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.

Military Roadblock in Deir Istiya

Spring rains have mostly ended in Palestine leaving verdant hillsides is a usually dry land. It seems to breathe hope. But life under occupation continues as before, perhaps more difficult.

Throughout the day on Saturday, the Israeli Occupation Forces [IOF] blocked the main entrance to the village of Deir Istiya, a village in the Salfit District southwest of Nablas. The village mayor, Michigan Peace Team [MPTers] and International Women’s Peace Service [IWPS] went to the entrance where the IOF and Israeli border police were blocking the entrance and the highway going north and south.

Deir Istiya mayor [blue jacket] negotiates with

the Israeli military and police. [photo left. Click on to enlarge.]

When the Israeli police were questioned by MPT and IWPS they stated that the highway was blocked because a bomb had been placed on the road. The calmness of the IOF and the police belied this probability. MPT and IWPS watched and waited while the mayor spoke to the police and soldiers.

Traffic is blocked both north and south on the highway and into the village.

 




After about ½ hour, the IOF and Israeli police left, but they had blocked the highway and entrance for more than 2 hours in total. The blocking of the area forces village cars and buses to drive about ten miles out of their way to another entrance.

A couple hours later, MPT and IWPS returned to the site where again the IOF had blocked the main entrance.

A short conversation ensued between the young soldiers and MPT and IWPS. Soldiers asked: “How can we [soldiers] be helpful? Why are you here? Where are you from? Was there a problem with the IOF? Where are you sleeping? “

Most questions were answered with a question. One soldier pointed out that the area was dangerous – even noting that a small black garbage bag by the side of the road could be unsafe. When IWPS offered to open the bag, but the offer was ignored. The IOF left within a half hour after the internationals arrival.

The military state their motive as security. Or is it harassment?

What difference did the MPT and IWPS presence make? Perhaps the IOF and Israel police left earlier because of them. Maybe Palestinians were treated with more respect and no arrests were made.

Why were the IOF and Israeli police there? There are very large illegal Israeli settlements in the area, slicing pie chunks into Palestine. Illegal settlements demand protection. A more probable reason for road blocks is that with continued harassment, perhaps Palestinians will decide life is too difficult and leave the area.

In the last month four teenage boys were killed by the IOF in two villages less than 20 miles from the village of Deir Istiya. These boys did nothing that would deserve death. Security of settlers may be the excuse given for the road blocks, but in reality it is the security of Palestinians that is under threat by the settlers and the Israeli military.

MPT Spring Team Anchor Arrives Safely

Just a quick note to our readers to say that our Spring Team Anchor has arrived safely in the field and will continue on to the areas where we will be working shortly.

Nicole
International Team Coordinator
MPT

MPT Office and Home in West Bank Raided by Israeli Occupation Forces

Special thanks go to Anne Paq (CHRONIQUES DE PALESTINE), Ali Omar, and Eyad Bornat (Friends of Freedom & Justice - Bil'in), who have helped us keep pace with this incursion.

Once the Spring Team is able to evaluate the situation and the damage, we will post more first-hand information from Michigan Peace Team.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 4^th, 2010 (EASTER):  At two o'clock this morning, the Israeli Occupation Army forcefully entered a house in Howarah Town , South of Nablus. The house, which was empty at the time, is used as an office for the MICHIGAN PEACE TEAM.

According to some neighbors, who were watching the scene from their windows during the raid, tens of Israeli soldiers forcefully broke the garden gate and the main door and entered the house using sound bombs. The soldiers caused damage to the furniture of the house and confiscated pro-Palestinian banners and posters.

The raid tonight follows the recent Israeli campaign to end Palestinian nonviolent popular resistance, which takes the form of raids, arrest of local activists and organizers, such as Adeeb and Abdullah Abu Rahmah, as well as arrest and deportation of international activists, involved with Palestinian popular resistance, such as the recent unlawful detention/deportation of Eva Nováková, a Czech citizen, Ariadna Jove Marti, a Spanish journalist, and Bridgette Chappell, an Australian student in the Beir Zeit university.

Nael Al-Ahmad, a resident of Howarah, described the unjustified raid as a failed attempt to crush the grassroots movement against the Occupation and to hide and bar access to information from the international community about the Israeli inexplicable crimes against the Palestinian people.

More Information from Friends of Freedom and Justice- Bil'in:

At two o'clock this morning, the Israeli Occupation Army (forcefully entered a house in Howarah Town , South of Nablus. The house, which was empty at the time, is used as an office for the Michigan Peace Team. http://www.michiganpeaceteam.org According to some neighbors, who were watching the scene from their windows during the raid, tens of Israeli soldiers forcefully broke the garden gate and the main door and entered the house using sound bombs. The soldiers caused damage to the furniture of the house and confiscated pro-Palestinian banners and posters. The raid tonight follows the recent Israeli campaign to end Palestinian nonviolent popular resistance, which takes the form of raids, arrest of local activists and organizers, such as Adeeb and Abdullah Abu Rahmah, as well as arrest and deportation of international activists, involved with Palestinian popular resistance, such as the recent unlawful detention/deportation of Eva Nováková, a Czech citizen, Ariadna Jove Marti, a Spanish journalist, and Bridgette Chappell, an Australian student in the Beir Zeit university. Nael Al-Ahmad, a resident of Howarah, described the unjustified raid as a failed attempt to crash the grassroots movement against the Occupation and to hide and bar access to information from the international community about the Israeli inexplicable crimes against the Palestinian people.  

For more information:

http://australiansforpalestine.com/south-nablus-army-enters-office-of-michigan-peace-team-4apr10

http://chroniquespalestine.blogspot.com/2010/04/repression-against-human-rights.html

http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=260&Itemid=1