Israeli Occupation Forces demolish Bab Al Karama protest village

Dear friends,
reports are coming in that the IOF invaded Bab Al Karama at around 2am Monday morning (21 January 2013)  and have demolished all the tents and structures. Activists/residents of Bab Al Karama report that approximately 25 military jeeps surrounded the protest village and prevent activists from live streaming or taking photos of the destruction of the village.  

I have included below a short video on the camp, as well as a recorded live stream taken on 20th January, when the IOF invade the village for the second time. 

Unfortunately, I have not been able to down load and embed the live stream recorded video by activists on 21st January describing the third IOF invasion and demolition of Bab Al Karama (activists were prevent from taking photos and live streaming by the IOF at the time of the destruction).  However, I have included a link to the footage so you can watch. 

Also included is a report from Maan News and also some photos via twitter from Maath Musleh on the IOF invasion and destruction.

It appears activists at Bab Al Karama may not be leaving the land, despite the destruction. Instead they apparently will attempt to stay and plant olive trees. I am not sure if this is completely accurate information or not, but I will update when I have more information.

In solidarity, Kim   

 ***

Palestinians gather at new West Bank protest camp

video by MinWashtingonNews

Recorded Live Stream on 20 January of Second IOF invasion of Bab Al Karama


Recorded Live Stream on 21 January describing Third IOF invasion and the destruction of Bab Al Karama: CLICK HERE

ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES DEMOLISH JERUSALEM PROTEST VILLAGE

By Maan News, 21 January 2013 

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces on Monday morning demolished a protest village erected by Palestinian activists last week in northwest Jerusalem to protest Israeli land confiscation.

Activists told Ma’an that Israeli troops demolished all the tents and evacuated all the activists in the the Al-Karamah (Dignity) village in Beit Iksa.

Head of the local council of Beit Iksa Kamal Habbaba told Ma’an that large numbers of Israeli troops escorted bulldozers to the protest village. Palestinian citizens were also prevented from accessing the area.

Local groups set up the new tented protest village northwest of Jerusalem on Friday, the second such initiative against Israeli settlement building in as many weeks.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces tore down the tented village Bab al-Shams, set up to protest Israel's plans to build the "E1" settlement on the land, severing the West Bank from Jerusalem.

Beit Iksa, surrounded by Israeli settlements, is set to be entirely encircled by Israel's separation wall, cutting it off from Jerusalem.

When completed, the wall will annex 96 percent of Beit Iksa's land, according to a study by the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem.

***

PHOTOS By Maath Musleh

 IOF invade Bab Al Karama

                            IOF demolition of structure built by Palestinians at Bab Al Karama which was being used as a Mosque.

Israeli Occupation Forces attack Palestinian protest village, Bab Al Karam

Dear friends,
the IOF have attacked/invaded the newly establish Palestinian protest village, Bab Al Karama (Gate of Dignity) established on Friday on Palestinian land at Beit Iska.  This is the third attack on the village in as many days.

I have included below a report from the Palestinain news agency, Maan News on the assault on the village.

In solidarity, Kim

***

ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES RAID JERUSALEM PROTEST VILLAGE

Maan News: 20 January, 2013

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Dozens of people were lightly injured on Sunday as Israeli forces raided a newly erected Palestinian protest village in northwest Jerusalem, activists said.

Local activist Nabil Habana said Israeli forces raided the al-Karamah (Dignity) village in Beit Iksa and issued demolition and evacuation orders.

Activists tried to prevent soldiers from reaching their tents, with soldiers firing tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters, Habana added.

Earlier, Israeli troops entered the al-Karamah village at around 7 a.m., photographing the structures and preventing more protesters and supporters from arriving.

It was the third time troops had entered the area.

Spokesman for the protest village, Bilal Kiswani, said the repeated incursions by Israeli forces indicate that the al-Karamah village will be demolished soon.

There are over 100 activists from nearby areas at the protest village, and they will remain on the land despite Israeli orders to leave, he added.

Local groups set up the new tented protest village northwest of Jerusalem on Friday, the second such initiative against Israeli settlement building in as many weeks.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces tore down the tented village Bab al-Shams, set up to protest Israel's plans to build the "E1" settlement on the land, severing the West Bank from Jerusalem.

Beit Iksa, surrounded by Israeli settlements, is set to be entirely encircled by Israel's separation wall, cutting it off from Jerusalem.

