Stop the Wall offices raided by Israeli military
Published today (updated) 08/02/2010 16:21
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[MaanImages – Archive]
Jerusalem - Ma'an - The Israeli army raided the offices of the Stop the Wall organization early Monday morning, a statement issued by the movement said.
Ten military jeeps, hummers and an armoured bus belonging to the Israeli military and intelligence services entered Ramallah at 1am, where they raided the Stop the Wall offices, the statement read, adding that following a three-hour search, they confiscated computer hard disks, laptops, and video cameras along with paper documents, CDs, and video cassettes.
"This is part of the continuous targeting of the popular grassroots movement and the struggle of the Palestinian human rights defenders for Israeli accountability," Jamal Juma, coordinator of Stop the Wall, wrote.
"Palestinians will not be intimidated by this. The struggle against the Wall will only stop once the decision of the International Court of Justice, which calls for the Wall to be torn down, is implemented."
There are approximately 40 anti-wall activists in Israeli jails, the statement said.
In response to the incident, an Israeli military spokesman told Ma'an that "overnight IDF soldiers operating in Ramallah confiscated equipment from the offices of the anti fence popular committee [Stop the Wall], which rallies illegal and violent riots throughout Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] and caused to hurt IDF soldiers and the security fence.
"The IDF will continue to operate in order to protect the citizens of Israel and Israel's security forces."
Monday, February 08, 2010
repression against human rights organisations continues- Stop the Wall campaign organisation raided in Ramallah
Saturday, February 06, 2010
f Demonstration against expansion of settlement / Manif contre l'expansion de colonie, Nabi Salih, 05.02.2010
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org
Around 150 Palestinians, Israelis and internationals participated to the demonstration in the village of Nabi Salih against the expansion of nearby settlement of Hallamish on 05.02.2009.
Carrying olive trees to be planted, demonstrators began to walk towards the lands that were confiscated by the settlers last month. Israeli soldiers immediately showered them with tear gas canisters. Clashes erupted with the youth of the village. Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets, injuring two youth. They also fired dozens of teas gas canisters right inside the village, and blocked its entrance.
Le 5 fevrier 2010, environ 150 Palestiniens, Israéliens et internationaux ont participé à la manifestation desormais hebdomadaire dans le village de Nabi Salih contre l'expansion de la colonie de Hallamish. Le mois dernier, les villageois ont decouvert qu'une partie de leurs terres, pres de la colonie, etait devenue inacessible. Une barriere avait ete mise. Refusant une telle depossession, les Palestiniens se sont mobilises et ont commence a manifeste tous les vendredis, a l'image des palestiniens de Bil'in, Nil'in et Al Ma'sara.
Sans grande surprise, les manifestants se sont heurtes a une violence brutale et disproportionnee de l'armee israelienne qui n'a pas hesite de battre tres couragement les femmes osant defier l'armee "la plus morale au monde".
Ce vendredi, les manifestants ont commencé à marcher vers les terres qui ont été confisquées par les colons le mois dernier avec des pousses d'oliviers dans l'intention de les planter sur leurs terres. Les soldats israéliens ont immédiatement lance une pluie de bombes lacrymogènes. Des affrontements ont alors éclaté avec les jeunes du village qui ont repondu par des pierres et en bloquant la route d'acces pour empecher l'armee de penetrer le village.
Les soldats israéliens ont tiré des balles en caoutchouc, blessant deux adolescents. Ils ont également tiré des dizaines debombres lacrimogene l'intérieur même du village, et ont bloqué l'entrée.
Demonstration against expansion of settlement / Manif contre l'expansion de colonie, Nabi Salih, 05.02.2010
(c) Anne Paq/ Activestills.org
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Three arrested in Bilin / 3 arrestations a Bilin
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills, an archive picture (July 2008) of 27 year-old Ibrahim Burnat, a well-known figure of Bil'in protest, arrested during an Israeli military raid last night, alongside with a Palestinian photographer from Bilin, a volunteer with B'tselem Israeli organisation, and an American activist who was released today. Ibrahim has been injured more than 70 times during the weekly demonstrations in Bil'in.
