Tree planting and Tom Fox memorial in Tel Rumeida

by ISM Hebron, March 9th

Palestinian activists from the International Solidarity Movement organized a tree planting session in Tel Rumeida on Friday. This was advertised widely and many local Palestinians, Israeli activists and Internationals came to join them with around 30 people in all. Organisations represented included ISM, EAPPI (World Council of Churches), Sons of Abraham and The Alternative Information Centre in Bethlehem.

All the trees had to be carried into H2 by hand as Palestinians are not allowed to drive in the Israeli controlled part of Hebron. They planted olive, lemon, and fig trees for many families living close to the illegal Jewish settlements who have been subjected to constant harassment from the settlers. It was particularly important for the Palestinians to have active support from so many Israeli Jews.

At 1:30 pm Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals all gathered in front the Centre near the Tomb of Abraham and walked to the Christian Peacemaker Teams’ apartment to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of CPT member Tom Fox who was killed in Iraq last year. Palestinians and Israelis had to walk separately as neither is allowed to walk in the other’s zone. They planted an olive tree in front of the apartment with a commemorative plaque and both Palestinians and Internationals gave brief speeches after holding a one minute’s silence. An article written by Tom Fox shortly before his death was read out entitled “Why Are we Here”, in which he said, “We are here to root out all aspects of de-humanization that exist within us. We are here to stand with those being de-humanized by oppressors and stand firm against de-humanization.”

Trials against Connex/Veolia and Alstom in Egypt and France

by the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign

The Egyptian public was outraged to learn from Le Monde Diplomatique February edition that Alstom company (which currently constructs Apartheid Railway in Jerusalem) won a $23 million tender from the Egyptian government for the new Cairo metro line. An Egyptian engineer decided to bring the Egyptian ministry of transport to court (for more on the tramline project in Jerusalem, see: http://stopthewall.org/factsheets/1047.shtml).

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a “peace” agreement with Israel in 1979 and since then has continued rhetoric invoking justice for Palestine while at the same time opening is doors to economic cooperation with and support to the Apartheid State. However, Egyptian public opinion has never accepted the complicity of their leaders with the occupation of Palestine.

The announcement of the contracts granted to Alstom comes at a time when official Egyptian rhetoric creates a diplomatic crisis over a film showing the now-Occupation Government Minister of National Infrastructure, Ben-Eliezer, executing Egyptian soldiers during the ’67 war. Although Ben-Eliezer’s trip to Egypt was cancelled, Alstom found open doors.

At the same time, in France, the Association France Palestine begins judicial action against Alstom and Connex/Veolia to obtain a legal injunction that forces the companies to comply with international law and to cancel their signed contracts with the Occupation.

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Full text of an article published at: http://kassioun.org/?d=36&id=198674 (translation: stopthewall):

Le Monde Diplomatique Denounces Ministry of Transportation
French company involved in the apartheid tram in Jerusalem builds third metro in Cairo

The French newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique revealed information about Israeli plans to build a tram line that will run parallel to the Apartheid Walls around Jerusalem as part of the Judaization of Jerusalem and to separate Arabs and Zionists in Jerusalem. The French newspaper pointed out that the French company Alstom was being chosen to implement the construction of the apartheid tram in its February 2007 edition.

Shockingly, the same company was also chosen by the Egyptian government to build Cairo’s third metro line, upsetting Egyptian citizens and prompting one of them to file a complaint with the Attorney General to cancel the contract.

This citizen, engineer Amro Ahmad Ra’ouf from Cairo, highlighted in his complaint that the French companies Alstom and Connex are constructing the tram in Jerusalem whose main goal is to connect the Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem with West Jerusalem. This in turn facilitates the development and expansion of the Israeli settlements. It will further contribute to the closure imposed on East Jerusalem, a first step within the annexation process and also to the total isolation of East Jerusalem from the West Bank. Further, he pointed out that building such a tram line will confiscate huge amounts of Palestinian lands. This is the reason for which in the complaint Amro Ra’ouf has asked the government to cancel all its contracts with the companies and not to pay any financial compensations as the companies violate international law that states the illegality of support to occupation authorities in annexing the land of the occupied. He also asked to stop any future dealing with these two companies.