When completed, the wall will annex 96 percent of Beit Iksa's land, according to a study by the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem.

BREAKING NEWS: PALESTINIAN ESTABLISH NEW PROTEST VILLAGE CALLED BAB AL-KARAMA @ BEIT ISKA

Dear friends,
news is just coming through from Palestine now that Palestinian activists have established a new protest village at Beit Iska called Bab Al-Karama or Gate of Dignity.

Please find below an initial report from Maan News on the establishment of Bab Al-Karama, as well as photo of the village from WAFA News Agency.

I will continue to update this blog as more news/information comes to hand.

in solidarity,
Kim

***

ACTIVISTS SET UP NEW PROTEST VILLAGE NORTHWEST OF JERUSALEM

Photo by Maan News

Maan News: 18 January 2012

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian activists on Friday established a new tented protest village northwest of Jerusalem, the second such initiative against Israeli settlement building in as many weeks.

Activists set up three tents and a small building in the area near Beit Iksa, naming the village al-Karamah (Dignity).

Locals said around 400 Palestinians performed Friday prayers in the open area.

Saed Yakrina, an activist from nearby village Beit Ijza, said the camp was "a message to Israel and all democratic societies that we are human, and we want peace."

Activists from across the political spectrum, mainly from nearby villages, have gathered and will sleep in the tents overnight, he told Ma'an.

Beit Iksa, surrounded by Israeli settlements, is set to be entirely encircled by Israel's separation wall, cutting it off from Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities ordered the confiscation of 500 dunams of the village's land three weeks ago, and do not permit any new building in the town, Yakrina said, noting that Israeli settlements were still expanding.

"We are looking for a life without checkpoints, walls and settlements," he said.

Israeli forces immediately shut down the military checkpoint at the entrance to Beit Iksa to prevent more activists and supporters from accessing the protest site, witnesses said.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces tore down the tented village Bab al-Shams, set up to protest Israel's plans to build the "E1" settlement on the land, severing the West Bank from Jerusalem.

Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouthi on Friday said Bab al-Shams and al-Karama were a new dimension in the Palestinian struggle and that more protest villages would be established. 

"The spirit of popular resistance which Bab al-Shams disseminated is being strengthened today in other areas including Izbat al-Tabib and Beit Iksa," the secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative said in a statement. 

A rally was held in Izbat al-Tabib in the Qalqiliya district of the northern West Bank on Friday to protest Israeli plans to demolish a school in the village. 

The rally showed that popular resistance against Israel's occupation is spreading, Barghouthi said.

***

PHOTOS OF BAB - AL KARAMA BY WAFA NEWS AGENCY

Bab Al Shams: message from Palestinian political prisoner & hunger striker, Samer Issawi

Dear friends,

a number of Israeli and International activists also accompanied in solidarity the Palestinian activists who return to Bab Al Shams on Monday.  Israeli activist and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, Neta Golan, was 1 of the 17 activists arrested on Monday at Bab Al Shams.   Arrested activists yesterday were forced to appear before Israeli military courts either at Ofer in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or at the Russian compound (al Moskobiya) in Occupied East Jerusalem.

While at al Moskobiya, Neta was held in a room next to Palestinian Political Prisoner and hunger striker, Samer Al Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for more than 175 days. 

Samer, 33, has been arrested 4 times and spent 12 years in Israeli occupation prisons.  He was earlier freed in a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and then re-arrested with no charge.   He is currently being held under "Administrative Detention" - meaning that he is being held indefinitely without charge or trial. 

Neta has made public the following account of speaking with Samer and the solidarity greeting sent by him.

I have also included below an interview with Samer from prison which was published by Electronic Intifada.

PLEASE NOTE: 

On Friday, 18 Jan 2013 @ 6PM in Melbourne, a vigil is being held in support of Samer at the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne City.

 in solidarity, Kim

 

An Israeli prison guard escorts Samer Issawi, a Palestinian political prisoner, out of his court hearing in Jerusalem, January 16, 2013. Samer Issawi is on his 174th day of hunger strike, the court postponed the decision in his case to the 5th of Feb, 2013.
Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org

NETA GOLAN's message from Samer Issawi

When I was taken to the holding room in the court near the Russian compound (al Moskobiya) to await trial, I was shocked to recognize Samer Al Issawi through the bars of the holding cell in front. I asked the young man standing near the barred door to tell him that I know him and that many others all over the world know his face his name and his cause and are working to raise awareness and to support him. 