Une photo d'archive de Ibrahim Burnat, age de 27 ans, une des figures emblematiques de la resistance populaire a Bil'in, arrete par l'armee israelienne durant un raid nocturne a Bil'in. Un autre Palestinien, un photographe qui travaille avec l'organisation B'tselem, a lui aussi ete arrete, ainsi qu'une americaine mais celle-ci a ete relachee le lendemain. Les deux autres Palestiniens sont restes en prison.
Today (Last Update) Time 19:45
[MaanImages]
Ramallah – Ma'an – A 27-year-old American woman was detained along with two Palestinians by Israeli forces during a night raid in the village of Bil'in on Wednesday.
All three were taken to the border police station, an organizer said. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the detentions.
Forces broke into the home of Abed Al-Fattah Burnat, 27, then surrounded the home of Ashraf Abu Rahma. International and Palestinian activists were alerted of the raid and went to the location to film the event.
Witnesses said the home was declared a closed military zone by army officials, who demanded reporters and activists stay 50 meters away from the door. Organizers said the group moved 50 meters back, but soldiers continued to harass photojournalist and B'Tselem volunteer Hamdi Abu Rahameh, 22.
The Israeli military said Rahameh is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, and said he was detained for failing to move back from the home after soldiers declared it a closed area.
As soldiers detained the young man, an American activist known locally as "Stormy" attempted to intervene.
The military said the American woman "interfered" in the work of the Israeli army and attempted to "prevent Israeli soldiers from carrying out their duty." They also said the actions of the woman caused rioting in the area. They confirmed her arrest and transfer to the Israeli police.
US Consulate officials said they were looking into the incident.
Another Palestinian resident of Bil'in, Ashraf Abu Ramhe, was later detained near the village mosque. Upon his detention, Israeli soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded him, ushering him into a car with a gun pointed at his head, Popular Committee organizers said.
The army also confirmed the arrest of Ramhe.
International peace activists have been staying overnight in the village of Bil'in since the Israeli army began night raids into the village, initially following each Friday's demonstration against the separation wall being constructed on village lands.
Journalists filmed the following during the raid:
Night raids became more regular during the fall of 2009, and now occur almost nightly, villagers say. Activists and photojournalists work to document the raids and treatment of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces.
In January, a Czech woman working on solidarity projects with Palestinians via the International Solidarity Movement was detained from her home in Ramallah during a night raid and deported the following day.
Night raid in Nablus
In addition to the raids of Bil'in and Ni'lin, sources reported Israeli forces operating in Nablus, where they detained one man, identified as 22-year-old Shurahbil Awwad.
The young man was taken from his home in the Al-Makhfiyeh area in the west of Nablus before sunrise.
Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=258790
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Rebuilding the protest tent in Sheikh Jarrah / Rebatir a nouveau la tente de protestation a Sheikh Jarrah, 02.02.2010
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, 02.02.2010.
Palestinians residents and activists rebuild a protest tent of Palestinian families who were evicted from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood by Jewish settlers, after the Israeli police confiscated the tent earlier that morning.
Les residents palestiniens et des activistes ont rebati aujourd'hui la tente de protestation des familles palestiniennes qui ont ete evacuees de force de leurs maisons dans le quartier de Jerusalem Est de Sheikh jarrah. Depuis des mois, elles maintiennent une presence en face de leur maison qui a ete de suite occupee par les colons. La matin meme, la tente avait ete confisquee par la police israelienne.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
to be back / etre de retour
I am back.
If anyone follows my blog and my pictures, then you must have to understand that I am back in Palestine after a long break.
It is always a strange feeling returning here, a mix between happyness to find back friends and what has become my home, and a more anxious feeling about the overall situation. Will I be able to face it, overcome anger and frustration to be able to be constructive? Will I become stressed and drained just after one week and lose the benefit of my break?
