Tag: Bil’in

Three Nonviolent Protests in the West Bank

Nov. 30

Palestinian villagers protest on Road-443, Israel prevent them from using it

Residents of a number of villages in the Ramallah area organized a protest joined by a number of International and Israeli peace activists at Highway 443, on Friday after the noon prayer.

Protesters carried anti-racism signs and Palestinian flags, and demanded that the Israeli authorities allow them to use this road that passes through the villagers’ land.

Troops installed barbed wire in an attempt to prevent the protesters from reaching the highway. However, the villagers insisted and managed to reach the road. Troops fired several rounds of rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas at the protesters, however no injuries were reported.

For seven years in a row, Israel prohibits Palestinians from using this 200-mile road which is built on the land of Palestinian villages, and allows only Jewish settlers to use it.

Six wounded, five detained in Bil’in’s Anti-wall protest

Residents of the village of Bil’in near the West Bank city of Ramallah organized their weekly Anti-Wall nonviolent protest this Friday, and were joined by a number of international and Israeli peace activists.

Protesters marched through the village carrying banners demanding the dismantling of the wall and calling for national unity. Israeli troops intercepted the protest and prevented them from reaching the construction site of the wall by installing additional layers of barbed wire.

As the protesters approached the wire, troops showered them with tear gas and rubber-coated-steel bullets. Dozens were treated for gas inhalation, while five were wounded by the rubber bullets. The five were identified as, Nasser, Adeeb, Rateb and Ayed Abu Rahme from Bilin and Yanni from Israel.

Adeeb Abu Rahme, was struck in the head by a police baton, resulting in a wound that required stitches.

Five including two American protesters, two Palestinians and an Israeli protester were detained by the soldiers.

Another international, who was not detained, was struck in the temple by a rubber bullet, which left him disoriented.

Meanwhile, troops assaulted and arrested an Israeli journalist identified as David. They released him and all the other detainees an hour later.

Israeli army attacks a peaceful demonstration in a Bethlehem village

Dozens of residents of al Me’sarah village near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem were joined by a group of Israeli and International peace activists on Friday at noon to protest the confiscation of their land.

The Israeli army installed road blocks to prevent the peace activists from reaching the village.

The protesters marched to the lands that will be annexed for the expansion of a nearby settlement and the construction of the Separation Wall. After the Friday prayers some protesters delivered speeches in Arabic and English stressing the need to resist the land confiscation labeling it as “land theft.”

The Israeli troops who were at the scene attacked the demonstrators and prevented them from reaching the settlement road known as road 60. One resident identified as Bassam Ibrahim, 22, suffered light injuries.

Day of Violence at Nonviolent Demonstrations Accross the West Bank

Today at around 12 pm, in the village of kheirbet al musbah, 200 non-violent Palestinian activists, joined by Israelis and internationals, gathered from the surrounding villages to demonstrate against the closure of route 443. The demonstrators marched towards what was once the access route to route 443, but which has been blocked as part of Israel’s apartheid policies. 443 has been designated a pass road for Israelis only, in contradiction to the Supreme Court’s ruling. The demonstrators chanted against the occupation and against the closure. On the access road, blocked by cement, there were a few soldiers who tried to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They beat several youth who were among the demonstrators. The march continued, however, despite these efforts. The march stopped at the 443 road and the demonstrators stood in front of a line of police and soldiers, continuing to chant and to wave Palestinian flags. Some of the youth, after the demonstration dispersed, threw stones at the assembled soldiers and police. A few jeeps carrying border police and soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets towards the demonstrators the village and surrounding olive groves. The organizers of the demonstration invited Israeli and international demonstrators to continue to attend the protest, now regularly scheduled for once a week.

