Open Shuhada street demonstration / Manif pour l'ouverture de la rue Shuhada, Hebron, 25.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Hebron, 25.02.2011


Hundreds of people today demonstrate against the closure of Shuhada Street, the occupation and the US veto against the UN resolution on the settlement in Hebron on 25.02.2011.

Shuhada street, once one of the busiest street in Hebron was closed down by the Israeli forces, citing security, after the 1994 massacre in the Ibrahimi Mosque by an Israeli settler which left 29 Palestinians dead. Hundreds of shops were subsequently closed and the street can only be used by settlers under the protection of the Israeli army.

The large crowed walked toward Shuhada street, facing a large number of Israeli military and special forces. The demonstrators managed to overpass them but were soon attacked by stun grenades and tear gas. People continued nevertheless and sat down, insisting on their right of protest. Around 10 were then violently arrested. Some of them were subsequently released but some are still detained. The demonstration was quite long (around 3 hours), with people kept coming back. Once the Israeli soldiers began using tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets against the crowd, clashes also started with youth throwing stones. The Israeli soldiers were trying to go on the sides to try to catch some of them. Suddenly three Israeli special forces members were actually right to me and catch a young Palestinian journalist who had been all the time by my side taking pictures. Despite our protests that he was only a journalist, they took him away. The clashes then suddenly stopped, and we witnessed something quite extraordinary- there was a long line of Palestinian special forces police blocking the way between the protesters and the Israeli soldiers. In between them there were only a distance of around 200 meters. All the photographers of course ran towards the Palestinian police to take pictures to document their involvement in cracking down the demonstration of their own people but were soon stopped by the some police in civilian clothes who kept shouting at us: “don't take pictures”.

I felt strongly this time that I would not keep my mouth shut and shouted back that they do not have the rights to prevent journalists to work and that they should be ashamed to help the Israeli soldiers.
Of course this is not new. We all know that there is not only security coordination between the two but I would say “security subordination”- the PA police acts as a security proxy for the Israeli army. Even if we know, still very shocking to see on the ground. And I am wondering- how much time until the revolution against the PA?


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Des centaines de personnes aujourd'hui ont manifesté à Hébron, contre la fermeture de la rue Shuhada, l'occupation et le veto des Etats-Unis contre la résolution de l'ONU condamnant les colonies, le 25.02.2011.

La rue Shuhada, naguère l'une des plus animées d'Hébron a été fermée par les forces israéliennes, invoquant la sécurité, après le massacre de 1994 dans la mosquée d'Ibrahim par un colon israélien qui a laissé 29 morts palestiniens. Des centaines de magasins ont ainsi été fermés et la rues ne peut qu'être utilisée par les colons sous la protection de l'armée israélienne.

La foule des manifestants se dirigea vers la rue Shuhada pour se trouver face à un grand nombre de soldats israéliens. Déterminés, les manifestants ont néanmoins réussi à dépasser le barrage des soldats , mais ils furent bientôt attaqués par des grenades assourdissantes et des gaz lacrymogènes. Les gens n'en ont pas moins continué, et se sont assis, en insistant sur leur droit à protester. Environ 10 personnes ont été alors violemment arrêtées. Certains d'entre eux ont été relâchés mais certains sont toujours en détention. La manifestation a été assez longue (environ 3 heures), malgré les attaques de l'armée, la foule revenait sans cesse.
Une fois que les soldats israéliens ont commencé à utiliser des gaz lacrymogènes, des grenades assourdissantes et des balles en caoutchouc contre la foule, des affrontements ont aussi eu lieu avec les jeunes qui ont commencé à jeter des pierres pour repousser les soldats. Les soldats israéliens ont essayer d'aller sur les côtés pour essayer d'arrêter certains d'entre eux. Soudain, trois membres des forces spéciales israéliennes se sont retrouvés à coté de moi et se sont jetés sur un jeune journaliste palestinien qui avait été tout le temps à mes côtés pour prendre des photos. Malgré nos protestations qu'il était seulement un journaliste, ils l'ont emmené avec brutalité. Les affrontements se sont arrêtés peu après d'une manière soudaine, et nous avons assisté à quelque chose d'assez extraordinaire: un barrage des forces spéciales de la police palestinienne s'était mis en place entre les jeunes palestiniens et les soldats israéliens! Entre soldats israéliens et policiers palestiniens il n'y avait seulement une distance d'environ 200 mètres. Tous les photographes ont bien sur couru vers la police palestinienne afin de documenter leur implication dans la répression de la manifestation de leur propre peuple, mais nous avons été rapidement arrêtés par les membres de la police, certains en civil, qui ne cessaient de crier : «Pas de photos! ».


