Bil'in: Friday Demonstration

The Bil’in Conference ended midday with the usual Friday demonstration against the wall. The wall cut off more than half of the village of Bil’in land. Although a 2007 Israeli High Court decision mandated that the wall be moved back a considerable distance, but the wall has not been moved one inch. Palestinians, Israelis and internationals, chanting slogans against the wall and the occupation, walked to the wall toward heavily armed Israeli soldiers and jeeps that were behind concrete barricades. Members of the popular committee have been forbidden to be in the march. The man who led some of the chants has a brother and other relatives who have been in prison for months.

The demonstrators moved up toward the gate and moved it a little. Tear gas was fired by the Israeli soldiers throughout the demonstration. It seemed to the MPTer that the gas was more powerful than usual. Tear gas came in clouds from the front, but also from the sides, so that the demonstrators were at times enveloped in a cloud of tear gas.

Suddenly there was a cry that someone had been hurt. A young Israeli-Palestinian (a Palestinian who lives in the 1948 Israeli borders) had been hit in the head by a tear gas canister. Many demonstrators saw the gash in his forehead and blood streaming all over his face. The ambulance quickly took him to the hospital in Ramallah.

A group of about 10 Israeli soldiers passed through the gate and started down the hill toward the demonstrators. With this the majority of the demonstrators began to move back up the hill, but several people stayed behind fearful that some young Palestinians at back of the group would be captured. Two women moving up the hill behind the MPTer moved quickly, but not quickly enough and one was taken and detained for about ten hours. With her were 4 young Israelis – 3 women and one man – and a Palestinian man.

During the detention process the Israeli women were very well informed and helpful. All were held in the jeep area and then in the middle of the night, they taken to a settlement jail. There they were questioned and then released after signing an agreement saying that they would not go to Bil’in or Nil’in for 15 days. If they violate the agreement they face a very large fine.

The Israeli –Palestinian youth hit by the tear gas canister suffered a skull fracture, but did not lose consciousness. He will probably need a steel plate placed in his head.

Jordan Valley: Serious Water Crisis

As part of the Bil’in Conference international groups visited various Palestinian areas, including the Jordan Valley. The Jordan Valley is mainly Area C – Oslo Accords, which means total Israeli military control. (All of Palestine is under Israeli military control, but Area C more so.) It is, therefore, much easier for Israeli settlement s or military to confiscate land and control the limited water supply in this semi-desert area.

It is easy to locate the land controlled by the illegal Israeli settlements because their fields are greener with larger plants. The water for the Jordan Valley comes from the eastern aquifer. Palestinians are only allowed to dig their wells to a certain depth, while settlements continue to dig deeper and deeper which will eventually dry up the aquifer. Most Palestinians in the area have to buy water in portable tanks even though they have wells.

Some of the largest Israeli-owned fruit and vegetable plantations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel are in the Jordan Valley and owned by Carmel Agrexco. Most of these products are sent to Europe by the Carmel Agrexco, a company targeted by the boycott campaign. The confiscation of land and reduction of water for farming has forced many Palestinian farmers away from their land into jobs on settlement plantations. Working conditions on plantations are harsh. The hours are long and the pay is low.

Some Jordan Valley Palestinian villages were denied electricity and access to running water until two years ago. (Bedouin people in the area still have neither electricity nor running water.) Villagers get water irregularly, so are forced to buy water in tanks. Where homes have been demolished, villagers are building with adobe which is labor intensive, needs ample water and skilled builders.

Growing date palms can be a very profitable enterprise, but means careful planning, skill and sufficient water. MPT visited a Palestinian date palm farmer. He has been fairly successful, even though he works as a sharecropper. His home was demolished by the Israeli army at least once. His grove had sufficient water, but an expensive water pump was stolen by the Israeli army which he will have to replace.

What is the future of this little girl in a land without water and freedom?

Bil'in Friday Demonstration

The Bil’in Conference ended midday with the usual Friday demonstration against the wall. The wall cut off more than half of the village of Bil’in land. Although a 2007 Israeli High Court decision mandated that the wall be moved back a considerable distance, but the wall has not been moved one inch. Palestinians, Israelis and internationals, chanting slogans against the wall and the occupation, walked to the wall toward heavily armed Israeli soldiers and jeeps that were behind concrete barricades. Members of the popular committee have been forbidden to be in the march. The man who led some of the chants has a brother and other relatives who have been in prison for months.

The demonstrators moved up toward the gate and moved it a little. Tear gas was fired by the Israeli soldiers throughout the demonstration. It seemed to the MPTer that the gas was more powerful than usual. (Photo: Journalists have gas masks.) Tear gas came in clouds from the front, but also from the sides, so that the demonstrators were at times enveloped in a cloud of tear gas.

