At last, a peaceful Shabbat in Tel Rumeida

This Saturday, the 30th of April everybody was apprehensive about further settler attacks. Over the last three shabbats settlers have mounted more and more organised attacks against internationals and Palestians in Tel Rumeida. There was a large intrernational presence in response.

Internationals and Palestinans have been active this last week in trying to draw attention to the increasing level of violence in Tel Rumeida. On Wednesday a conference was held highlighting the escalating violence and an open letter was sent asking the police and army to protect Palestinans in Tel Rumeida.

Throughout the week international volunteers have been speaking to the army units in Tel Rumeida and impressing on them the danger posed by settler attacks and asking that they intervene if attacks occur.

Settler violence has been covered in the mainstream media including the Jerusalem Post and some TV stations.

On Wednesday an organised group of settlers attacked workers at Qurtuba school in Tel Rumeida and later destroyed school property. Palestinians and internationals made calls to the DCO and the police asking for more policing near the school.

On Saturday an unprecedented number of border police were present at Qurtuba school stationed close to the place where the attack occurred on Wednesday. We can only assume that at least some of our efforts were worthwhile.

The day passed without any trouble whatsoever. It seems that the large numbers of police coupled with the numbers of internationals and the fact that the settlers know that the media is watching has had a preventative effect… My only hope is that we an maintain a focus on Tel Rumeida in weeks to come.

It Can Be Done

The people of Bil’in will demonstrate against the wall, this Friday
May 6 At 12:00 AM

A year ago, when the weekly demonstrations in Bil’in started no one believed that they would be able to continue for more than a few weeks. If one had suggested that a year later, the Supreme Court would order the state to explain why it would not demolish the new buildings in the settlement and prevent the housing of the new apartments
and the head of the council of Modi’in Ilit would be under criminal investigation for illegal construction he or she would have been considered delusional.

But as hundreds of thousands chanted in the May Day immigrant matches in Los Angeles and Chicago, “Si se Puede”- yes it can be done. The people of Bil’in have remained optimistic in their struggle against the wall which is being built on their land and have exceeded everyone’s expectations. There are no guarantees but if the nonviolent struggle continues, the achievements may be surprising,

For more information:
ISM media office 02-2971824
Abdullah 0547-258-210

Mohammed Saqer Escapes Death From Israeli Bullet to the Brain

An update from ISM activists in Nablus on Mohammed Saqer (17), the boy shot in the head a week ago with a rubber-coated metal bullet by the Israeli army:

After being kept in a medically induced coma for 72 hours following emergency brain surgery Mohammed successfully regained consciousness and, amazingly, is able to talk. This is an extremely positive development given the original opinion of his doctor that he was likely to be seriously brain damaged, if able to regain consciousness at all.

His improvement has been so rapid he has been transfered to the “intermediate intensive care” unit.

His entire family are ecstatic, including his mother and aunt who kept a bedside vigil during his coma and was distraught at the seriousness of his condition. The family said that when he fully came out of coma he opened his eyes and immediately said “Marhaba” – arabic for hello!

This is the second time in two years Mohammed has been shot in the head by Israeli forces, and as his aunt said at the time “The first time was much better. Now, I think its worse. It’s bad”.

Certainly, even though he is alive, awake and able to talk he needs constant medical attention and his long term condition is not known. He cannot move the left side of his body and it is uncertain what mobility he will regain. But his delighted mother said his situation is improving everyday.

Extraordinarily he asked us how we were doing, even greeting us in English and asking our names. He talked of how he hopes he will be better soon and how we can visit him in his home in Askar Refugee camp saying “You are always welcome at my home”

As ISM activist Lauren says “It is really amazing that he is even alive. It was surreal to even talk to him. What a miracle that he will laugh and smile again.”

See the original press release about the shooting:
Teen Shot in the Head in Nablus

… and a update from the hospital two days later:
Lee’s Journal: Visiting Mohammed

Wadi el Maleh: History and life of ancient community endangered

Latest News, Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, April 25th, 2006

Above: Since the Occupation took control over land and water in the Jordan Valley, this ancient hotel could no longer be used. The beautiful natural resort and the life of the people in the area are being destroyed for Zionist geo-strategic interests.