J'ai été même suivie pendant 10 minutes un policier en civil qui voulait s'assurer que je ne prenais pas de photos et me parlait d'une manière très agressive. Cette fois, je ne pouvais plus me taire, et je lui ai crié dessus qu'ils n'ont pas le droit d'empêcher les journalistes de travailler et qu'ils devraient avoir honte d'aider les soldats israéliens.
Bien sûr, le phénomène n'est pas nouveau. Nous savons tous qu'il y a non seulement une coordination de sécurité entre les deux mais je dirais un lien de subordination- la police palestinienne agit comme agents de sécurité de l'armée israélienne. Même si nous le savons, le constater d'une manière aussi flagrante sur le terrain reste très choquant. Et je me demande: encore combien de temps jusqu'à la révolution contre l'Autorité palestinienne?

Open Shuhada street demonstration / Manif pour l'ouverture de la rue Shuhada, Hebron, 25.02.2011

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(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Hebron, 25.02.2011

Photo 4: A young Palestinian journalist is arrested / Un jeune journaliste palestinien est arrêté.

Photo 5: A line of Palestinian police prevents youth to clash with Israeli soldiers / Un barrage de policiers palestiniens empechent les confrontations entre les jeunes palestiens et soldats israeliens

Demonstration against the US Veto at UN / Manif contre le veto des Etats Unis aux Nations Unies. Bethlehem, 19.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem, 19.02.2011

There were not so many people gathering to protest against the US veto at the UN Security Council...but apparently more demonstrations will be organized. The small group walked through the Old city of Bethlehem and a few speeches were made before we all went with a feeling of disappointment. now I wonder: what is next?
More and more people are talking about massive demonstrations at the image of the ones which are shaking the Arab world (even apparently the Israeli army prepares itself). Am I crazy to hope that something will indeed happen? Yes- maybe it's time and I have the feeling that the relative calm in the West Bank and Gaza is just the quiet before the storm.


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La foule était plutôt très mince a Bethléem pour protester contre le véto des Etats Unis au Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU ... mais apparemment, d'autres manifestations seront organisées, avec le soutien de l’Autorité palestinienne. Le petit groupe a marché dans la vieille ville de Bethléem, quelques discours ont été prononcés puis nous sommes séparés avec un sentiment de déception. maintenant je me demande: quelle est la suite?

De plus en plus on entend parler de la possibilité d'avoir des manifestations massives en Palestine à l'image de celles qui secouent actuellement le monde arabe (même apparemment l'armée israélienne s'y prépare). Suis-je folle d'espérer qu'enfin ce soulèvement populaire arrive? Oui, peut-être qu'il est temps et j'ai le sentiment que le calme actuel relatif en Cisjordanie et à Gaza n'est que le calme avant la tempête.

Demolitions, South Hebron, 17.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, South Hebron, 17.02.2011.

Another wave of demolition today: 3 water wells/cisters and one room destroyed in an area south of Hebron...there was also other massive demolition close to the Jordan valley in Tubas area in Khirbet Yarza where I went in November:
see my previous post at: http://chroniquespalestine.blogspot.com/2010/11/wave-of-demolitions-in-jordan-valley.html

Une autre vague de demolitions auj en Palestine: 3 reservoirs d'eau et puits detruits au sud de Hebron...et pendant ce temps se deroulait une autre vague de demolitions massive a Khirbet Yarza au nord, pres de la vallee du Jourdain:
voir mon post precedent: http://chroniquespalestine.blogspot.com/2010/11/wave-of-demolitions-in-jordan-valley.html

another brave operation by the Israeli police / encore une operation tres courageuse de la police israelienne

Demonstration against settlers' marathon / Manifestation contre un marathon de colons dans Hebron, 11.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Hebron. 11.02.2011

A group of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals demonstrate against a marathon run by settlers in Shuhada street on 11.02.2011. Because of the planned marathon, the tour organized by Breaking the Silence was cancelled. The Israeli army declared the area a closed military zone and pushed back the demonstrators, arresting one Israeli activist.