Suddenly there was a cry that someone had been hurt. A young Israeli-Palestinian (a Palestinian who lives in the 1948 Israeli borders) had been hit in the head by a tear gas canister. Many demonstrators saw the gash in his forehead and blood streaming all over his face. The ambulance quickly took him to the hospital in Ramallah.

A group of about 10 Israeli soldiers passed through the gate and started down the hill toward the demonstrators. With this the majority of the demonstrators began to move back up the hill, but several people stayed behind fearful that some young Palestinians at back of the group would be captured. Two women moving up the hill behind the MPTer moved quickly, but not quickly enough and one was taken and detained for about ten hours. With her were 4 young Israelis – 3 women and one man – and a Palestinian man.

During the detention process the Israeli women were very well informed and helpful. All were held in the jeep area and then in the middle of the night, they taken to a settlement jail. There they were questioned and then released after signing an agreement saying that they would not go to Bil’in or Nil’in for 15 days. If they violate the agreement they face a very large fine.

The Israeli –Palestinian youth hit by the tear gas canister suffered a skull fracture, but did not lose consciousness. He will probably need a steel plate placed in his head.

------------

Click below to find the more up-to-date situation of the Israeli-Palestinian and a bit of analysis.

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2010/04/30/wanted-idf-soldier-for-gravely-wounding-unarmed-palestinan-demonstrator/

Fifth Bil'in Conference: Setting the Stage

(Picture: Luisa Morgantini and Eyad Burnat introducing Salam Fayyad, Palestinian Prime Minister.)

The Fifth Annual Bil’in Conference, April 21-23, opened with a welcome by Eyad Burnat (Bil’in popular committee) and Luisa Morgantini (recently retired member of the European Union (EU) Parliament). This conference is held in a small village of Bil’in in Palestine, but is organized with input from other Palestinian popular committees, Israelis peace activists and internationals; however, the main effort is from the popular committee of the Bil’in village. This is the village that gives hope to all of Palestine for their creativity in consistent resistance. (MPT has been present at three of the five conferences and seen it develop as a means to unify and inspire Palestinians, Israelis and internationals.)

A stirring letter written by a leading village activist, Abdullah Abu Rahmah, a prisoner now for 5 months, was read and then Basssem Abu Rahmah, killed by a tear gas canister one year ago, was remembered in a special way.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, of the recently formed Palestinian National Initiative Party, spoke of the increase in nonviolent resistance all over Palestine with the resulting heavy oppression and of the need for action in international courts, for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign, and for national unity and solidarity. These concerns were reiterated throughout the conference. (Barghouti, MD, put 4 stitches in the knee of an MPTer who fell during a demonstration a few years ago.)

The role of the United States in this conflict is ever present in the minds of those who understand the conflict. The French honorary member of the EU Parliament, Jean Claude Lefórt, spoke of General David Petraeus’ concern that the stability of the Middle East depended on the resolution of the Palestine/ Israel conflict. Lefórt saw the need for European solidarity in confronting Israel’s flagrant violation of international law.

Luisa Morgantini, whose passion enlivens the conference, spoke fervently of her desire for a world that is different for everyone – a world of peace, justice and solidarity and where women are part of decision making. Eyad Burnat and Mohammed Khatib, Bil’in villagers from the popular committee, who were major facilitators for the entire conference called for continued nonviolent resistance, a strong campaign for the release of prisoners, pressure on Israel to end the occupation, and expressed their desire for a different world for Palestinians. In the conference this year, more popular committee members from different parts of Palestine acted as adept facilitators of panels and discussions.

Salam Fayyad, Palestinian Prime Minister spoke of the need to build an infrastructure toward a free Palestine, the many problems with settlements, the importance of Jerusalem and the efforts of the Palestinian Authority (PA – government) to meet the many needs of Palestine. This is the first time such a high ranking government official has spoken at the Bil’in Conference. Persons from various international consulates were present for this first part of the conference.

Following this, popular resistance committee leaders from the various parts of Palestine related the situation in their area. That the area around Bethlehem has increased its resistance was evident. The Archbishop Dr. Atallah Hanna, Greek Orthodox of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, spoke passionately about the worsening situation in Jerusalem.

Persons from Gaza communicated via satellite conference.

A Nablus woman from Nablus spoke of arrests in December and six-year prison sentence of Wael Eaquin. Prisoners were an often-spoken topic in the conference because of the large number of Palestinian prisoners particularly from Bil’in. Positioning the conference in the stark reality set the stage for looking for concrete resolutions to continue to confront the occupation.

