BAB AL SHAMS REMAINS DEFIANT: "We have had enough of demanding our rights from the occupier – from now on we shall seize them ourselves"

Dear friends,
as already reported, Israeli Occupation Forces - in violation of their own High Court - ethnically cleansed the Palestinian resistance village, Bab Al Shams in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee who was the umbrella group under which Bab Al Shams was organised has issued a media release on Israel's attack.  Please find it below.   PSCC has also distributed photographs of some of those injured during the Israeli attack on the village.

In solidarity, Kim

***

Sunday, 13 January 2013

Palestinian Village of Bab Alshams Violently Evicted

Although established on privately owned Palestinian lands, Israel forcefully expelled residents of the village in a pre-dawn raid this morning. Six required medical attention

Shortly before 3 AM, hundreds of Israeli cops and soldiers staged a raid on the newly founded Palestinian village of Bab Alshams (Gate of the Sun), violently evicting its 150 inhabitants. Use of police brutality is even more objectionable in light of the passive resistance offered by the residents. No arrests were made, and all persons detained were released shortly after.

In light of harsh international criticism over the plan to expand the Ma'aleh Edomim settlement, and in an attempt to draw away attention from the case, eviction took place early this morning. Following its arrival at the scene, a massive police force began by removing journalists from the residents' immediate surroundings and proceeded to drag people away, beating some of them. Six Palestinians later required medical care at the Ramallah Hospital.

Following his release, Mohammed Khatib of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said, "We will not remain silent as Israel continues to build Jewish-only colonies on our land. Bab Alshams is no more, but during its short days it gave new life and energy to all who passed through it. Israel continues to act in violation of every imaginable law and human decency. In establishing Bab Alshams we declare that we have had enough of demanding our rights from the occupier – from now on we shall seize them ourselves."

Last night the state appealed to the High Court to withdraw an injunction prohibiting the eviction. The state argued, among other things, that the very existence of the village may occasion rioting, despite its remote and isolated location. The state further argued that the village was established by the Committees to Resist the Wall (a body which does not exist), also behind a blockade of Route 443 in October 2012. This claim, backed only by an affidavit signed by an Israeli police chief, has never been supported by any indictments or arrests for the questioning of individuals.

The village of Bab Alshams was established last Friday by Palestinian activists, on privately owned Palestinian lands, in an area between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'aleh Edomim, which Israel refers to as E1. After the acceptance of Palestine as a non-member state to the UN, Israel announced the approval of a plan to expand the Ma'aleh Edomim settlement by building some 4,000 residential units in this area. Such construction would effectively bisect the West Bank and effectively cutting it off from Jerusalem

 Above: Photo via PSCC

 Above and below: Photo via PSCC 

Photo by Ammar Awad/Reuter

Photo by Elo B

Photo by ELO B

Photo by ABBAS MOMANI /AFP

PSCC spokeswoman Abir Kopty and Palestinian activist/writer Maath Musleh attacked by IOF

Photo by Nasser Shiyoukh/AP

 PSCC spokeswoman Abir Kopty and Palestinian activist/writer Maath Musleh attacked by IOF

Photo by Elo B

 IOF Border Police

Photo by ABIR SULTAN

Photo by Flash90

Photo by Xinhua/Muammar Awad

 Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI

 Palestinian activists after being evicted from Bab Al Shams at Qalandia Checkpoint

Palestinian activists after being evicted from Bab Al Shams at Qalandia Checkpoint

Photo by Raya Images

Video & Photos of Israel's ethnic cleansing of Bab Al Shams

Dear friends,
please find below videos and photos of Israel's attack on the Palestinian resistance village of Bab Al Shams which was established on Friday by Palestinian activists in the Occupied West Bank/Occupied East Jerusalem corridor known by Israel as E1.

Israeli Occupation Forces, in violation of Israel's own High Court, brutally attack the unarmed, non violent inhabitants of the village in the early hours of the morning on 13 January.

Some activists have been released at Qalandia checkpoint, there are reports others are still being held.

I will update when more information comes to hand.

In solidarity, Kim 

Al Jazeera report on Israel's attack on Palestinian activists at Bab Al Shams

Al Jazeera interviews Mustafa Barghouti about Israel's attack on Bab Al Shams

Palestinian activists ethnically cleansed from Bab Al Shams after being released at Qalandia Checkpoint. 
Video by Mohammed Nassar

 Palestinian artists and activist Hafez Omar beaten by Israeli Occupation Forces at Bab Al Shams

Above and below: Israel Occupation Forces attacking Bab Al Shams Photos
Photo by Ahmad Daghlas Photography

Above and below: IOF attacks on Bab Al Shams.  