When Samer heard that I had been arrested in Bab Al Shams he came up to the door to speak to me in person. He was too weak to stand without support and needed to lean himself against the door, but when he spoke he spoke with strength and passion. He sends his regards to all those who took part in Bab al Shams and says that this action has giving him strength and pride and strengthens his resolve to continue with his hunger strike until his release. 

"I hope this model will spread and many similar villages will be created around Palestine. I hope to see Bab Al Muhabeh (the door of love) Bab Al Huriya (The door of freedom) and Bab Al Salam (the door of Peace)" 

Samer reiterated his resolve to continue his hunger strike until his release despite his deteriorating condition "I will join you all on the outside soon", he said smiling.

 

 Layla & Tareq Issawi, Samer Issawi's parents, outside the Jerusalem court after their son's hearing, Jerusalem, January 16, 3013. Samer Issawi is on his 174th day of hunger strike, the court postponed the decision in his case to the 5th of Feb, 2013.
Photo by: Shiraz Grinbaum/Activestills.org

"My family is living through hell:" Samer Issawi speaks from jail

by Shahd Abusalama: Electronic Intifada: 01/10/2013 

 

My portrait of Samer Issawi which I drew on day 166 of his hunger strike. 
(Shahd Abusalama)

 

I can’t kick the bad habit of biting my fingers when I’m stressed despite my constant attempts. My forefinger is swollen due to this habit and it really hurts; the cold weather makes it worse. The pain was intolerable this morning and it made me cry, but I quickly wiped my tears. I felt ashamed to think that our hero Samer Issawi suffers pains incomprehensible to the human mind.

However, he makes us all proud as he continues to fight injustice. His body has broken the limits of hunger. His hunger has broken the silence and will help defeat Israel’s injustice and oppression.

As the rain pounds continuously and the winds howl uncontrollably, Samer Issawi dominates my mind. I think back to my 24 hours of hunger strike on Monday, which caused me a terrible headache, leaving me unable to focus on my studies for my final exams; I observe how very few people walk outside and how even fewer cars drive past my house. Then I think of Samer and I can’t but look to him with utter admiration and respect — proud of his shocking ability to refuse food for 168 days. My admiration for him made me give Samer’s dire situation priority over my studies and draw him a portrait.

741159_10151357959644312_970665238_o.jpg

Mum shot this picture of me right after I finished the drawing. 
(Halima Louz)

 

How painful it is to imagine him now … to imagine how much he endures from Israel’s constant oppression, medical neglect, pain, hunger and cold. Personally, I can hardly leave my warm bed to go to the bathroom. I’m studying and typing away with trembling fingers while I lie under three heavy blankets. But Samer suffers in the cold. Mum takes very good care of me; she even brings me food to my bed so I don’t have to stop my studies and leave this warmth. But Samer suffers alone. Those around him aren’t there to ease his pain but to make him suffer more. He finds no one to comfort him. Instead, he is relentlessly harassed. 

 Nonetheless, while I’m cozy in bed, my thoughts are torn between my books and Samer Issawi. I can’t help but travel in my thoughts to Samer: lying in a cold, dirty, narrow solitary cell in Ramleh prison hospital, described often as a “slaughterhouse.” Starvation makes the hunger striker feel cold despite the weather.

Shackled

Samer can barely stand on his feet and hardly turn his body on his borsh — a bed of metal that has a very thin mattress, which my father and friends who are ex-detainees often complained caused back pains.
In winter, one of the most brutal practices that the Israeli Prison Service uses to oppress our prisoners is depriving them from their winter needs such as heavy blankets and warm clothes, often even depriving them of hot water. As a result, Samer’s sister Shireen worries about him more heavily.

“The sky is snowing in Jerusalem,” Samer’s sister Shireen has said. “But unlike others, the happiness of seeing the layers of snow covering everything escapes me. When one has a little wound, its pain increases in cold weather. So imagine the situation of Samer who is hunger striking for 168 days and left without blankets or heavy clothes. Imagine him after he was physically attacked by the savage Israeli soldiers, causing him fractures in the rib cage. These are unbearable pains that one can hardly endure. But Samer lives and suffers these pains every moment, every day.”

