International arrested in Beit Ummar-area protest, residents attacked

Published yesterday (updated) 21/08/2009 16:36

Hebron – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces broke up a peace march and arrested an international solidarity activist in the Hebron-area settlement of Karmi Zur on Friday.

Soldiers used what was described by participants as excessive force and attacked residents and internationals marching in protest of Israel's refusal to allow local farmers to cultivate their lands, much of which abuts the settlement.

The international, an American of Palestinian origin, was detained and later released, with warnings that he was not to enter the West Bank for two weeks. He was not charged. The warning comes at the same time as American consular officials expressed concern over the recent use of stamps prohibiting Palestinian and Arab Americans from entering any area other than the West Bank.

Spokesperson of the Palestinian Solidarity Project and protest organizer Muhammad Awad said soldiers attacked residents and internationals as they walked toward the lands farmers intended to harvest.

Scores suffered tear gas inhalation As Israeli troops attack Nil'in weekly protest

Friday August 21, 2009 18:38 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

Dozens of Palestinians and internationals suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation on Friday as Israeli soldiers attacked the weekly nonviolent protest against the wall in N'ilin village near the central West Bank.

Villagers marched toward the location of the Israeli Wall, then held the Friday prayers there. Israeli soldiers attacked the residents and international supporters by firing tear gas at them as they peacefully marched towards the Wall. The Israeli military sealed off the village on Friday morning in an attempt to stop supporters from coming into the village for the weekly protest. The village got their supporters in by finding a deferent rout through the village lands.

Dozen were suffocated by tear gas at the weekly demonstration in Bil'in

Friday August 21, 2009 18:30 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

Dozen were suffocated with tear gas on Friday when Israeli troops attacked the Bil'in villagers, central west Bank, and their international and Israeli supporters.

Tear gas canister fired by the Israeli troops and Bil'in villagers today – photo by Haytham Al katyeb

As is the case each week, the protesters headed towards the Wall after the midday prayers. When they get close to the gate of the wall separating the villagers form their lands, troops started firing tear gas, causing the suffocation of dozens.

This week in Bil'in the Israeli military continued to target the organizers of the weekly nonviolent protests. Soldiers attacked the house of Mohammad Abu Rahma, age 48, and kidnapped him. Abu Rahmah is the vice president of the Bil'in village council and an organizer of the weekly nonviolent protests against the wall.

During the arrest, the soldiers where confronted by the village's camera man Haitham Khatib who was joined by international solidarity activists who live in the village. As Haithem was filming the arrest, one soldier hit him, broke his camera and hit two of the activists.

During the daily invasions that started last month the Israeli military have arrested 28 people, most of whom are under 18. Nineteen residents of Bil'in remain in Israeli detention. The military is trying to stop the weekly protest against the wall around the village.

The Palestinian village of Bil'in has become an international symbol of the Palestinian popular struggle. For almost 5 years, its residents have been continuously struggling against the de facto annexation of more than 50% of their farmlands for the construction of the Apartheid Wall.