Photos via Bab Al Shams Facebook

Activists at Bab Al Sham preparing for attack by Israeli Occupation Forces - Photo by Raya Images

Above and below: Photo by Raya Images

IOF attack media at Bab Al Shams: Photo by Raya Images

Photo by Raya Images

Palestinian activists released at Qalandia checkpoint after being ethnically cleansed from Bab Al Shams by Israeli Occupation Forces. Photo by Mahmoud Radwan

WHEN YOU BUILT YOUR WONDERFUL VILLAGE YOU GAVE BACK MEANING TO MEANING: ELIAS KHOURY'S LETTER TO THE ACTIVISTS AT BAB AL SHAMS

Dear friends,
in the last two hours, Israel has brutally attacked and arrested hundreds of Palestinian activists at Bab Al Shams who were carrying out non-violent resistance to Israel's occupation and apartheid policies.

The protest village was established on January 11 by 250 Palestinian men and women on privately owned Palestinian land in the Occupied West Bank/Occupied East Jerusalem corridor know by Israel as E1.  The protest village was established under the umbrella of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee and has been a direct challenge to Israel's occupation and apartheid practices.

The Palestinian activists called the village "Bab Al Shams" after the famous novel by Elias Khoury.

After learning of the establishment of the village, Khoury sent the following letter of solidarity to the activists on 12 January. 

In solidarity, Kim

Elias Khoury

A LETTER TO MY PEOPLE IN BAB AL SHAMS - ELIAS KHOURY'S LETTER TO THE ACTIVISTS OF BAB AL SHAMS

I won't say I wish I were with you, I am with you. I see you, and I see how the dream through your hands has turned into reality rooted in the earth. "On this earth is what makes life worth living", just as Mahmoud Darwish wrote, for when you built your wonderful village you gave back meaning to meaning. You became the sons of this land and its masters.

This is the Palestine that Younis dreamt of in the novel Bab Al Shams/Gate of the Sun.  Younis had a dream made of words, and the words became wounds bleeding over the land. You became, people of Bab Al Shams, the words that carry the dream of freedom and return Palestine to Palestine.

I see in your village all the faces of the loved ones who departed on the way to the land of our Palestinian promise. Palestine is the promise of the strangers who were expelled from their land and continue to be expelled everyday from their homes.

Strangers and yet you are the sons of the land, its olives and oil!

You are the olives of Palestine that shine under the sun of justice, and as you build your village the light of freedom flares up with you.

"Light upon light"

I see in your eyes a nation born from the rubble of the nakba that has gone on for sixty-four years.

I see you and in my heart the words grow, I see the words and you grow in my heart, rise high and burst into the sky.

Finally,  I only have the wish that you accept me as a citizen of your village, that I may learn from you the meanings of freedom and justice.

(Beirut January 12, 2013.  Translated by Sonja Mejcher -Atassi)

 Elias Khoury's novel, Bab Al Shams (Gate of the Sun)

***

PALESTINIANS ESTABLISH NEW VILLAGE, BAB AL SHAMS, IN E1 AREA

by Popular Struggle Coordination Committee, 11 January 2013

250 men and women from across Palestine establish this morning a new Palestinian village named “Bab Alshams” (Gate of the Sun). Tents were built in what Israel refers to as area E1 and equipment for long-term living was brought.

The group released the following statement:

We, the sons and daughters of Palestine from all throughout the land, announce the establishment of Bab Alshams Village (Gate of the Sun). We the people, without permits from the occupation, without permission from anyone, sit here today because this is our land and it is our right to inhabit it.

A few months ago the Israeli government announced its intention to build about 4000 settlement housing units in the area Israel refers to as E1. E1 block is an area of about 13 square km that falls on confiscated Palestinian land East of Jerusalem between Ma’ale Adumim settlement, which lies on occupied West Bank Palestinian land, and Jerusalem. We will not remain silent as settlement expansion and confiscation of our land continues. Therefore we hereby establish the village of Bab Alshams to proclaim our faith in direct action and popular resistance. We declare that the village will stand steadfast until the owners of this land will get their right to build on their land.