The situation remains the same, but as expected only deteriorating. In Jerusalem, the ethnic cleansing continues. Despite the mobilization, the families of Palestinian sheikh jarrah find themselves homeless. The situation has changed since my departure 4 months ago, another house has been conquered by the settlers.
The Israeli police and the army are trying to suppress any dissidcnce. Protesters were arrested arrested, some have even been charged. Palestinians build and strengthen the popular resistance? The organizers are starting also to be all arrested. With a handful of internationals on Thursday night, we stayed in Al Ma'sara, a village south of Bethlehem, also the theater as in Bil'in and Nil'in of weekly demonstrations against the Wall that is strangling the village and swallows his land. The leaders of the demonstrations were arrested, in May. They were subsequently released under bail but they still have legal proceedings against them. More recently they were clearly threatened so it was decided that an international presence will be a good thing.
The nocturnal raids continue, Israeli soldiers returning every evening in these villages which dare to resist. One of the major players of the popular resistance, Mohammed Katib Bil'in has just been arrested.
The settlers continue their conquest of the west Bank and Jerusalem. They walk around with with defiance. Yesterday settlers just took over the house of a 80 year-old Palestinian women and locked themselves inside.
No, my return is not very cheerful.
But should we give up yet? Cannot we find some hope in the determined eyes of the Palestinians in demonstrations, in the shoutings of Israeli activists who despite numerous arrests are always present, in the press articles that are multiplying on the rise of popular resistance, in the progress of the boycott everywhere, and in the rising of other villages such as Nabi Saleh?
I had a new strange feeling in the demonstrations on Friday,. Perhaps a long break has given me more wisdom and strength, but I felt almost serene. I watched calmy at all the soldiers, the member of the police and settlers, and I thought: you do not manage to make us afraid. One day, I am sure you will not be longer here since you have nothing to do in this place except to sow the seeds of your own destruction.
En voyant mes photos, vous avez du comprendre que je suis de retour en Palestine.
On a toujours une drole d'impression en rentrant ici. La situation est toujours la meme, mais non en fait elle empire. A Jerusalem, le nettoyage ethnique continue. Malgre la grande mobilisation, les familles palestiniennes de sheikh jarrah se retrouvent a la rue. La situation a change depuis mon depart il y a 4 mois, une autre maison a ete conquise par les colons.
La police et l'armee tentent de reprimer toute dissidcnce, les manifestants sont arretes, certains ont meme ete inculpes. Des Palestiniens construisent et consolident la resistance populaire? Les organisateurs commencent a etre tous arretes. Du coup avec une poignee d'internationaux, jeudi soir nous sommes restes couches a Al Masara, un village au sud de Bethleem, theatre aussi comme a Bil'in, et a Nil'in de manifestations hebdomadaires contre le Mur qui etrangle le village et avale ses terres. Les leaders de la manifestations ont deja ete arretes, ils ont encore des procedures legales contre eux, mais ils sont menaces a nouveau. Les raids noctures continuent, les soldats israeliens rentrent tous les soirs dans ces villages qui resistent. Un des acteurs majeurs de la resistance populaire, Mohammed Katib de Bil'in vient tout juste d'etre arrete.
Les colons quant a eux marchent tete haute avec defiance, ils savent qu'ils ne seront pas inquietes. Des colons sont aujourd'hui rentres dans une maison d'une palestinienne de 80 ans et se sont barricades a l'interieur.
Non, mon retour n'est pas tres joyeux.
Mais faut-il pourtant baisser les bras? Ne peut-on pas trouver de l'espoir dans les regards determines des palestiniens dans les manifestations, dans les cris des activistes israeliens qui malgre les arrestations repondent presents, dans les articles de presse qui se multiplient sur la montee en puissance de la resistance populaire, dans les avancees du boycott, dans l'avenement de nouvelles manifestations comme a nabi saleh?
J'ai eu un drole de sentiment nouveau dans les manifestations, peut-etre que apres un long sejour m'a donne de la sagesse ou de la force, mais je me sentais presque sereine. Je regardais tous les soldats, tous les policiers, et je pensais: vous ne nous faites pas peur. Un jour, j'en suis persuadee, vous ne serez plus la puisque vous n'avez rien a faire ici sinon que de semer les graines de votre propre destruction.