The Minister of Transportation, Muhammad Mansour, previously announced that four international companies and other Egyptian companies had been chosen to begin Phase 1 of the third metro line. The results of the tender had granted traffic signs, communications and central control to the French company Alstom Alcatel, amounting to a total of 23 million Euro. Another French company with three other Egyptian companies jointly signed contracts worth €81 million. Le Monde Diplomatique considers the French company’s construction of the apartheid tram in contradiction with French official foreign policies, which are against Israeli colonization and the Apartheid Wall.

The newspaper quoted the minister of foreign affairs, Philippe Douste-Blazy, as saying that the participation of French companies in such an international tender is not a sign of a change in the well-known French foreign policy on Jerusalem. However, the newspaper argued that this statement is just an ambiguous play of words. Nasr Al-Khudweh [at that time Foreign minister of the PNA] didn’t find Douste-Blazy’s statement helpful enough. Instead, Al-Khudwe says in a January 2006 letter to Alstom’s General Director, Patrick Crone, Alstom is complicit in the Israeli apartheid tram project, which is not simply an international trade project. Al-Khudweh believes that important dimensions of the agreement are overlooked by Douste-Blazy, such as the fact that assisting Israel in illegal colonization activities in and around East Jerusalem is a means of legitimization.

The irony is that in March 2006 in Khartoum, the Arab League condemned the construction of the illegal tram and called on Alstom and Connex to withdraw immediately from this project to avoid reprisal of Arab countries. It also called on the French government to take a position, to rise to their responsibilities and act according to international law. This measure nonetheless resulted in the Egyptian government shirking its responsibilities and granting contracts to Alstom as a reward for its support of Israel, helping to devour what is left of Arab Jerusalem.

Even if the French government and its ministries have become drunk from the fumes of profit and thus close an eye on the French companies’ participation in this illegal project, not attempting to stop or punish these companies, then it is as the legal expert Monique Shumblier said: the Egyptian government’s position should at minimum be not to allow those companies to enter the tenders of this huge Egyptian project. And if Le Monde Diplomatique had the guts to blame the French ministry (which attended the party Ariel Sharon threw in his office to celebrate the contract), what words do we have to describe the position of the Egyptian Minister of Transportation who himself signed the contract with this company that supports the Judaization of Jerusalem?

The colored advertisements and banners that are distributed on the walls of Jerusalem and promote the tram in this city show the pictures of the terrorist Theodor Herzl in a thoughtful posture. This is nothing less that an advertisement to announce the achievement of Herzl’s dream symbolized by the tram line in Jerusalem – one of core tools of the Zionist aggression aimed at finalizing the Judaziation of Jerusalem and the racist disengagement. It is a final proof for anyone who still doubts that Israel is using this project as part of its well known policies of occupation, colonization and land confiscation.

South Bethlehem villagers protest at worksite of shame

by the ISM media team, March 9th

Villagers from the South Bethlehem region came together again this Friday to protest at the annexation and destruction of their agricultural land. After prayers held on land belonging to Umm Salamuna village, speeches were given by representatives from the local communities and national organisations, and one speech was given in English for the around 30 international and Israeli activists appealing for support in the upcoming struggle.

The 200-strong crowd then marched along the razed land which is currently being leveled for the Apartheid Wall by diggers.

Some of the diggers moved away to work in a different area and soldiers then blocked the path of the marchers to this area. The villagers pointed out the injustice and illegality of the Wall but the soldiers were unmoved and grabbed and pushed them back.

Residents from Wadi Annis sat down in front of the line of soldiers and anti-occupation slogans were chanted before the crowd dispersed.

Ten villages surrounding Bethlehem will have agricultural land annexed and destroyed by the Wall with the villages of Wadi Anniss, Um Salamuna, Wadi Rahhal and Al Ma’sara most effected.