At the demonstration today in Bil’in, three demonstrators, two Palestinians and one Israeli, were seriously hurt. The first wounded demonstrator was a 40 year old resident of Bil’in and was shot in the hand and chest with a teargas canister which burned through his coat and shirt, broke the palm of his hand and injured his chest. The teargas canister was fired directly at the protester from short range. The Israeli who was wounded was hit in the head with a rubber coated steel bullet. The Israeli who was hit with the rubber bullet was standing at the side of the road leading to the wall. When he was hit he fell unconscious and was evacuated with the injured Palestinian. He is bruised and in pain and shock. Another Bil’in resident, Adib Abu Rahme, was arrested and beaten in the head. He was near the wall and was caught by the soldiers, who battered his head and threw him to the side of the road while he was still bleeding. Abu Rahme, after coming to, identified the soldier who had beaten him to a photographer. At this stage, the soldiers arrested him again and held him for two hours, even though he required urgent medical care. All three were taken to the Ramallah hospital. The Israeli was sent to a hospital in Israel and has been released. The two Palestinians were released and are recuperating.

60 Palestinians and 5 Israelis converged on Road 60 near Umm Salamuna today to nonviolently protest the theft of 30 Dunums of Palestinian land for the expansion of the road to Efrat settlement. The army set up checkpoints around the protest and denied many Palestinains and Israelis access. Soldiers made regular incursions into the protest to beat demonstrators, one Palestinian man was seriously wounded.

Three Nonviolent Protests in the West Bank Tomorrow: in Bil’in, at Apartheid Road 443 and Near Umm Salamuna

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1. Weekly Protest in Bil’in Continues

The Village of Bil’in is continuing its weekly protest against the Apartheid Wall and the confiscation of land by the Mattiyahu East settlement. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the wall must be moved west to give Bil’in back 250 acres of its land. However, the army thus far seems to be ignoring the order, and the wall still stands. The Supreme Court also recently rejected a petition to stop the construction of another Israeli settlement, Mattiyahu East, on Bil’ins land even further to the west.

Bil’in has recently been receiving support from New York, where demonstrators have now twice picketed the newly opened Leviev diamond store on Madison Avenue. The owner of the store, Lev Leviev, is an Israeli billionaire who uses funds gained from selling Angolan diamonds to build illegal settlements in the West Bank, including Mayttiyahu East. Leviev diamonds are conflict diamonds in the broadest sense, funding the repressive Angolan government and illegal West Bank settlements, widely viewed as an obstacle to Middle East peace.

Meet at 12pm by the mosque in Bil’in village.

For more information:

Abdullah: 0547258210
www.bilin-village.org

For more Information on New York Protest:

www.mideastjustice.org
http://nyc.indymedia.org/es/2007/11/92915.html
justiceme@gmail.com

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2. Fifth in a series of Nonviolent Protest Against Apartheid Road 443

Highway 443 is the main road connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It is completely closed for Palestinian traffic, even though 9.5 km of it cuts through the West Bank and its expansion was built on seized Palestinian land. Together with the Apartheid Wall, it creates the enclaves of Bir Nabala and Biddu, which are completely surrounded by Israeli infrastructure. With Annapolis approaching, Apartheid Roads are very topical as Palestinians are looking for a contiguous state, not the isolated Bantustans that they are now forced to live in.

Meet at 12pm at the bridge near the village of Beit Ur, above the Palestinian-only tunnel that runs beneath the main highway.

Yousef: 022488113
www.apartheidmasked.org

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3. New Nonviolent Demonstration Against Land Seizure Near Umm Salamuna

A new demonstration starts tomorrow near Umm Salamuna against plans to expand the road leading from Road 60 to the Efrat settlement. The expansion is to be built on 30 dunums of land belonging to the Palestinian village of Al’Ma’sara. Many ancient grape vines are to be destroyed during the expansion.

Meet at 11.30am at the turn off from Road 60 leading up to the Efrat Settlement and Umm Salamuna.

Mahmood: 0599586004

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For more information on any of tomorrow’s protests:

John (ISM Media Office): 0545364072

Indymedia: New York Rights Activists Escalate Protests Against Leviev Over Palestine

By Adalah-NY

New York, New York, Nov. 20 – The Madison Avenue jewelry store *LEVIEV New York* was again the site of protests by human rights activists angered by Israeli diamond mogul Lev Leviev’s settlement construction in Palestine, and other abusive practices in Angola and New York City. Tuesday evening’s protest, on the second day the store was open to the public, followed a noisy, surprise protest at *LEVIEV New York’s* gala opening on November 13 which derailed the evening for the celebrities and socialites in attendance.