If anyone follows my blog and my pictures, then you must have to understand that I am back in Palestine after a long break.
It is always a strange feeling returning here, a mix between happyness to find back friends and what has become my home, and a more anxious feeling about the overall situation. Will I be able to face it, overcome anger and frustration to be able to be constructive? Will I become stressed and drained just after one week and lose the benefit of my break?
The situation remains the same, but as expected only deteriorating. In Jerusalem, the ethnic cleansing continues. Despite the mobilization, the families of Palestinian sheikh jarrah find themselves homeless. The situation has changed since my departure 4 months ago, another house has been conquered by the settlers.
The Israeli police and the army are trying to suppress any dissidcnce. Protesters were arrested arrested, some have even been charged. Palestinians build and strengthen the popular resistance? The organizers are starting also to be all arrested. With a handful of internationals on Thursday night, we stayed in Al Ma'sara, a village south of Bethlehem, also the theater as in Bil'in and Nil'in of weekly demonstrations against the Wall that is strangling the village and swallows his land. The leaders of the demonstrations were arrested, in May. They were subsequently released under bail but they still have legal proceedings against them. More recently they were clearly threatened so it was decided that an international presence will be a good thing.
The nocturnal raids continue, Israeli soldiers returning every evening in these villages which dare to resist. One of the major players of the popular resistance, Mohammed Katib Bil'in has just been arrested.
The settlers continue their conquest of the west Bank and Jerusalem. They walk around with with defiance. Yesterday settlers just took over the house of a 80 year-old Palestinian women and locked themselves inside.
No, my return is not very cheerful.
But should we give up yet? Cannot we find some hope in the determined eyes of the Palestinians in demonstrations, in the shoutings of Israeli activists who despite numerous arrests are always present, in the press articles that are multiplying on the rise of popular resistance, in the progress of the boycott everywhere, and in the rising of other villages such as Nabi Saleh?
I had a new strange feeling in the demonstrations on Friday,. Perhaps a long break has given me more wisdom and strength, but I felt almost serene. I watched calmy at all the soldiers, the member of the police and settlers, and I thought: you do not manage to make us afraid. One day, I am sure you will not be longer here since you have nothing to do in this place except to sow the seeds of your own destruction.
En voyant mes photos, vous avez du comprendre que je suis de retour en Palestine.
On a toujours une drole d'impression en rentrant ici. La situation est toujours la meme, mais non en fait elle empire. A Jerusalem, le nettoyage ethnique continue. Malgre la grande mobilisation, les familles palestiniennes de sheikh jarrah se retrouvent a la rue. La situation a change depuis mon depart il y a 4 mois, une autre maison a ete conquise par les colons.
La police et l'armee tentent de reprimer toute dissidcnce, les manifestants sont arretes, certains ont meme ete inculpes. Des Palestiniens construisent et consolident la resistance populaire? Les organisateurs commencent a etre tous arretes. Du coup avec une poignee d'internationaux, jeudi soir nous sommes restes couches a Al Masara, un village au sud de Bethleem, theatre aussi comme a Bil'in, et a Nil'in de manifestations hebdomadaires contre le Mur qui etrangle le village et avale ses terres. Les leaders de la manifestations ont deja ete arretes, ils ont encore des procedures legales contre eux, mais ils sont menaces a nouveau. Les raids noctures continuent, les soldats israeliens rentrent tous les soirs dans ces villages qui resistent. Un des acteurs majeurs de la resistance populaire, Mohammed Katib de Bil'in vient tout juste d'etre arrete.
Les colons quant a eux marchent tete haute avec defiance, ils savent qu'ils ne seront pas inquietes. Des colons sont aujourd'hui rentres dans une maison d'une palestinienne de 80 ans et se sont barricades a l'interieur.
Non, mon retour n'est pas tres joyeux.