Un groupe de Palestiniens, d'Israéliens et des internationaux manifestent contre un marathon organisé par les colons dans la rue Shuhada sur 11.02.2011. A cause du marathon, la visite organisée par l'organisation Breaking the Silence a été annulée. L'armée israélienne a déclaré le secteur zone militaire fermée et repoussé les manifestants, une militant israélienne a été arrêtée.

HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli far-right supporters are expected to join settlers in a marathon planned in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, a local Palestinian youth group said.

The route of the Jewish-only race runs through the heart of the occupied city, starting at an illegal settlement and passing through Al-Ja'bari and Jibr neighborhoods, past the Ibrahimi Mosque and down Shohada Street.

Settlers from across the West Bank are expected to join residents of Hebron's illegal outposts and the Kiryat Arba settlement, Youth Against Settlements said.

YAS coordinator Issa Amer warned Palestinian residents living close to the track that the Israeli army may declare their neighborhoods a closed military zone.

He appealed to locals to take precautions against attacks by settlers, and appealed to the international community to pressure Israel to prevent "provocative acts" by settlers and the army.

In Hebron, settlers live in the heart of the occupied city, and frequently attack their Palestinian neighbors under the guard of the Israeli military.

According to the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, "Over the years, settlers in the city have routinely abused the city's Palestinian residents, sometimes using extreme violence."

Further, due to the increased presence of Israeli soldiers in the city center, "Violence, arbitrary house searches, seizure of houses, harassment, detaining passersby, and humiliating treatment have become part of daily reality for Palestinians," the organization says.

"Soldiers are generally positioned on every street corner in and near the settlement points, but in most cases they do nothing to protect Palestinians from the settlers' attacks."
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Demolitions for the Fourth time / Demolitions pour la 4eme fois, Khirbet Tana, West Bank, 10.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Khirbet tana, near Jordan valley, 10.02.2011

1st photo: one inhabitant who lost his home must now sleep in a cave.

One day after the demolition of around 20 structures, including at least two homes, the inhabitants of Khirbet Tana start cleaning up the rubble and rebuilding, 10.02.2011. Khirbet Tana is a small village of around 300 inhabitants located east of Nablus, close to the Jordan Valley. This is the fourth time the village faces major demolitions by the Israeli authorities. The school was demolished two times.


Photo 1: un habitant qui a perdu sa maison et doit dormir dans une grotte.

Un jour, après la démolition de près de 20 structures, y compris au moins deux habitations, les habitants de Khirbet Tana commencent à nettoyer les décombres et ont deja commencé la reconstruction, 10.02.2011. Khirbet Tana est un petit village d'environ 300 habitants située à l'est de Naplouse, à proximité de la vallée du Jourdain. C'est la quatrième fois que le village fait face à des démolitions majeures par les autorités israéliennes. L'école a été démolie à deux reprises.

Red Cross tents demolished in village
Published yesterday (updated) 09/02/2011 21:00

NABLUS (Ma’an) -- Israeli military bulldozers demolished barns and tents in Khirbet Tana village on Wednesday, marking the fourth time in a week dwellings in the area set up by the International Red Cross were forcibly taken down.

Beit Furik Mayor Ated Hanini told Ma’an that Israeli bulldozers demolished more than 25 barns and tents, calling the act a "crime against the Palestinian people."

PA official following settlement activities in the northern West Bank Ghassan Daghlas condemned the demolitions, calling on the international diplomatic Quartet to interfere and end the persecution of Palestinians on their lands.

A representative of Israel's Civil Administration said the demolitions were a part of "routine law enforcement activity against illegal building," and confirmed that approximately 19 buildings were destroyed.

We are all part of Egypt's revolution Matthew Cassel

We are all part of Egypt's revolution
Matthew Cassel, The Electronic Intifada, 6 February 2011


It's been almost two weeks since the Egyptian uprising began. I type these words sitting in my dirtied and blood-soaked jeans, as I have no change of clothes. But all that really isn't important now, because we are in a state of revolt.