He is shackled from his hands and feet to his bed or his wheelchair, and left with no means to defend himself. All this doesn’t deter the Israeli soldiers from repeatedly beating him up. Israel tried every inhumane way to put pressure on Samer Issawi to end his strike. He wasn’t the only target of this inhumanity: his family, his people in the village Issawiyeh, even sit-in tents installed in solidarity with him were targeted as well. 

Israeli bulldozers recently demolished the house of Samer’s brother that was under construction and left it as rubble. But they couldn’t break his brother’s resilience. Instead he was thankful he didn’t meet the fate of other Palestinians who had their houses demolished while they were inside, burying them alive.

Sadistic

Moreover, Israeli forces get a sadistic pleasure in making the heart of Samer’s mother burn in worry over her sons and daughter. They arrested her son Fares and her daughter Shireen several times and called them to the investigation centers on numerous occasions. Raising Samer’s voice to break the racist walls and reach beyond his cell to the hearts of humans of conscience was their only offense. The Israeli occupation forces attacked Samer’s house several times and couldn’t care less whether they raided the house at noon or after midnight. Moreover, Israel has cut the water supply to his family’s house. They enjoy making them live in panic day and night. Isn’t it painful enough for her to watch her son Samer dying every day?
Samer gets updates about his family through his lawyer. “With all the pressure that targets me and my family openly with no shame, Israel aims to force me to break my hunger strike,”  Samer has said. In a message delivered through his lawyer, Samer has commented powerfully on these latest inhumane practices Israel committed against his family.  “They reflect their feeling of defeat through enjoying punishing me and my family as if my arrest and my life being in danger weren’t enough,” Samer said.

“After they shamelessly fabricated a play in which Israel played the victim’s role and accused me of being the attacker while my family and I were aggressively attacked openly in the Israeli racist court despite my critical health situation about a month ago, they hurried to demolish my brother’s house. Why now?” Samer asked. 

“This demolition is a threat Israel tried to convey to me. That house was practically my future home in which I was planning to marry and establish my own family after my release from the 10-year imprisonment in Israeli jails, in the swap deal for [Israeli soldier Gilad] Shalit. Moreover, reacting to the failure of the Israeli intelligence in misleading public opinion and fooling them about the reasons for my re-arrest, they cut the water from my family’s house ignoring the hardships they suffer. That was another threat for me that aimed to pressure my soul to submit and surrender.

“All that wasn’t enough for the Israeli occupation which turned my family’s life into a living hell. They continue to provoke my family every now and then and call my sister Shireen and my brother Fares to interrogation centers and arrest them aiming to prevent them from delivering my message to the world and break my determination which will never weaken or shake.
“Where are the international human rights organizations when all that is happening? Israel continues to commit crimes against us and the world responds with silence. Are the Palestinian people excluded from international law? Or are we not humans, therefore these laws don’t apply to us?”

Gratitude

However, despite all the pains Samer Issawi suffers, he conveyed a message of gratitude for everyone who supports him, through his lawyer who has visited him and witnessed his terrible condition. Samer gained more hope and faith in humanity from the latest international hunger strike in solidarity with him, organized by Malaka Mohammed, in which people of different nationalities fasted for 24 hours. Moreover, there have been expressions of support from all over the world calling for his release. “I send my greetings to all who are fighting with me in this battle and who go out for this cause, I don’t consider them in solidarity, but [that] they are warriors,” Samer said.

Let our voices rise higher, break through the racist walls and reach Samer to provide him with more strength to withstand the torment. Let us double our efforts to rescue his life. Let us make his words echo all over the word and chant after him, “freedom and dignity is more precious than food.” He shouldn’t be left alone in this fight against injustice.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Martin Luther King, Jr once said. Let King’s words inspire you to join Samer’s fight against Israel’s injustices. His death would be a threat to your security, your humanity, to your values of justice and human rights. We need our Palestinian legend Samer Issawi alive as he deserves to live in dignity and freedom. 

Video & Photos: Return to Bab Al Shams

Dear friends,
as you will be aware, more than 100 Palestinians attempted to return to Bab Al Shams in recent days.  Approximately 10 activists made it to the tents, while others were stopped by Israeli Occupation Forces just metres from where the tents were still located.  Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) brutally beat and attacked the non-violent Palestinian activists, who were also joined by Israeli and International activists.  The majority of activists were eventually deported on buses from the site and then released.  However, approximately 17 - 20 were detained/arrested by the IOF.