Mais faut-il pourtant baisser les bras? Ne peut-on pas trouver de l'espoir dans les regards determines des palestiniens dans les manifestations, dans les cris des activistes israeliens qui malgre les arrestations repondent presents, dans les articles de presse qui se multiplient sur la montee en puissance de la resistance populaire, dans les avancees du boycott, dans l'avenement de nouvelles manifestations comme a nabi saleh?
J'ai eu un drole de sentiment nouveau dans les manifestations, peut-etre que apres un long sejour m'a donne de la sagesse ou de la force, mais je me sentais presque sereine. Je regardais tous les soldats, tous les policiers, et je pensais: vous ne nous faites pas peur. Un jour, j'en suis persuadee, vous ne serez plus la puisque vous n'avez rien a faire ici sinon que de semer les graines de votre propre destruction.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah against the evictions of Palestinian families, 29.01.2010
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, 29.01.2010
report by Haggai
In Sheikh Jarrah there was yet another big demonstration, and for the first time in quite a while – with no arrests made at all. After several weeks of ongoing police oppression the Jerusalem court issued two rulings in support of the demonstrations, stating these were legal and that their dispersal was illegitimate. And so some 300 demonstrators gathered this Friday afternoon at the entrance to the neighborhood, including several members of Knesset, and protested against the racist house evictions.
Opposite the demonstration stood tens of riot policemen, and five radical right-wing counter-demonstrators. A short heated debate with the fascists and a failed (by the police) attempt made by a few demonstrators to enter the neighborhood and plant flowers were the only two extraordinary events. Otherwise the cheerful and energetic demonstration went on peacefully for an hour and a half.
Rapport par Haggai.
À Sheikh Jarrah a eu lieu encore une grande manifestation, et pour la première fois depuis un certain temps - sans arrestation. Après plusieurs semaines d'oppression policière, le tribunal de Jérusalem a pris deux décisions à l'appui des manifestations, les déclarant légales et que leur dispersion était illégitime. Et donc environ 300 manifestants se sont rassemblés ce vendredi après-midi à l'entrée du quartier, dont plusieurs membres de la Knesset, et ont protesté contre les expulsions racistes des Palestiniens de leurs maisons .
En face de la manifestation se tenaient des dizaines de policiers anti-émeute, et cinq membres de la droite radicale qui tenait une contre-manifestation. Un débat houleux a eu lieu avec les fascistes et une tentative faite par un petit nombre de manifestants d'entrer dans le quartier et de planter des fleurs ont été les deux seuls événements marquants. Sinon, la manifestation gaie et énergique s'est deroulee ensuite pacifiquement pendant une heure et demie.
Demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah against the evictions of Palestinian families, 29.01.2010
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, 29.01.2010
demo against the Wall in Al Masara / Manif contre le Mur a Al Masara, 29.01.2010
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Al Masara. 29.01.2010
report by Haggai.
Once again Palestinian, Israeli and international activists gathered in Ma'asara for this week's Friday demonstration. Marking the anniversary to the assassination of Palestinian leader George Habash the demonstration was joint by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including Tawfiq Tirawy.
The 70 or so demonstrators marched from the centre of the village to the sound of drums, passed a lone military jeep stationed in the entrance to the village, and preceded towards the route of the Apartheid Wall. As usual they were met by barbed wire laid on the road and a raw of (mainly reserve) soldiers.
Speeches were carried in English, French, Arabic and Hebrew, and slogans chanted for half an hour. On their way back to the village demonstrators stopped in front of the lone jeep, fearing an incursion. Two more jeeps quickly joined the first one, and armed soldiers threatened the demonstrators. Choosing to de-escalate the situation demonstrators backed into the village peacefully, and the army left shortly after.
Une fois encore palestiniens, israéliens et des activistes internationaux se sont réunis à Ma'asara pour la manifestation hebdomadaire du vendredi. Marquant l'anniversaire de l'assassinat du leader palestinien Georges Habache la manifestation a été rejoint par les membres du Front populaire pour la libération de la Palestine, y compris Tawfiq Tirawy.