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Francesca et Margot

Comme tous les vendredi depuis environ un mois et demi, les habitants des ” 10 villages au sud de Bethléem ” organisent des manifestations pour tenter de stopper la construction du Mur. Aujourd`hui, un peu plus de 150 villageois et une trentaine d`internationaux s`étaient rassemblés. Après la prière du midi et quelques discours contre l`occupation, les manifestants munis de drapeaux se sont déplacés vers les pelleteuses en chantant.

Les engins “contraints” de se déplacer, ont repris leur travail 100 mètres plus loin. Les manifestants se sont retrouvés face a face avec les militaires qui les ont alors empêchés d`aller plus loin. Les villageois qui tentaient d`avancer ont été retenus par la force alors que les internationaux étaient relativement libres de leurs mouvements.

Après une demie heure, le cortège a pris la direction du village de Wadi an Nis. Tout les manifestants se sont alors rassemblés pour une réunion afin de parler de l`avenir de la lutte au sein des “10 villages au sud de Bethléem”. Evidemment celle-ci doit continuer et s`amplifier [ notamment avec des internationaux qui sont a la fois des témoins pour leur pays ainsi que des présences indispensables pour atténuer la violence envers les palestinniens ] mais il est aussi nécessaire de trouver des ripostes juridiques.

Two hospitalised at Bil’in as IOF lash out

by the ISM media team, March 9th

Two peaceful protesters today paid the price for standing in solidarity with the villagers of Bilin to protest the theft of their land when they were attacked and had to be carried to an ambulance for evacuation. Ben received a blow to the forehead from a rifle butt whilst a sound bomb was thrown at Jonathan’s foot, which exploded on his shoe leaving him unable to walk.

After the last two large demos, today’s march to the wall could be seen as an anti-climax, but the villagers of Bil’in were determined to maintain the momentum of their struggle and were not disheartened by the turn-out of around a hundred.

As has been the pattern in recent weeks soldiers reacted aggressively to the peaceful chanting and flag waving, and when a few stray stones came their way were quick to try and disperse the crowd with tear gas and sound grenades.

Large numbers of soldiers poured through the gate to remove those who remained and many were grabbed, pushed over and dragged along the ground merely for standing there.

Unable to control themselves the soldiers continued to use sound bombs and batons against the protesters. Iyad Burnat, a member of the popular committee in Bil’in who was hospitalised at the demo two weeks ago, was again targetted and beaten on his body. Eleven other protesters were shot with rubber bullets.

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اصابة ستة عشر متظاهرا في مسيرة بلعين الأسبوعية

الجمعة \9\3\2007

خرج المتظاهرون اليوم في قرية بلعين بعد صلاة الجمعة في مسيرة حاشدة توجهوا فيها نحو جدار الفصل العنصري ،وقد تزامنت هذه الفعالية مع مناسبة يوم المرأة العالمي ،مما دفع الى مشاركة نساء القرية فيها تعبيرا عن رفضهن للجدار والإستيطان والاحتلال ،وقد رفعن اليافطات التي تعبر عن ذلك ،بالاضافة إلى يافطات أخرى تعبر عن انهن أكثر الفئات تضررا ، فأبناؤهن وأزواجهن وإخوانهن من يتعرضون للقتل والجرح والإعتقال ،أضف إلى أنهن يعرضن أنفسهن لنفس الخطر أثناء مشاركتهن ، وهن اللواتي يعملن في الحقول والزراعة بالدرجة الأولى ، وبناء الجدار الذي يفصل بينهن وبين أرضهن يحرمهن من أبسط حقوقهن في العمل فيها .

وقد شارك في هذه المظاهرة مجموعة من المتضامنين الدوليين والإسرائيليين بالإضافة الى وفد من التوجيه السياسي والوطني وعلى رأسهم نايف سويطات مفوض التوجيه الوطني في الضفة الغربية ومحمد الفقيه مسؤول ملف الجدار في التوجيه الوطني،وقد كانت هذه المشاركة بناء على دعوة العميد بلال النتشة المفوض السياسي للمحافظات الشمالية ، من ناحية أخرى شاركت مجموعة من طلبة بير زيت في هذه المسيرة .