Wadi el Maleh, in the northern Jordan Valley, is an ancient resort used for centuries by visitors and the local population for its hot mineral springs. What has been a bustling tourist facility, until the occupation of the Valley in 1967, is today a site where Palestinians struggle to exist.

The Palestinian community in Wadi el Maleh – over 500 strong – are currently forced to live in tents. The Occupation prevents the construction of buildings and ensures no transportation or basic social services can reach the community. To obtain medical care, or in emergency cases, people need to go to Tobas located 13 km away. Since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, the Tayaseer checkpoint has severely impeded Palestinian movement in the area. With intensified closures over the last few months, as the Occupation steps up Judeaization of the Valley, Palestinians are increasingly prevented from accessing health, social and educational institutions in Tobas.

As a result of the deterioration of living conditions, a small clinic was installed in a tent in the village in January 2006. Now, in an attempt to break the spirit of the community, the Occupation has marked the service for immediate destruction. Soldiers arrived in the village on Sunday 23rd of May, noting that the tent was to be dismantled or they would return to destroy it.

The main life source of people in Wadi al Maleh is currently cattle farming. The Occupation from 1967, not only destroyed the traditional hotels and khans in the area, but also declared the whole area a military training zone. Farmers are continuously threatened when grazing their cattle by military training operations held on their lands. Even access to the hot springs and their water has become difficult in recent weeks, as Zionist tourists have descended upon the area in greater numbers. The community of Wadi el Maleh is under threat from expulsion as the Occupation seeks to Judeaize the Valley and shape a new permanent reality of annexation.

Activists Aim to Kick Apartheid Out of Football

Worldwide Activism, Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, April 22nd, 2006

Palestine activists have launched a move to get Apartheid Israel suspended from the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) in protest against the ongoing subjugation of the Palestinian people and as part of the wider global call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Occupation.

FIFA is the sport’s governing body worldwide and numerous letters in support of the action have been sent to its President, Sepp Blatter. An online petition has already gathered more than 4,000 signatures.

The campaigners point out the consequences the Occupation and Apartheid has on their lives and professional possibilities. The petition highlights Apartheid Israel’s “obstruction of Palestinian representation and participation in international sports,” as part of a campaign by the Occupation to “deny Palestinian national identity.” This campaign is orchestrated throughout the whole of Palestinian society, of which football is just one example.

All sorts of measures have been taken by the Occupation to block the Palestinian national football team and Palestinian sportsmen and women in recent years. Most recently, said the letter to Blatter, on March 30th 2006 Occupation Forces bombed the Palestine Football Stadium in Gaza, leaving a massive crater in the middle of the pitch.

“In 2004,” it continued, Apartheid Israel “set out to prevent the Palestinian football team from representing the Palestinian people on an international level during the (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers by disallowing several members of the team from leaving Gaza.” In part of the Occupation’s attempts to destroy Palestinian identity, Palestine is forced to play all its “home” games in a foreign country. The ghettoization of the Palestinian people imposes on the Palestinian football team to hold its practice sessions in Egypt.

The petition also condemned the Occupation’s raids, curfews, checkpoints and closures that destroy the lives of the Palestinian people.

The letter to Mr Blatter concluded that, “suspending Israel’s membership from FIFA is the only appropriate sanction for its discriminatory practices.”

This action is the latest step against the world of football’s support for Apartheid Israel and the Occupation. For the last two months, solidarity activists have flooded the offices of London’s Arsenal Football Club with letters and petitions to protest the club’s decision to promote Apartheid Israel as its official tourist destination. At a time when the global “Kick Racism out of Football” campaign is gathering momentum, the sport should be looking to make a firm stand against the racist occupation of Palestine.

Letters to support the campaign to suspend Apartheid Israel from FIFA should be emailed to Mr. Sepp Blatter at contact@fifa.org or posted to FIFA House, Hitzigweg 11, P.O. Box 85, 8030 Zurich, Switzerland.

The petition can be signed at: http://www.petitiononline.com/FIFAPal/petition.html