Les manifestants (plus ou moins 70) ont défilé du centre du village au son des tambours, ont passé une jeep militaire isolée stationnée a l'entrée du village, et ont précédé vers la route du Mur d'Apartheid. Comme d'habitude, ils ont été accueillis par des barbelés posés sur la route et une lignes de soldats(principalement réserve).
Des discours ont été prononcés en anglais, français, arabe et hébreu, et des slogans scandés pendant une demi-heure. Sur le chemin du retour au village, les manifestants arrêtés devant la jeep seul, craignant une incursion. Deux jeeps ont rapidement rejoint la premiere, et des soldats armés ont menacé les manifestants. Optant pour une désescalade de la situation. des manifestants sont retournes dans le village paisiblement, et l'armée est partie peu après.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Crackdown on activists continues
PSCC Logo
Press Release
28 January, 2010
Israeli arrests aimed at quashing popular resistance continue:
Mohammed Khatib, Coordinator of West Bank Coordination Committee Arrested
In the highest profile arrest of the recent wave of repression against West Bank popular struggle, Israeli soldiers arrested Mohammed Khatib today before dawn. Khatib is a member of Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in the West Bank village of Bil'in and the coordinator of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee.
For more details: +972546327736 | media@popularstruggle.org
At a quarter to two AM tonight, Mohammed Khatib, his wife Lamia and their four young children were woken up by Israeli soldiers storming their home, which was surrounded by a large military force. Once inside the house, the soldiers arrested Khatib, conducted a quick search and left the house.
Mohammed Khatib during a speaking his speaking tour in Canada last year. Pictures Credit: Tadamon!
Mohammed Khatib during a speaking his speaking tour in Canada last year. Pictures Credit: Tadamon!
Roughly half an hour after leaving the house, five military jeeps surrounded the house again, and six soldiers forced their way into the house again, where Khatib's children sat in terror, and conducted another, very thorough search of the premises, without showing a search warrant. During the search, Khatib's phone and many documents were seized, including papers from Bil'in's legal procedures in the Israel High Court.
Israeli Soldiers violently preventing an international solidarity worker from entering Khatib's home tonight. Pictures Credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah
Israeli Soldiers violently preventing an international solidarity worker from entering Khatib's home tonight. Pictures Credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah
The soldiers exited an hour and a half later, leaving a note saying that documents suspected as "incitement materials" were seized. International activists who tried to enter the house to be with the family during the search were aggressively denied entry.
Mohammed Khatib was previously arrested during the ongoing wave of arrests and repression on Augst 3rd, 2009 with charges of incitement and stone throwing. After two weeks of detention, a military judge ruled that evidence against him was falsified and ordered his release, after it was proven that Khatib was abroad at the time the army alleged he was photographed throwing stones during a demonstration.
Khatib's arrest today is the most severe escalation in a recent wave of repression again the Palestinian popular struggle and its leadership. Khatib is the 35th resident of Bil'in to be arrested on suspicions related to anti-Wall protest since June 23rd, 2009.
The recent wave of arrests is largely an assault on the members of the Popular Committees – the leadership of the popular struggle – who are then charged with incitement when arrested. The charge of incitement, defined under Israeli military law as "an attempt, whether verbally or otherwise, to influence public opinion in the Area in a way that may disturb the public peace or public order," is a cynical attempt to punish grassroots organizing with a hefty charge and lengthy imprisonments. Such indictments are part of the army's strategy of using legal persecution as a means to quash the popular movement.
Similar raids have also been conducted in the village of alMaasara, south of Bethlehem, and in the village of Ni'ilin – where 110 residents have been arrested over the last year and half, as well as in the cities of Nablus, Ramallah and East Jerusalem.
Among those arrested in the recent campaign are three members of the Ni'ilin Popular Committee, Sa'id Yakin of the Palestinian National Committee Against the Wall, and five members of the Bil'in Popular Committee – all suspected of incitement.