The village’s name is taken from the novel, “Bab Alshams,” by Lebanese writer Elias Khoury. The book depicts the history of Palestine through a love story between a Palestinian man, Younis, and his wife Nahila. Younis leaves his wife to join the Palestinian resistance in Lebanon while Nahila remains steadfast in what remains of their village in the Galilee. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Younis smuggles through Lebanon and back to the Galilee to meet his wife in the “Bab Alshams” cave, where she gives birth to their children. Younis returns to the resistance in Lebanon as his wife remains in Bab Al Shams.

Bab Alshams is the gate to our freedom and steadfastness. Bab Alshams is our gate to Jerusalem. Bab Alshams is the gate to our to our return.

For decades, Israel has established facts on the ground as the International community remained silent in response to these violations. The time has come now to change the rules of the game, for us to establish facts on the ground - our own land. This action involving women and men from the north to the south is a form of popular resistance. In the coming days we will hold various discussion groups, educational and artistic presentations, as well as film screenings on the lands of this village. The residents of Bab Al Shams invite all the sons and daughters of our people to participate and join the village in supporting our resilience

Palestinian owner of the land on which Bab Al Shams was established shows ownership papers

Photo by Tweet Palestine

Above and below: Photo by Arine Rinawi Arine

Photo by AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Photo by Issam Rimawi

Palestinian activists arriving at Bab Shams

Photo by Yotam Ronen, Activestills

ISRAEL ATTACKS BAB AL SHAMS IN VIOLATION OF OWN HIGH COURT ORDER

Dear friends,
in the last hour, Israeli Occupation Forces have brutally attacked Bab Al Shams, in violation of its own High Court injunction against removing the tent village established by more than 250 Palestinian activists on Friday, 11 January.  The village was established on privately owned Palestinian land with the permission of the owners. The land is located in the Occupied West Bank/Occupied East Jerusalem corridor known by Israel as "E1". 

Al Jazeera report, 12 January 2013

Activists in Bab Al Shams have reported over 1000 Israeli Occupation Forces attacked the village, cutting electricity (it is current winter in Palestine with temperatures dropping below zero) and brutally beating  village, beating inhabitants, journalists and medics.   Amongst those attacked were Palestinian politician, Mustafa Barghouti. All in violation of an injunction issued by the Israeli High Court.  

Statement from Netanyahu's Office acknowledging PM ordered police to act contrary to High Court injunction. Photo courtesy of Jared Malsin (via twitter)

Above and Below: IOF attacking Palestinian activists at Bab Al Shams (Photo courtesy of Bab Al Shams)

IOF attack on Bab Al Shams - photo courtesy of Gaza Youth Breaks Out

In the hours before attacking the village, the IOF had cut of all road access to the village and had beaten anyone attempting to get to the village. 

Israeli Occupation Forces beating Palestinian man attempting to reach Bab Al Shams 

(photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook)

However, hundreds of Palestinians, determined to join with those already at Bab Al Shams, made their way to the village by trekking through the mountains.

Palestinians marching into Bab Al Shams after trekking through mountains

Photo by Yotam Ronen, Activestills

Bab Al Shams activists report that they have since been loaded onto buses and trucks, many have had their phones and cameras confiscated. Some have been dumped at Qalandia checkpoint near Ramallah, others have been taken to an illegal Israeli colony for arrest.  

Before the IOF's assault on the village, Palestinian activistm and one of the organisers of Bab Al Shams told Maan News Agency that the activists were determined to resist expulsion saying:

Israel's military handed evacuation orders to activists in the Bab al-Shams or 'Gate of the Sun', protest village on Saturday, stating that the military intends to move protestors by force, local activist Abdullah Abu Rahma said.  

Israel's military has also prevented activists from neighbouring areas access to the protest village since Friday.

"We only have our determination, and it will not be easy to expel us from our homes. We  will use our experience and skills to remain on the land", Abu Rahma said. 

On the second day of the establishment of Bab al Shams, the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee issued the following statement as Israeli Occupation Forces prepared to attack the village:

Palestinian village of Bab Al Shams remains steadfast: In the face of blatant eviction threats by Netanyahu and under Israeli army siege, the village of Bab Alshams continues to stand bold 

Israeli army and police have been laying siege to the newly founded Palestinian village of Bab Alshams since earlier today, blocking all roads leading to. The area has been declared a closed military zone. The village was inaugurated yesterday on Palestinian land, East of Jerusalem, in an area referred to by Israel as E1, and designated for the expansion of Ma’ale Edomim settlement. 

Despite the siege, roughly a hundred supporters from across Palestine managed to reach the village, trekking through rocky terrain. Earlier today, Abdallah Abu 

Rahmah of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said, "Israel has been defying international law for decades by building illegal settlements on stolen land and demolishing Palestinian homes. We are here to say that Israeli impunity must end. We have the right to build and live on our own land”.