Bil'in Conference: Academics, Prisoners, International Support

Bil’in Conference usually has a panel of academics. Jonathan Cook (http://www.jkcook.net/) British journalist and author of several books on the Palestine/Israel conflict, related the complicated situation of ghettoization and the lack of real Israeli citizenship for Palestinian-Israelis in a Jewish = citizenship country. This perspective is very important if there is consideration of a one state solution.

The other academics were two women: Noura Erakat, Human Rights attorney and GeorgetownUniversity professor and Hind Awward, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)BDS coordinator .

Next, internationals shared the efforts of their countries. David Bondia, presented the Barcelona conclusion of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine. This case used with Vietnamconflict would draw on a UN resolution that would reaffirm the primacy of international law as the basis for the settlement of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. It would bring the weight of international law and the attention of international public opinion on the situation in Palestine. http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.net/pages/The_call-1153313.html

Persons from Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Great Britain shared the experience of their Palestine solidarity work. Much work is being done for BDS in all countries and in twinning in Britain.

The daughter of one of the prisoners’ spoke of the difficulties for her family of nine with the arrest and almost year-long imprisonment of her father.

Israeli “refusenik”, Sahar Vardi, presented her story of rejecting service in the Israeli military.

Israeli peace activist, Jonathan Pollack, told of increased violent repression by the Israeli army – high-velocity tear gas projectiles which has injured and killed protestors, the use of real bullets, and the covering up of crimes. The increased strength of the tear gas was evident at the Friday demonstration.

Fifth Bil'in Conference: International Solidarity NETWORK

Eight political parties sent representatives to the Bil’in Conference. Each party rep was asked to comment on the efficacy of the nonviolent resistance and the role of political parties in this. All said that their party supported the nonviolent struggle and proposed that political parties help with legal support. There were demands that the two warring parties – Fatah and Hamas - work with due diligence at reconciliation and some suggested that perhaps a totally different political party is needed. There was acceptance of the right of self defense which is universally recognized in international law. National unity and innovation were seen as imperatives in ending the illegal and repressive occupation. This was a platform for good dialogue between political parties, but it still included the usual political exchanges.

Bil'in Conference: International Solidarity NETWORK

(Photo: Discussion of the solidarity network. Luisa Morgantini with blue scarf)

The highlight of the Bil’in Conference for the MPTer was the workshop on the international solidarity network. (This is a new organization, not be confused with ISM, International Solidarity Movement.)

Representatives from the various countries met to continue the work of the International Solidarity Network for Palestinian Popular Nonviolent Resistance, (www.internationalpopularstruggle.org) , a group formed at the 2009 Bil’in Conference and which met a second time in Europe in the past year. This network works in partnership with the Palestinian Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC) (http://www.popularstruggle.org), an organization of over 19 Palestinians local nonviolent popular committees. Both organizations choose to be nonviolent, to work with Israeli peace activist groups, and against the occupation.

Major goals of the network are:

- to send international peace teams to villages in Palestine

- to promote delegations of lawyers to Palestine , support legal actions

- to lobby the European Parliament with representatives from the network, PSCC, and Israeli activists beginning in September and continuing three months

There is very strong support for the network in France, Italy and other parts of Europe, but the driving force behind the network is Luisa Morgantini.

There were many ideas proposed during the network workshop with the conclusions of the workshop being presented for approval to the total conference. During the presentation of the conclusions to the total conference, there was a heated discussion about the lack of a statement supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign. Finally a committee was formed to resolve the differences about BDS. All this information should be soon on the network website.

The following are some of the summarized statements of the directions/conclusions that were accepted by the total conference:

Advocacy Activities:

· Promote the network and its founding statement

· Propagate the stories of Palestinian nonviolent resistance and campaign for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners resulting from this resistance

International Presence:

· Rough plans - funding, guidelines, training - for the development of international peace teams in Palestine

Networking:

· Make clear links between www.popularstruggle.org and www.internationalpopularstruggle.org

· Coordinate with Israeli peace activists

Other:

· Support Canadian court cases (Canadian companies building settlements near Bil’in)

· Exchange of expertise

Conclusions/Direction Setting of the Fifth Bil'in Conference

[Presentation from legal workshop]

Besides the international solidarity network workshop there were two others, one on legal work and one on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction [BDS] Campaign. There was excitement among all those present, which included many Europeans, with the continuing success of the BDS Campaign and the growing possibilities in taking legal actions. It was as if the whole world were sanctioning the Israeli occupation.