Prominent grassroots activists Jamal Jum'a (East Jerusalem) and Mohammed Othman (Jayyous) of the Stop the Wall NGO, involved in anti-Wall and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigning, have recently been released from detention after being incarcerated for long periods based on secret evidence and with no charges brought against them.
Background links:
[1] LA Times: Palestinians who see nonviolence as their weapon: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nonviolence4-2009nov04,0,6772369,full.story
[2] Ynet: 2010 will see us beat the occupation:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3840698,00.html
Press Release
28 January, 2010
Israeli arrests aimed at quashing popular resistance continue:
Mohammed Khatib, Coordinator of West Bank Coordination Committee Arrested
In the highest profile arrest of the recent wave of repression against West Bank popular struggle, Israeli soldiers arrested Mohammed Khatib today before dawn. Khatib is a member of Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in the West Bank village of Bil'in and the coordinator of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee.
For more details: +972546327736 | media@popularstruggle.org
At a quarter to two AM tonight, Mohammed Khatib, his wife Lamia and their four young children were woken up by Israeli soldiers storming their home, which was surrounded by a large military force. Once inside the house, the soldiers arrested Khatib, conducted a quick search and left the house.
Mohammed Khatib during a speaking his speaking tour in Canada last year. Pictures Credit: Tadamon!
Mohammed Khatib during a speaking his speaking tour in Canada last year. Pictures Credit: Tadamon!
Roughly half an hour after leaving the house, five military jeeps surrounded the house again, and six soldiers forced their way into the house again, where Khatib's children sat in terror, and conducted another, very thorough search of the premises, without showing a search warrant. During the search, Khatib's phone and many documents were seized, including papers from Bil'in's legal procedures in the Israel High Court.
Israeli Soldiers violently preventing an international solidarity worker from entering Khatib's home tonight. Pictures Credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah
Israeli Soldiers violently preventing an international solidarity worker from entering Khatib's home tonight. Pictures Credit: Hamde Abu Rahmah
The soldiers exited an hour and a half later, leaving a note saying that documents suspected as "incitement materials" were seized. International activists who tried to enter the house to be with the family during the search were aggressively denied entry.
Mohammed Khatib was previously arrested during the ongoing wave of arrests and repression on Augst 3rd, 2009 with charges of incitement and stone throwing. After two weeks of detention, a military judge ruled that evidence against him was falsified and ordered his release, after it was proven that Khatib was abroad at the time the army alleged he was photographed throwing stones during a demonstration.
Khatib's arrest today is the most severe escalation in a recent wave of repression again the Palestinian popular struggle and its leadership. Khatib is the 35th resident of Bil'in to be arrested on suspicions related to anti-Wall protest since June 23rd, 2009.
The recent wave of arrests is largely an assault on the members of the Popular Committees – the leadership of the popular struggle – who are then charged with incitement when arrested. The charge of incitement, defined under Israeli military law as "an attempt, whether verbally or otherwise, to influence public opinion in the Area in a way that may disturb the public peace or public order," is a cynical attempt to punish grassroots organizing with a hefty charge and lengthy imprisonments. Such indictments are part of the army's strategy of using legal persecution as a means to quash the popular movement.
Similar raids have also been conducted in the village of alMaasara, south of Bethlehem, and in the village of Ni'ilin – where 110 residents have been arrested over the last year and half, as well as in the cities of Nablus, Ramallah and East Jerusalem.
Among those arrested in the recent campaign are three members of the Ni'ilin Popular Committee, Sa'id Yakin of the Palestinian National Committee Against the Wall, and five members of the Bil'in Popular Committee – all suspected of incitement.
Prominent grassroots activists Jamal Jum'a (East Jerusalem) and Mohammed Othman (Jayyous) of the Stop the Wall NGO, involved in anti-Wall and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigning, have recently been released from detention after being incarcerated for long periods based on secret evidence and with no charges brought against them.
Background links:
[1] LA Times: Palestinians who see nonviolence as their weapon: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nonviolence4-2009nov04,0,6772369,full.story
[2] Ynet: 2010 will see us beat the occupation:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3840698,00.html
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