Tag: Nablus

Photos by Nedal Ishtayeh

At approximately 5pm on Monday 7th April, a Palestinian shepherd boy was killed in a hit-and-run incident by an Israeli settler bus near the city of Nablus. The 15 year old boy, Sharif Badjas Ishtayeh, from the nearby village of Salim, was struck by the bus on road 557 – an Israeli-only road that connects Huwarra checkpoint with the illegal Israeli settlement of Elon Moreh. Seven of his sheep and one donkey were also killed, as the shepherd attempted to lead them across the road.

Witnesses report that the driver, heading towards the settlement Elon Moreh, hit the boy deliberately, and sped off afterwards, leaving him to die. Indeed, from the location of the bodies, it is evident that the boy and his flock were visible from at least 150 metres away, giving the driver plenty of time to avoid a collision. There is no indication from the evidence on the scene that the driver attempted to slow down at any time before or after the attack.

The identity of the Israeli driver is as yet unknown, as neither driver nor vehicle have been located since the incident.

Distraught Palestinian residents of Salim gathered at the road-side afterwards, by the slain bodies of the sheep. Clashes erupted between locals and Israeli soldiers, resulting in soldiers firing tear gas into the crowd.

The funeral for the boy was held during the night of 7th April, with most of the village turning out to mourn their latest victim of the Israeli occupation.

Today approximately twenty residents from the village of Beita near Nablus, as well as international human rights workers (HRWs), took to the mountain of Jabal al Arma to plant 200 trees in order to prevent the encroachment of nearby settlement Itamar.

The project of planting the 200 conifers was a collaboration between the municipality of Beita, the Union of Agricultural Work Committee and Norwegian People’s Aid.

The Beita municipality have reasons to believe that the mountain of Jabal al Arma on the outskirts of the village of Beita is planned as a potential site for a new outpost from the Itamar settlement, with the surrounding mountain-tops already covered with illegal settlement outposts. To prevent such a theft of land, the council is undertaking a program of caring for the site, which is already planted with olive trees, fig trees and grapes. It is hoped that by doing this, settlers will be deterred from attempting to occupy the site.

Jabal al Arma is extremely important for the village of Beita, as it contains fresh water springs that feed the town’s water supply; as well as ancient Roman ruins, which are a local tourist attraction. However, such features make it a prime target for settler occupation – as settlements are often positioned above water reserves, effectively stealing water as well as land.

This is a major problem throughout the West Bank, with settlement outposts and expansion annexing Palestinian land to Israel; polluting surrounding lands with raw sewage; and creating a system of apartheid within the West Bank as Israeli-only roads cut through Palestinian land, denying Palestinians the possibility of a contiguous state.

This project of protecting and reclaiming land is thus in operation throughout the entire West Bank, with more plantings planned for Nablus, as well as Tulkarm, Ramallah and Hebron.

Two people were arrested at the Huwarra checkpoint in Nablus today, when approximately 250 Palestinians and internationals protested there as part of the Land Day actions and commemorations that are taking place throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

Whilst the demonstration was a collaborative effort between many local organisations, including local political parties; various health care committees; the union of women’s committees; Tanweer centre for cultural enlightenment; the Disabled society and representatives from the Nablus refugee camps and villages, organisers were disappointed with the turnout. “There are not many people here because they are afraid. These days…the soldiers will kill any person” said Myasser, a member of the Women’s Committee.

The demonstration to protest against the system of checkpoints that imprisons Nablus, congregated approximately 500 metres from the Huwarra checkpoint, before marching towards it, led by member of the Nablus disabled society. The march paused to witness the erection of a large billboard which read: 41 Years of Israeli Occupation; 2738 Days of Barriers and Siege; Until When? We insist on our Right of Freedom, Justice and Peace.

As the protesters approached the checkpoint, they were confronted by two Israeli army jeeps, obstructing their path. Israeli soldiers told the protesters to go back, but demonstrators responded “No! You go back!” and continued their advance.

The Israeli soldiers then began to drive their jeeps forwards, attempting to push the demonstration back, but protesters held firm. “This is a peaceful protest”, some shouted in English, whilst others yelled in Arabic “This is apartheid!”. As more soldiers and border police arrived, tear gas and sound bombs were thrown into the crowd, in an attempt to disperse it.

Two residents of Nablus were arrested, and one man injured, as police charged at the protesters, hitting demonstrators with their guns and threatening people with tear gas and sound bombs.

The crowd finally dispersed as more and more soldiers arrived, advancing upon the demonstrators, throwing numerous sound bombs, and taking up sniper positions on the embankments.

Land Day demonstrations will continue throughout the West Bank today and tomorrow, as Palestinians commemorate the deaths of six Palestinians at popular protests against land confiscation 32 years ago today.

At 10am on Saturday 15th March 2008 approximately 50 Palestinians and internationals gathered at the Beit Furik checkpoint near Nablus to protest against the checkpoint. Internationals and residents of Nablus joined villagers from Beit Furik and Beit Dajan to march to the checkpoint – one of seven that surrounds the city of Nablus, cutting the nearby villages off from the city. Organised by the Beit Furik municipality, protesters demanded the removal of the checkpoint, which is open only from 6am until 9pm each day, only allowing ambulances to pass through after 9pm. The checkpoint also only allows residents of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan to pass through, denying any visits by friends or family to the village. Even this is uncertain though, the mayor of Beit Furik, Abu Hakeem, explained – often the soldiers prevent the passage of any persons through the checkpoint, including those seeking medical treatment.

Demonstrators were quickly confronted by Israeli soldiers, who demanded they move back from the checkpoint and cease filming the demonstration, and closed the checkpoint, refusing to allow anyone to pass. Protesters held their ground for over an hour, whilst soldiers wielded guns and tear gas threateningly, despite standing just one metre from the demonstrators.

After long negotiations by the mayor of Beit Furik and a representative from Beit Dajan, the commander of the Israeli soldiers announced that anyone from the demonstration who wished to pass through to the checkpoint would be allowed to do so, reopening the checkpoint to the queues of pedestrians and cars that had formed.

The Beit Furik checkpoint causes major obstacles to the lives of residents of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan, often preventing them from reaching work and university, with students suffering particularly during exam periods, as well as creating economic depression for the villages who cannot easily transport goods and must pay a lot of money to reach Nablus. This is especially true for residents of Beit Dajan whose main road to Nablus was closed by Israeli forces in 2000, almost doubling the length of the route from Beit Dajan to Nablus.

The peaceful demonstration demanded not only the removal of the checkpoint, but also an end to the Israeli occupation that imposes the checkpoints throughout the West Bank. Protesters also carried banners calling for an end to the siege of Gaza, and protesting against the recent Israeli army attacks that killed over 100 people, including 25 children and injured more than 200 Palestinians.

This demonstration marks the first in a planned series of fortnightly demonstrations against the checkpoint, demanding its removal.