In a loud, festive protest this evening, 40 New Yorkers chanted, danced Palestinian Dabka and performed street theater. Protesters were faced by a cordon of police officer who leaned against the LEVIEV store windows, blocking any view of the expensive jewelry in the showcase. No customers entered the store during the hour and a half protest. Protesters focused on Leviev’s companies’ construction of five illegal settlements on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, Leviev’s close ties with the repressive government of Angola where he mines diamonds, and Leviev’s massive New York City development projects with his former US partner Shaya Boymelgreen, which have been plagued by construction problems, and have frequently utilized underpaid, non-union workers in hazardous conditions.

Protesters chanted, “You sparkle, you shine, but settlements are still a crime,” and “How fancy, how pretty, Leviev out of New York City.” They paused to hear the tale of the “gems of injustice” which featured dancing cardboard diamonds. A performance of the Palestinian national dance, dabka, to the song “Wayn ya Ramallah” was interrupted prematurely by an NYPD officer who appeared unappreciative of Palestinian culture. Since no customers were willing to enter the store during the protest, protesters handed pedestrians on Madison Avenue gift bags which included soil from Palestine and a thank you note saying, “Dear valued customer, with every purchase you make from *LEVIEV New York*, you help Lev Leviev to seize a handful of Palestinian land in order to build more illegal Israeli settlements.”

Riham Barghouti, a spokesperson for Adalah-NY, explained that “This new campaign is a strong local response to the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. It shows the willingness of more individuals in the US in general and in New York City in particular to carry out effective action to oppose the building of Israeli settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, and other Israeli human rights violations.”

The protestors’ call for a boycott of Leviev’s businesses comes days before the US government hosts Israeli and Palestinian leaders at Annapolis, Maryland for negotiations. Israel’s rapidly expanding settlements, viewed worldwide as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, will be a major topic at the negotiations. Leviev’s Danya-Cebus and LIDAR companies are building homes in the West Bank settlements of Zufim, Mattityahu East, Maale Adumim and Har Homa. Previously, Danya Cebus built homes in Ariel settlement. The five settlements in which Leviev has built homes seize vital Palestinian water resources and agricultural land, and are strategically located to divide the West Bank into disconnected enclaves, making the creation of a viable Palestinian state difficult or impossible.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has also reported that Leviev is a primary donor to the right-wing Israeli organization the Land Redemption Fund. The Fund spends its large budget to secure Palestinian land for Israeli settlement expansion, allegedly with the aid of deceit and strong arm-tactics. Journalist Meron Rapoport revealed today in the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz Daily that Leviev was a guest of honor two years ago at a major event in Jerusalem for Elad, an Israeli organization which promotes the “Judaization” of Palestinian East Jerusalem. Elad refuses to reveal the names of its donors.

Leviev, Israel’s richest man, burst onto the New York City scene by buying up a large number of properties and buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan over the last five years. He came under fire, along with his former US partner Shaya Boymelgreen, from the Laborer’s Union and ACORN for the working and safety condition at his development projects. Brooklynites are concerned that these problems will carry over into the duo’s planned Gowanus Village project.

Protest organizers announced plans to flyer outside *LEVIEV New York* this Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, and to organize a large protest in the coming weeks. “We will return as often as necessary until New Yorkers understand that Leviev’s triangle trade is built on human rights abuses and the destruction of marginalized communities in New York City, the Palestinian towns of Bil’in and Jayyous, and in Angola,” said Ethan Heitner, a spokesperson forAdalah-NY.

For more info see Adalah-NY: The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East:
www.mideastjustice.org

Interview with Abdullah Abu Rahme, Member of the Bil’in Popular Committee

by Taka Nakahara

In 1987, Abudullah Abu Rahme was 16 years olds. He spent his high-teens amidst the First Intifada, which he appreciated as successful attempt of continuous Nonviolent Resistance under national unity, at least for the first 6 months. After he started his study in Bir Zeit University, he participated in road blockades using rocks, so that Israeli military convoys could not pass. He reflected on the moment during an interview with me and my journalist friend from America, and explained the reason why: he did so because he did not like violence. He did not want the cars to go through, because they would go to kill someone. It was not hatred against the enemy, but rather love and respect for all life that necessitated him to take the action.