The following is a concise presentation of the points presented by each workshop. This summary was taken from http://www.dominionpaper.ca/weblogs/david_parker/3374

After a participative process the conference agreed upon the following:

1. TO PROMOTE LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY:

1) To give support to the Russell tribunal for Palestine and its final conclusions stated in March 2010 in its first session in Barcelons. We recommend the creation of National Committees of the Russell Tribunal in our respective countries.

2) To promote legal actions against corporations profiting from the occupation, through: (A) sharing information between different countries about national corporations; (B) sharing the experience from previous cases and using it for the second session of the Russell Tribunal about corporations; (C) raising the responsibilities of the corporations and their collaboration in the apartheid regime.

2. TO PROMOTE BOYCOTT, DIVESTEMENT AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL:

1) In terms of Divestment the priorities should be: (A) to work globally against the EU preferential agreements (B) to work globally for avoiding the entrance of Israel in the OECD.
2) In terms of Boycott the priorities should be: (A) international and local campaigns on: international corporations that have a relevant local presence with important investments in Israel, banks and funds, Jewish National Funds, goods coming from Israeli free trade zones; (B) European and international universities should stop any kind of university agreements and exchanges with Israeli universities; (C) promoting boycott against Israeli tourism advertising; (D) prioritize all kinds of boycotts on the cultural level.
3) We must promote the exchange of: experiences, contacts, information, research on products and corporations, online forums, promotion of trainings and joining the Israeli apartheid week.

3. TO ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR THE PALESTINIAN POPULAR NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE

The International Network for the Palestinian Popular Nonviolent Resistance, founded in September 2009, is enhanced by the 5th Bil’in Conference, widening the number of members and implementing a coherent strategy. The following actions have been chosen as the most prominent to be developed immediately after the conference:

1) We call upon all solidarity groups and organizations working in solidarity with Palestinian popular nonviolent resistance to join their efforts through the International Network for Popular Nonviolent Resistance. We call upon joining it through the website: www.internationalpopularstruggle.org.
2) Coordinating the sending of activists to Palestine from the organizations that are part of the network, informing in advance details about the teams and the contacts.
3) Realizing one global day of action in support of the Popular Struggle, with initiatives in each country. The first is foreseen on Thursday the 10th of June 2010.
4) Promoting international support for the struggle, with a regular small monthly donation on behalf of individuals/organizations.

This same article http://www.dominionpaper.ca/weblogs/david_parker/3374 presents a concise summary of the entire conference.

Wadi Qana: Restoration Resistance

April 16th, MPT and IWPS went with the mayor and 2 other village officials of Deir Istiya to the Wadi Qana, a beautiful winding valley with quality water sources. The land had been inaccessible to the Palestinians for ten years. Israeli settlers and soldiers have prohibited Palestinians from entering the valley where illegal Israeli settlements were build on the surrounding hillsides. Settlers damaged natural springs and reservoirs by duping cement and rubbish into them. Recently Deir Istiya villagers began a road into the area. The bulldozer was stopped by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), but negotiating is continuing with the IOF with the hope that the road and water restoration can continue.

This Friday, a day off, a young Palestinian group, some graduates of European and American universities came to help with the restoring and reclaiming of the area for future fruit groves for Palestinians. This included cleaning up the water sources.

To reclaim Palestinian land is an act of resistance and a constant struggle. Palestinians may have several days of peaceful work and then Israeli soldiers or settlers come to harass or stop the work. Continued negotiating with the IOF is also necessary.

As MPT and IWPS walked left the valley on the newly bulldozed road, the Deir Istiya mayor spoke of his strong commitment to nonviolence. He is a very capable and very wise man whose leadership in his village is remarkable.

Huwwara: Burned Cars, Graffiti on Mosque

Before dawn, April 14th, young settlers from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Yitzar entered Huwwara village to burn two cars and put graffiti on the stone front of the south village mosque. MPT, IWPS, and Ecumenical Accompaniment (World Council of Churches) interviewed a family whose car had been burned.

Two weeks ago the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) invaded several homes in Huwwara, destroying doors and windows and arresting and imprisoning 6 or 7 youth. (The same date the MPT house was invaded by soldiers.) People in the town have been harassed on previous occasions by settlers who destroy property. Frequently after a settler raid, the village is put under curfew by the Israeli army (IOF)

The Palestinian family whose car was destroyed, reported that at about 2:30 a.m. they received a call from neighbors that their son's car was on fire and burning the nearby tree and electric wires above it. By the time the fire truck arrived, the car was ruined. Later the IOF and Israel Border Police came to investigate. As usual, no action was taken, except that the IOF had local people wash off the mosque graffiti.