Yesterday (Palestinian time), 17 of the arrested activists were forced to report to Military Court in Ofer and to Al Moscobiyeh in Jerusalem.  The charges against them are (1) Access to a closed military zone (2) Attack on the police.  In addition, the prosecution is demanding shutting them out of Bab Al Shams for 6 months.

The detainees are:
1. Isam Bakir
2. Ahmad Ziadeh
3. Sharaf Rayan
4. Mohammad Ziyadat
5. Nadeem Abu Hilal
6. Adham Rabie
7. Abady Shalhoub
8. Neta Golan
9. Hatem Al Khatib
10. Eid Jalal Al Khatib
11. Ramzi Faroun
12. Ahmad Abu Rahma
13. Ahmad Brahama
14. Burkan Daraghmeh
15. Ahmad Al Hanash
16. Ahmad Hijazi
17. Ahmad Jabayat

Today, Israel's High Court has now legitimised Netanyahu's attack on Bab Al Shams and given "permission" for the tents to be removed from the E1 areas.

Please find below video and photos from the return to Bab Al Shams.

In solidarity, Kim

Video by Hamde Abu Rahma

 A wedding party accompanied Palestinians attempting to return to Bab Al Shams

Photo via Bab Al Shams facebook

 

 Palestinian activists reach Bab Al Shams site

 Palestinian activists attempting to reach Bab Al Shams

Photo by Hamza Burnat

 Palestinian activists attempting to reach Bab Al Shams are pushed down hill by IOF

photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook page

 IOF detaining Palestinian activists at Bab Al Shams

photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook page

 Palestinian activists stage sit-in near Bab Al Shams, refusing to board buses to deport them

photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook page

 Nariman Tamimi from Nabi Saleh joins other Palestinian activists at Bab Al Shams

Photo by Hamza Burnat

 

 Palestinian activists staging sit-in and refusing to get on buses to be deported from Bab Al Shams

 photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook page

Women activists from Nabi Saleh at Bab Al Shams

Photo by Hamza Burnat  

 

 IOF attacks non-violent sit in of Palestinian activists

photo by Activestills

First arrest of Palestinian activists

photo by Activestills

Israeli activist and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, Neta Golan being arrested by IOF while participating in the non-violent sit-in at Bab Al Shams

Photo by Hamza Burnat

 

Medics treating activists injured by the IOF near Bab Al Shams

Photo by Activestills

  

 Medic treating injured Palestinian activists near Bab Al Shams

 Palestinian activists in Ramallah after being deported from Bab Al Shams

photo via Raya Ziada

 Palestinian activists in Ramallah after being deported from Bab Al Shams

photo via Raya Ziada

 Palestinian activists in Ramallah after being deported from Bab Al Shams

photo via Raya Ziada

BREAKING NEWS: Palestinians return to Bab Al Shams despite IOF presence

Dear friends,
Breaking news in the last 15- 20 minutes - approximately 100 Palestinians have sought to return to Bab Al Shams despite Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) presence. 

As you will be aware, on Friday around 250 Palestinians established Bab Al Shams in the early hours of the morning on privately owned Palestinian land located in the Occupied West Bank/Occupied East Jerusalem corridor known by Israel as "E1".  The resistance village sought to claim back Palestinian land and create "facts on the ground" and challenge Israel's occupation and apartheid policies.  Bab Al Shams lasted for two wonderful days before Netanyahu violated Israel's own high court ruling and violently ethnically cleansed the village.

As I write this blog entry, Palestinians are attempting to return to Bab Al Shams, initially catching the IOF of guard.  Reports via twitter from activists on the ground and via the Bab Al Shams facebook page report that a small number of activists were able to reach the village, while the IOF stopped others just metres away.  It has been reported that the IOF are firing teargas and sound grenades and have arrested at least 5 people, including Mohammed Khatib from Bil'in village.   Despite this, Palestinians continue to engage in non-violent civil disobedience and are staging a non-violent sit-in, refusing to leave the Bab Al Shams ares.

I will update this blog as more news come to hand.

In solidarity, Kim 

Palestinians reach Bab Al Shams

Photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook

Palestinians being pushed away from Bab Al Shams by IOF

photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook

Palestinians being detained by IOF at  Bab Al Shams

photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook

First arrest as Palestinians return to Bab Al Shams

photo by Activestills

Palestinians stage a sit-in and rush to leave Bab Al Shams area

photo via Bab Al Shams Facebook