After twenty years, in 2007, he is a father, and got a job in high school near Bir Zeit and also part-time job in Al Quds Open University. What makes him distinguished from other teachers is his role as a Coordinator of now world-famous Bil’in Popular Committee. His belief in Nonviolence and respect for all people is never changed, even strengthened since 1987: especially after 2005, when villagers of Bil’in village started Nonviolent Demonstrations.

He really is a normal father of children. But the condition of this small village does not allow him to be normal person. He sadly mentioned us the fact that he so far failed to take his children to a zoo. His children want to see lion, but not in TV nor in book, in a zoo. They also never are able to go to the sea. This rather normal need as a child (which can be realized without much difficulty in US, Europe, Japan and many other countries) is extremely difficult to realize in Palestine, an abnormal entity, one of the very few places which still remains as the Occupied territory (in the Twenty-First Century!).

Another his strong conviction is respect for all people. He explicitly says, “We are not against Jews” (this interview is not the first time, by the way, for the author to hear the same comment from him). In his house, which first floor has been turned into an “International House”, many people from many different countries come, eat, sleep, and struggle. His guest includes people from America, France, Germany, Britain, Scotland, Japan, Denmark, Spain, Basque, Morocco, Iceland, Belgium, Greece … and, the biggest group: Israelis.

Now Bil’in is a name that most people who either believe in Nonviolence or Palestinian cause appreciates, especially after Israeli Supreme Court ordered to re-route the Separation fence. The fence has denied access for villagers 2,300 donums of their lands (about 58% of village’s original land) and resulted in de-facto annexation of the land for Israeli settlers.

When they started the demonstration, they were not sure how to attract media coverage. So they started tying themselves to Olive trees, staring from May 4th, 2005. The message was: “If you want to up-root this tree, you have to kill us”. Next, both Palestinians and Israeli participants put themselves inside Oil Barrels, only heads and hands outside and sent the same message again. He recalls these creative acts made journalists surprised, perhaps panicked. “What? What is happening in Bil’in???” … this was their first thought. Since then, TV stations came, radio reporters came, internationals came, more Israelis came … and Bil’in legend had started.

Thanks to effort by thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and Internationals who had participated, both in Palestine and in their home country, among them 800 injured, a few hundreds detained/arrested, and countless suffered by the tear-gas, in September 2007 the Court ordered the Government to re-route the fence. In the ruling, 1,100 donums of the land is to be given back to the villagers, which Abudallah regards as satisfactory result, at least, so far, especially given the fact that no one has been killed. Being asked how long it would take for the land to be recovered, he explained it would be about 5 or 6 months, possibly a year. Villagers still did not give up rest of the land, though. They determined to continue their struggle until they recover ALL the land that has been taken from them, and are continuing their demonstration, now nearly two months after the ruling.

The court decision, if successfully implemented, will be one of the most convincing examples of premise that “Nonviolence works” in a decade, even a century. Member of Bil’in Popular Committee determined to spread this miraculous success to all over Palestine. For example, he explained to us that member of the Committee, including himself, went to a village called Kuseen near Nablus, which is suffering because of Road Block. They also visited to Umm Salemouna, located in the South of Bethlehem, where local villagers are continuing Nonviolent (and very, very creative) demonstration, now nearly one year.

In his role in the relentless struggle, many people see arrival of Nonviolent icon. Some journalists even called him “Palestinian Gandhi”. I doubt whether or not it is good idea to dramatize one individual as charisma out of lots of others, who are struggling together or separately with him: nevertheless, it is probably fair to say that his role in what this rather small village had accomplished makes him deserves to be called so.

During interview, he said he believes Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and others who liberated themselves through Nonviolent methods. They gave him courage and confidence for what he is doing now. And, there is no question, I believe, that for many people with different language, nationality, and religion who believe Freedom and Justice in the land of Palestine and all over the world, now it is Abudallah Abu Rahme of Bil’in Popular Committee who is giving courage and confidence in what they are doing … as long as their struggle (from my understanding), herald of the Third Intifada, or “Bil’in Intifada” continues.

www.bilin-village.org