Tag: Denial of Entry - Page 32 - International Solidarity Movement

Non Violent Demonstration in South Hebron ends with violent military response

10th March 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

By Team Khalil

On Friday afternoon near the illegal Beit Hagai settlement, a non violent demonstration over the closing of the vital road between Al Fawar Camp and Al Hareaq (South of Hebron) ended with military violence.

Within minutes of the demonstration beginning, the military responded by firing tear gas indiscriminately into the crowd. After retreating to a safer distance the crowd attempted to walk back to the road block, with one of the protesters calling out “We don’t want to fight, we come in peace,” which was ignored as the soldiers ushered in a skunk water truck, which showered the demonstrators and nearby Palestinian land.

Re-opening the road block has been a continuous struggle over the last 12 years (amongst the many struggles Palestinians are facing during the occupation), it serves as a symbol of the constant harassment and military control over how the Palestinian people move through their land.

Demonstrators attempt to shield themselves behind wooden board

Clashes erupt in Hebron after peaceful demonstration in support of Palestinian political prisoners

By Team Khalil

15 February 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine

A peaceful demonstration in support of Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli jails took place today in Hebron with roughly 2000 in attendance. The demonstration was supported by all Palestinian political factions.
Soon after the end of the rally clashes erupted in central Hebron/Al Kalhil. They started near checkpoint 56, a symbol of apartheid in the city, and the entrance to Shuada street which was once a very important street for Palestinian residents and businesses. Over 500 business where forced to close down because of the establishment of illegal settlements near the street.
Israeli occupation forces gathered behind the checkpoint while palestinians gathered on the other side.Sound bombs were quickly used to disperse the protesters. Violence escalated quickly when more protesters took part in the action. The ISraeli army responded by using excessive amounts of teargas and rubber coated steel-bullets hit many Palestinians and one member of ISM. Live ammunition was also used. Many shops were forced to close because of the tear gas.
The clashes continued in the very central areas of the city where lots of cars were damaged with tear gas canisters.
Ambulances continued driving back and forward all afternoon. About 20 Palestinians were injured and hospitalized.

‘Welcome to Palestine’ group denied entry into West Bank

26 August, 2012 | Ma’an News, Bethlehem, West Bank

Dozens of foreign peace activists were denied entry into the West Bank by Israeli authorities at the Allenby Bridge crossing on Sunday evening, organizers of the third ‘Welcome to Palestine’ initiative said.

“The Welcome to Palestine Campaign decries the Israeli denial of entry via the Allenby Bridge to over 100 internationals who wanted to visit us in the occupied Palestinian Territories,” organizers said in a statement.

The group of around 100 activists had finished passport checks at the Jordanian side of the Allenby crossing but were denied entry at the first Israeli checkpoint and told to return to where they had come from, a spokesman for WTP told Ma’an.

No explanation was provided by Israeli crossing authorities as to why the group was denied entry, but the delegation will try to enter the West Bank again on Monday, the spokesman added.

“The denial of entry today at the Allenby Bridge border crossing from Jordan shows that the previous policies of siege and isolation continue,” organizers said.

“We thus will continue to initiate more Welcome to Palestine campaigns. We insist on the freedom of entry. As Israel persists in these unjust policies, it is only fair to ask all countries to reciprocate by denying Israelis entry to these countries.”

Since Friday, around 100 activists have arrived in Jordan, with the intention of crossing the Israeli-controlled border with the West Bank on Sunday.

The group included French, British, German and American supporters, campaigners told Ma’an.

Political figures were due to greet the delegation in Bethlehem and the group was then scheduled to spend five days visiting Jerusalem, refugee camps, the Negev and villages in Hebron that are struggling against Israel’s separation wall.

Welcome to Palestine had previously organized two “flytillas,” when foreigners stated their intention to visit Palestine on entry to Israeli airport Ben Gurion, drawing Israel to deny entry to many of the passengers and distribute blacklists to airlines.

‘Welcome to Palestine’: Israeli court challenges deportation orders

13 July 2011 | Welcome to Palestine

Bethlehem and Jerusalem, July 13, 2011. Court dates have been set for noon today and tomorrow at 9 am for the court challenges of “Welcome to Palestine” participants against the deportation orders of the Israeli government that they and their attorneys consider illegal. The hearings will take place at the Central District Courthouse in Petah Tikva.