The graffiti on the mosque was washed off, but because it is on stone, the Star of David and the letters in Hebrew are still noticeable days later.

(People's shadows show in the afternoon sun.)

The family expressed their frustration with the lack of action by the Obama administration and the continued settlement construction and settler violence. They anguished over the recent deaths of 4 youth who were killed by the IOF in nearby villages. They fear massive Israeli deportations of Palestinians since recently the Israeli military ordered that Palestinians without proper Israeli-issued IDs will be expelled from Palestine. These IDs are impossible to obtain because many of these people are from Palestinians refugee families who fled to Jordan during the 1948 War when Israel took their land in Palestine. A young young woman from this family, who has many young well-educated persons, asked, "Will there ever be peace between us? [Palestinians and Israelis]?"

This incident was published widely by local and international media, including Haaretz, and leading Israeli newspaper and Reuters.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1163045.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63D2KA20100414

The family showed an article with photos of the burned car from a local Arabic newspaper.

Huwwara Youth Harassed

Photo: Left - jeep with soldiers. Brown jacketed Palestinian teenagers [2 more behind the post] detained by the side of the main road through Huwwara.

Late Monday afternoon an MPTer, observed a group of 4 teenage boys, standing and quietly chatting by the side of the main road in Huwwara. A passing Israeli Occupation Forces [IOF] jeep pulled up and soldiers demanded their IDs. Three of the boys presented their IDs , one did not. An adult nearby, perhaps a relative, asked that this boy might go home for his ID. The MPTer moved closer to the jeep and inquired as to why the boys were being detained. One soldier responded that they could be dangerous. After being ordered back in the jeep to get their helmets, two soldiers with automatic weapons stood outside the jeep .

The IOF held the three boys’ IDs for some time, so the MPTer asked the soldiers why the IDs were being retained making boys wait. No response was given, but in a few minutes the IDs were returned and the 3 detained boys left. Soon the youth who had gone home for his ID returned on his bike. He handed the soldiers his ID which was returned rather quickly. All the youths' IDs were checked off a list by the jeep driver and all names were phoned in.

The MPTer stepped back and with care took pictures. A Palestinian said to be careful and there was no reason to escalate the situation. Taking pictures can help the soldiers conduct themselves better, but it can make the scene worse for the Palestinians.

There had been a harsh night raid into several homes in the Huwwara village over a week ago in which 7 teenage boys were taken by Israeli soldiers, so the youth had reason to worry when they were detained. Perhaps under pressure and from fear, those detained in the night raid may had given names of other youth, friends of theirs. Being a teenage Palestinian boy is often reason enough for arrest by the Israeli military. These teenagers did not know what the results of their detention by the IOF might be. The IOF has the free hand of a military occupier and can arrest and jail young Palestinian men.

This afternoon's incident lasted about 20 minutes and no one was arrested. It could have lasted hours with all being held in a detention center and later imprisoned with no explanation. So these Huwwara youth struck it lucky this afternoon.

Did MPT presence make a difference? It may have prevented a longer detention period or arrests.

These kinds of night raids and the arresting of teenage boys are increasing all over Palestine. There are some who think the reason for this action is to provoke violent responses from Palestinians so that there would be an excuse for very large attacks by the IOF. The responses of the Palestinians so far have been creative and non-violent. One Palestinian told an MPTer today that he does not understand that when Palestinians respond with good will and kindness to Israelis that they do not return that to them.

Plowing Accompaniment

Michigan Peace Team [MPT] and International Women's Peace Service [IWPS] responded to a Deir Istiya farmer's request for accompaniment during plowing on a hillside near the illegal Israeli settlement of Yaqir.

Yaqir: Illegal Israeli hilltop settlement [photo, click to enlarge]

Two days previous the Israeli Occupation Forces [IOF] ordered this Palestinian farmer our of this hillside olive grove and he was unable to finish plowing. The day of the accompaniment this farmer completed the plowing by horse in 2 hours.

Horses are easier than tractors on small hillside plots. [below]

No Israeli settler or IOF appeared the morning of the accompaniment.

This military road runs along the separation fence between the settlement and Palestinian farm land, taking more land from the Palestinian farmers. [below]

In walking into the grove, MPT and IWPS marveled at the beauty of the land and the quiet pastoral scene - a Palestinian shepherding his animals.

 

Beautiful wild plants adorn the seemingly peaceful countryside.

 






  

The rains bring forth verdant plants.

It seems a goal of the occupation is to destroy the environment and the livelihood of the Palestinians.