This morning the residents of the village where notified by Israeli police that they will be evicted despite an injunction issued by the Israeli High Court, prohibiting demolition of the village for six days. The officers informed residents that the injunction only forbids the removal of village structures, not their inhabitants. Despite this statement, Israeli government has appealed to the court to revoke the injunction. As growing numbers of Israeli forces amass in the vicinity of the village, seemingly preparing to carry out an eviction, the residents of Bab Alshams stand firm in their resolution to hold on to the land. 

Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian legislators Hannan Ashrawi, Saeb Arekat and Ahmed Majdalani from reaching the village and confiscated Majdalani's VIP card. 

Famed Lebanese writer, Elias Khury, author of the epic novel Bab Alshams after which the village is named, phoned the residents earlier today to express his support. "You have revived Bab Alshams", he said, "I wish I were there with you."

Palestinian activists have stated that Bab Al Shams is just the first such action of this sort and that more similar  actions directly challenge Israel's illegal colonies and settlement built will take place.

I will post more information about the arrests and conditions of the activists as they come to hand.

In solidarity, Kim 

IN PHOTOS: Palestine's newest village, Bab Al Shams

Dear friends, 

please find below a collection of photos which various activists on the ground in Bab Al Shams have either tweeted or posted on the internet.

As you will be aware from my previous blog, more than 250 Palestinian activists early Friday morning established Bab Al Shams on Palestinian land located in the Occupied East Jerusalem/Occupied West Bank corridor which has been designated "E1" by the Israeli state.  Israel has long sought to build illegal colonies on the land in order to delink the Occupied West Bank from Occupied East Jerusalem in order to prevent a contiguous Palestinian state.

Activists have vowed to remain on the land and to resist non-violently any attempt to evict them.

In solidarity, Kim 

Palestinian activists arriving and getting ready to set up tents 

Photo by Fadi Arouri

 Erecting the tents for the village

Photo Oren Ziv, Activestills

  Establishing the village

Photo Oren Ziv, by Activestills

 Photo via twitter (Shahnaz)

 Erecting the flags
Photo by Tweet Palestine

.

 Owner of the Palestinian land on which Bab Al Shams has been erected shows his ownership papers

Photo by Tweet Palestine

Palestine's newest village

Photo by Irene Nasser

Palestinian Hunger Strikers banner

Photo by Lema

Singing on the hills

Photo by Abir Kopty

Israeli Occupation Forces arrive to try and evict Palestinian activists

Photo by Oren Ziv, Activestills 

Inside the tents

Photo by Tweet Palestine

Cooking soup

Photo by Tweet Palestine

 More people arriving to support the village

Photo by Abir Kopty

more Palestinians arriving to support Bab Al Shams
Photo by Yotam Ronen, Activestills

With the arrival of more people, more tents are being erected

Photo by Abir Kopty

some of the activists pose for a photo

Photo by Anne Paq, Activestills

BREAKING NEWS: Palestinians Establish a new Village, Bab Alshams, in Area E1

Dear friends,

wonderful news from Palestine! Palestinian activists from across the Occupied Palestinian Territories have established a new village in the E1 area.  

As many of you will be aware, Israel has long sought to build colonies in the E1 area in order to delink Occupied East Jerusalem from the Occupied West Bank, in order to not only steal more Palestinian land but to also prevent the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.

The establishment of the village, called Bab Alshams, by the activists in an stunningly courageous act of civil disobedience.  

I have included below the report from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee on the establishment of the village.  The report includes a statement released by the activists.

Also included below is a briefing report published on +972 Magazine's website about why the E1 is important.

As more news comes to hand about the village, I will keep you updated.

In solidarity,
Kim

***

 Bab Alshams tent city erected by Palestinians  Photo by Activestills

PALESTINIANS ESTABLISH A NEW VILLAGE, BAB ALSHAMS, IN AREA E1

by Popular Struggle Coordination Committee: 11 January 2013

250 Palestinian activists established the new village of Bab Alshams, on the lands of al-Tur, in an area referred to by Israel as E1 

250 men and women from across Palestine establish this morning a new Palestinian village named “Bab Alshams” (Gate of the Sun). Tents were built in what Israel refers to as area E1 and equipment for long-term living was brought. 