The hearing at noon today concerns two Australians who flew from Athens to Ben Gurion airport yesterday to join the “Welcome to Palestine” initiative: Sylvia Hale, a retired member of the NSW Parliament and Green Party Member, and Vivienne Porzsolt, a member of Jews against the Occupation, both 69 years old had, been aboard the Freedom Flotilla II Free Gaza ship, the “MV Tahrir,” which the Greek government prevented from sailing to Gaza. Other members of Flotilla II have decided to come visit Palestine and contacted the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign, including the US activist Kathy Kelly. “We are now inundated with requests to visit Palestine which is the opposite of what the Israeli authorities had tried to do by their brutal denial of travel to a few hundred activists” said Mazin Qumsiyeh, one of the organizers and the campaign’s local media spokesperson.

Tomorrow at 9 am Angelica Seyfrid of Berlin, Germany, will challenge deportation orders. Ms. Seyfrid, an artist and translator, worked for many weeks to raise money for travel costs so that unemployed persons and students in Germany could join “Welcome to Palestine.” On July 8th, Ms. Seyfrid flew from Berlin to Tel Aviv with members of the German ,Austrian, French and Belgian delegations of “Welcome to Palestine.” All were immediately detained upon arrival to Ben Gurion airport and most were deported without opportunity of legal counsel. Members of the German and Austrian delegation were deported on Sunday, July 10th via Lufthansa Airlines, and on Monday, July 11th, via Australian Airlines respectively. According to the German Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Israeli authorities denied access to attorneys seeking to represent the incarcerated Germans.

“Israel denied the entry of Noam Chomsky because he wanted to have a talk with students from Nablus,” said Attorney Omer Shatz. “Israel denied the entry of Ivan Prado the famous clown just because he wished to make Ramahalla’s kids happy. Israel denied entry to anyone who wants to visit Palestine. Such a regime that doesn’t let people to visit millions of Palestinians living under oppressing military occupation for 44 years now.”

“Our hearts go out to Angelica, and we fully support her courageous refusal to accept the illegal Israeli deportation orders,” said Elsa Rassbach, a US citizen living in Berlin and member of CODEPINK and the German section of the War Resistors International, who helped organize the German delegation and is coordinating the international media for the initiative from Berlin. Together with members of the French and UK delegations to “Welcome to Palestine,” Ms. Rassbach visited Palestine during an earlier campaign of support during Christmas last year. However, the French activist, Olivia Zémor, was denied entry and deported during the same time.

While Israel succeeded in preventing hundreds of people from entering Palestine, many others did enter to join this week’s program of activities. Israeli forces have incarcerated at least two supporters, including a young man from Belgium who participated in yesterday’s peaceful attempt to enter the Palestinian villages of Beit Ommar (now off-limits due to Israeli colonial activities). Israelis also decided to join the activities and several were also arrested.

“The local organizers of the ‘Welcome to Palestine’ campaign, while sad about the continuing attempts at isolation from the international community, are pleased that this episode of brutal Israeli assault removes one of the last illusions about ‘Israeli Democracy’,” said Dr. Qumsiyeh.

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Access denied to Nabi Saleh

10 July 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

On Saturday 9th July, seventy people – including thirty internationals from Sweden, France, Britain, Australia, Mexico, the United States and Denmark – demonstrated at a military checkpoint outside Nabi Saleh, after the army denied them entry into the village where Palestinians lead peaceful demonstrations weekly.

The demonstration was planned six months in advance by Welcome to Palestine, in order to kick off a week of action. The buses carrying demonstrators were attempting to enter the village of Nabi Saleh, but when people dismounted the buses and began walking towards the military checkpoint, Israeli soldiers responded with volleys of tear gas and sound bombs.

Thirty people managed to reach the checkpoint, with others being pushed back by clouds of tear gas and smoke from fires started by canisters. Soldiers pointed their weapons at the demonstrators and fired tear gas directly at individuals, as the unarmed protestors formed lines to chant ‘We are peaceful, what are you?’

Three Israeli activists were arrested, while one Palestinian boy was shot in the leg with a canister. Other demonstrators severely beaten by the soldiers.

The army only allowed the buses carrying demonstrators to leave with a military escort, which took them to Ramallah.

There are demonstrations every Friday in Nabi Saleh, where the Israeli military has a history of responding extremely violently and often invading the village.