وقد جاب المتظاهرون شوارع القرية وهم يهتفون الهتافات المنددة بالاحتلال حتى وصلوا إلى بوابة الجدار في الجهة الغربية من القرية حيث يتمركز الجيش ،الذي حال دون السماح لهم بالعبور من البوابة ،مما أدى إلى نشوب مشادات بينهم ،استخدم خلالها الجيش قنابل الصوت والغاز والرصاص المعدني المغلف بالمطاط ،مما أدى إلى اصابة ستة عشر متظاهرا بينهم متضامنان إسرائيليان وهم :جونثان بولاك ،بن رونين ،أديب أحمد حسن أبو رحمة ، اياد محمد ياسين برناط ، وئام محمدعلي ناصر وشقيقه فادي ، حمزة عبد الهادي سمارة ، عمرو هشام ناصر ، سليمان خالد خطاب ، سمير سليمان ياسين ،أدهم محمود عيسى أبو رحمة ، عمر عادل الخطيب ، يوسف حسن، باسل منصور،نايف غازي الخطيب ،جاسر ماهر اشعل .

لمزيد من المعلومات مراجعة:

عبدالله أبورحمة – منسق اللجنة الشعبية لمقاومة الجدار والإستيطان في بلعين

0599107069 أو0547258210 أو022489043

AP: “Reporters hurt as Israeli security forces break up Palestinian demonstrations”

Associated Press

Crowd-control devices like stun grenades and tear gas have injured a number of journalists in recent weeks, including two television crewmen covering a women’s protest Thursday — and reporters are charging they’ve been targeted by Israeli security forces.

Over the last three months, at least five journalists were injured — including an AP photographer whose leg was broken by a stun grenade — while covering protests or Israeli military operations. In one incident, an AP photographer said a stun grenade was thrown at reporters as they talked to soldiers.

The army denied any targeting of journalists, and said it would investigate the incidents.

The military “does not intentionally harm journalists, and any such claims on this matter are baseless,” a military statement said, adding that there are “inherent risks to journalists” covering combat operations.

The casualties were caused by non-lethal means the Israelis use to break up demonstrations and riots. However, stun grenades, which make a loud noise can cause serious injuries when their canisters fly through the air, and tear gas can also cause injury in high concentrations.

On Thursday, paramilitary border police fired stun grenades from a distance of about 10 meters to break up a demonstration of women at the Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Associated Press Television cameraman Eyad Moghrabi was hit on the leg by a flying piece of metal. TV footage showed a stun grenade exploding among the reporters, who were several meters away from the demonstrators. The pictures show the reporters scattering, with one clutching her leg.

“This was not the first time they fire where the journalists are located,” Moghrabi said.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the officers warned everyone, including journalists, that their presence was illegal, before firing the stun grenades, denying that reporters were targeted.

In its statement, the military said it “strives to ensure that the press is not hindered,” but said that when soldiers declare an area closed, reporters are expected to leave.

While agreeing that the military did not have a deliberate policy, Daniel Blumenthal, vice chairman of the Foreign Press Association, said there are numerous complaints. “We assume some soldiers act on their own initiative because of their idea about where a journalist should be (during) an event.”

Thursday’s casualties were only the most recent.

On Wednesday, Al-Jazeera technician Maamoun Othman was wounded when Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades during the arrest of a radical Islamic leader.

“A stun grenade was fired at me directly. It landed on my stomach,” Othman said.

On Feb. 27, journalists say they were hit as they talked to soldiers about covering an army operation in Nablus.

AP photographer Emilio Morenatti said soldiers approached them in jeeps, asking them to leave.

As they were talking with the soldiers “one hand appeared from the (army) car, and threw a stun grenade at us,” he said. No one was hurt.

The FPA protested the Nablus incident, calling it “obstruction and ill treatment of journalists.” Morenatti suffered a broken leg from a fragment of a stun grenade, thrown from a distance of about two meters while he was covering a protest in the West Bank village of Bilin in January.

On Feb. 16, AP photographer Nasser Shiyoukhi was hurt when soldiers fired a tear gas grenade that exploded next to a group of reporters near Hebron.