The group released the following statement:
 

We, the sons and daughters of Palestine from all throughout the land, announce the establishment of Bab Alshams Village (Gate of the Sun). We the people, without permits from the occupation, without permission from anyone, sit here today because this is our land and it is our right to inhabit it.

A few months ago the Israeli government announced its intention to build about 4000 settlement housing units in the area Israel refers to as E1. E1 block is an area of about 13 square km that falls on confiscated Palestinian land East of Jerusalem between Ma’ale Adumim settlement, which lies on occupied West Bank Palestinian land, and Jerusalem. We will not remain silent as settlement expansion and confiscation of our land continues. Therefore we hereby establish the village of Bab Alshams to proclaim our faith in direct action and popular resistance. We declare that the village will stand steadfast until the owners of this land will get their right to build on their land.

The village’s name is taken from the novel, “Bab Alshams,” by Lebanese writer Elias Khoury. The book depicts the history of Palestine through a love story between a Palestinian man, Younis, and his wife Nahila. Younis leaves his wife to join the Palestinian resistance in Lebanon while Nahila remains steadfast in what remains of their village in the Galilee. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Younis smuggles through Lebanon and back to the Galilee to meet his wife in the “Bab Alshams” cave, where she gives birth to their children. Younis returns to the resistance in Lebanon as his wife remains in Bab Al Shams.

Bab Alshams is the gate to our freedom and steadfastness. Bab Alshams is our gate to Jerusalem. Bab Alshams is the gate to our to our return.

For decades, Israel has established facts on the ground as the International community remained silent in response to these violations. The time has come now to change the rules of the game, for us to establish facts on the ground - our own land. This action involving women and men from the north to the south is a form of popular resistance. In the coming days we will hold various discussion groups, educational and artistic presentations, as well as film screenings on the lands of this village. The residents of Bab Al Shams invite all the sons and daughters of our people to participate and join the village in supporting our resilience.

***

By +972 Resources

|Published December 2, 2012]

Resource: What is the E1 area, and why is it so important?

In response to the Palestinian statehood bid, the Israeli government has decided to promote zoning plans for the area known as E1, northeast of Jerusalem. The project is intended to link annexed East Jerusalem with the mega-settlement of Ma’aleh Adumin, thus finally making the creation of a contiguous Palestinian State impossible. 

By Ir Amim

E1 (derived from “East 1”) is a term applied by the Ministry of Housing to an area located just east of the Jerusalem municipal boundary, on the hills between Ma’aleh Adummim and Jerusalem. It lies north of the Jerusalem-Ma’aleh Adummim road and edges the Palestinian towns of Anata, Abu Dis, Azariya and A-Zayim. E1, which covers some 12,000 dunams (12 sq. kilometers), is part of the planning area of Ma’aleh Adummim. The main artery between the northern and southern West Bank runs through E1.
In recent years, Israel has begun building and settling the area. The development plan for E1 includes the transfer of the West Bank (Judea & Samaria) Police Headquarters from its present location, and the construction of at least 3,500 residential units, a large commercial center, and more. Plans for the E1 area make no reference whatsoever to the local Palestinian population.

Construction in the E1 area commenced in 2004 under the direction of Housing Minister Efi Eitam. The work was illegal because no building permit had been issued. As a result of international pressure, construction was halted a short time after it began.

At the beginning of 2005, the Ma’aleh Adummim municipality approved two detailed urban plans for the development of the area, as mentioned above: one for approximately 3,500 housing units (apartment buildings and villas), and the second for the transfer of the police headquarters. The plan generated harsh criticism from the American government and the European Union. Both demanded that the plan be frozen, on the grounds that it violated Israel’s commitments according to the ‘Road Map.’ Instead, they maintained that the future of this territory be decided upon by a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Following this pressure, the Israeli government froze the project in 2004. However, building of the police headquarters was continued on the grounds that, like army bases, the police station would not be seen as creating facts on the ground, but rather as a building that could be removed.

On November 2012, following the Palestinian statehood bid, the Netanyahu government announced that it will promote a zoning plan for E1 which will allow the construction of 3000 housing units for Jews.
Here is the planned construction area for E1:
As can be seen in this regional map, construction at E1 will cut the West Bank in two (the area to the east is a desert, and on a very different altitude).

East Jerusalem and the Judea Desert (A Google Map)

_______________
Ir Amim (“City of Nations” or “City of Peoples”) is an NGO which focuses on Jerusalem within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Ir Amim seeks to render Jerusalem a more viable and equitable city for the Israelis and Palestinians who share it. The above text and the maps appear here with the permission of Ir Amim.