Category: Reports - Page 778 - International Solidarity Movement

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.

Belfast women protest expansion of settlements in the West Bank

A group of women from the Falls Road, Women’s Centre in Belfast, Ireland, today joined the International Women’s Peace Service in a demonstration against the expansion of settlements in Palestine’s West Bank.

About 60 women, many from an international organization called Women in Black, protested outside the Ariel Settlement, the largest of the illegal settlements in the West Bank. They were pointing out that although Israel is disengaging 8,000 settlers from Gaza, there are another 400,000 in the West Bank, and there are plans to expand these settlements further.

The women protested in silence and held up signs declaring “This is stolen land” and “End the Occupation,” however as soon as the women arrived the area was declared a closed military zone and they were told to disperse. They were met with hostility by the settlers and were spat upon. At one point a man stopped his car and attacked the demonstration, ripping up a Palestinian Flag.

While the demonstration was under way, a few miles away in Shiloh, close to Ramallah, three Palestinian workmen were shot dead by Settlers.

One of the women in the group from Belfast, Brenda, said of the demonstration:

“I feel that the demonstration was very positive. You can see that these people want peace. They just don’t want to be caged like animals, but to be treated like human beings. Since I have been in Palestine I have seen tear gas and stun grenades used, and it is commonplace for children to be killed by plastic bullets. My husband was shot dead by the RUC, and there was never a conviction. I see the same impunity being enjoyed by the Israeli army.”

While the world is being told that disengagement is the beginning of the end of the occupation of Palestinian territories, the people here see it as it actually is; it’s a diversion meant to distract attention from rapid expansion of settlements in the West Bank. So long as the Israeli government continues to violate international law with the construction of illegal barriers and settlements, any talk of peace will remain nothing more than words.”

Ariel Settlement is the largest of settlements in the West Bank. It was established in 1978 during the Camp David Accord. About 62 percent of land belonging to villagers in Sulfit, Marda, Iskaka and Kefl Hares will be confiscated to construct the wall, expand the settlement and build a settler-only road. This area was initially declared a military zone, but was later transferred to civilian use. Benjamin Netanyahu once declared Ariel the capitol of the region.

Settlers attempt large-scale assault on Palestinian village

Settlers on Wednesday from the illegal Israeli settlement of Sanur near Jenin — due to be evacuated as part of Israel’s “disengagement” plan — attempted to launch an assault on the Palestinian village of Assa’sa, clashing with the Israeli soldiers engaged in the evacuation. The clashes were witnessed by volunteers from the International Solidarity Movement.

Around 6 p.m., a group of about 50 settlers came out onto the road to Assa’sa, and began blocking Palestinian cars. About 10 minutes later, an Israeli army jeep arrived and soldiers told settlers to leave, setting up a checkpoint to allow Palestinian cars to pass. The settlers then began attacking a nearby Palestinian gas station. More jeeps arrived, coming under attack from the settlers, as they attempted to reach the village.

The soldiers tried to stop the settlers, but were overrun by them, and were forced to call for reinforcements. A number of armored personnel carriers arrived with more troops, who stopped settlers from entering the village. The settlers then returned to the settlement. It appeared that a number of settlers were setained by the army, and later on Border Police arrived, presumably to arrest the detainees.

Despite the fact that the Sanur settlers’ 48-hour deadline to leave the settlement passed at midnight last night, it appears that no attempts have been made by the army to evict them. Some soldiers have been seen inside the settlement today, apparently talking and arguing with the settlers, but without seeking to detain or remove them. ISM volunteers estimate that around 350 settlers remain in Sanur.

The mood in Assa’sa is currently one of extreme fear, with the villagers not knowing whether and when the settlers will attack again, and whether the army will be able to stop them. Some villagers are gathering stones to defend themselves, a poor weapon against the heavily-armed settlers, but for the most part, they can do nothing but watch and wait. ISM volunteers remain in Assa’sa, alongside the villagers, and continue to monitor the situation

Young Palestinian women lead demonstration against the wall in Bil’in

A group of twenty young Palestinian women aged from 13-16 led more than 400 people in a demonstration Monday against the illegal annexation barrier being constructed across land belonging to the village of Bil’in. Local villagers were joined by a large number of activists from a range of peace organizations, including around 200 international representatives from the Women in Black and members of direct action groups The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and the International Women’s Peace Service (WIPS).

This was the largest demonstration which has yet been seen in Bil’in, and the large numbers attending the action ensured that it could not be met with the violence which has often been the reaction of the IDF to village actions. However after the demonstration dispersed the few remaining demonstrators were attacked with tear gas and sound grenades.

The Peaceful demonstration confronted a line of heavily armed Israeli soldiers and demanded access to the Bil’in land being stolen and an end to the illegal occupation of the West Bank. The young women confidently approached the line of soldiers blocking the road, leading the entire group of women with chants and songs, and one of the girls read a statement the village had prepared for their guests.

“We hope you take a look around and get to know the place and people here, and see what it is we’re trying to defend. We want as many people as possible to see what’s being done to our land with their own eyes, so they can make their own conclusions about what’s going on,” the teenaged girl said through a bullhorn in her speech to the gathering of hundreds of women. “… Settlers today are beginning to withdraw from Gaza. We are happy for the Palestinians there. But as that goes on, Israel is expanding settlements on our land here in Bil’in, and those settlers leaving Gaza are being brought here. This solves nothing, but rather moves the problem from one place to another. We need real answers that provides security for us all.”

BACKGROUND ON BIL’IN
Bil’in is a West Bank village which will lose approximately 52 percent of its agricultural land in the Israeli land grab begin carried out under the guise of “security.” Without access to their land, villagers will have lost their main source of income. This is an action which is being repeated throughout the West Bank and threatens the future self sufficiency of a Palestinian State.

Threats and worry in al-Asa’asa on the eve of Israeli disengagement

by Lee

Al-Asa’asa is a village of 500 situated right next to the settlement of SaNur. Radical anti disengagement settlers from all over the West Bank, many from Hebron, have camped out at SaNur, surrounding the small military settlement with tents.

Worry and anxiety about what these 280 settlers are planning to do is growing in al Asa’asa as disengagement approaches. The settlers are committed to not leaving the land, even though the settlement of SaNur is scheduled to be removed as part of Israel’s disengagement plan. Settlers are threatening to occupy houses in al-Asa’asa. If the housing takeover fails, the campers will still get monetary compensation for the disengagement.

Yesterday, a kidnap attempt by settlers was foiled. A boy was working in the fields when the ever-watching eye of the villagers saw settler vehicles approaching. The boy managed to escape and the settlers gave up. Also yesterday, a settler had to be removed from a neighboring village by border police. Today, campers have put out a call on media outlets for other settlers to join them and help resist the disengagement.

A few days ago, a funeral was interrupted by the villagers; the man who died had to buried in another village, since the DCO said it was too dangerous to have a funeral.

All roads to the village will be closed at midnight tonight.