people.
These demolitions went ahead with no prior warning or demolition order. The family was given a short amount of time to take their possessions out of the house before it was to be destroyed. The barrack which held the sheep was also demolished. This is the second time this has been demolished in the last 5 months. Two smaller barracks were also demolished. They were the property of Khaled Abd-Al Rahman Subaih’s brother, Abderrahim Subaih. Within the barracks was a small room which housed the family. 300 meters of the road leading to the familys’ houses and barracks were also destroyed by bulldozers. All of these demolitions were in Area C, which consists of one checkpoint and three military training grounds.