Even though I'm not Egyptian, I use the term "we," because at this point all of us in Egypt on the side of truth have become a part of the revolution. As the US-backed dictator and his forces try to repress all activists and journalists, just to be here and to type these words -- to witness the struggle of the Egyptian people -- is in itself an act of defiance and revolution.

To be "balanced" in Egypt is not possible -- there are two sides and we all must choose one. After all, for the past 30 years if not more this has been the most unbalanced of societies. On one side is a dictator who has enjoyed unwavering backing from the world's lone superpower, and on the other is a diverse majority calling for his overthrow.

The government has always done whatever it can to control its people and all information coming out of the country. It's been able to consolidate its repressive security apparatus due in large part to tens of billions in US financial support over three decades.

The state's security apparatus, which has rounded up dozens of Egyptian human rights activists in recent days, is also targeting foreign journalists. While the recent attacks against journalists are certainly cause for alarm, they are by no means unprecedented. Egyptian journalists, bloggers, activists and others have always been targeted over the years. A key ingredient to any dictatorship is keeping people inside and outside the country in the dark about what's happening on the ground.

Journalists, whose job it is to see that information travels freely, therefore, must resist the system of control and make sure the people's voice is heard.

But that darkness is being whisked away by the masses in Egypt's streets. While practicing journalism is still difficult, the people have raised their voice to such a level that no amount of government suppression can prevent the world from hearing of their struggle. Even some American and other Western media outlets have done a surprisingly good job at covering events in Egypt, and because of that, even they have been subjected to attacks by the state's plainclothes thugs.

First it was the plainclothes forces targeting journalists, but in the past couple days, the Egyptian army which is now moving its circle of soldiers and tanks tighter and tighter around the protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square, has also prevented journalists from operating freely. Many are being turned away upon trying to enter the square by the army. Tomorrow, I'm not sure that I'll be able to access Tahrir, nor am I certain that my equipment will be safe.

Meanwhile, on Egyptian state television, the people's movement that encompasses almost every segment of Egyptian society, is being vilified as a foreign "conspiracy." The state media have even resorted to anti-Semitic and sectarian incitement. They have accused "Palestinians" and "Arabs with non-Egyptian accents" and even the United States and Israel -- Mubarak's closest regional ally -- of being behind the protests.

The state's army and its thugs have also made traveling outside Cairo to cover the many protests elsewhere around the country close to impossible. While massive protests were held in Cairo last Friday, they also erupted in the northern coastal city of Alexandria.

Estimates even suggested that in proportion to the city's population, the protests were much greater in Alexandria than in Cairo. Although journalists have mostly been unable to document them due to the government's clampdown on foreign media, the word is still getting out. And while many foreign journalists have left fearing for their safety, many of us still remain in Cairo.

The people have already taken unprecedented acts against the dictatorship, pushing beyond the point of no return. The fact that they have yet to give up and they remain in the streets speaks to their deep desire for an end to decades of brutal repression.

I thought about this the other night in Tahrir Square. As the sun set on the horizon, I expected the protests to slowly wane as the darkness settled. I walked around the square and visited an apartment overlooking it, speaking with friends and others. Before we realized, it was 1AM, and the demonstration still carried with it the same energy as it had twelve hours earlier. When I finally went to sleep at the flat, I woke up at sunrise and the mood was the same: the people did not stop the chants, songs, dances and other creative acts calling for the downfall of the regime. While they may be physically exhausted, there remains a sense that freedom is closer than it has ever been before.

Freedom is not just some empty concept: Egyptians have made it something real. They've even given it a physical form. What is happening now in Tahrir, or Liberation Square, is an example of that freedom.

And the movement is exhibiting the kind of free society that it hopes to be once Mubarak steps down. As someone who has witnessed numerous movements for justice not only in the Arab World but in the Americas and Europe as well, I'm still amazed by the diversity of the protesters at Tahrir Square.

From all class, religious, and political backgrounds, they stand side by side in the square demanding their rights. While volunteers manage security at the entrances, others go around and collect trash. The Hardee's fast-food outlet on Tahrir Square has been turned into a point where drinking water is distributed. Women friends are telling me it's the safest they've ever felt in Egypt, where they're often subject to harassment. People are going around offering snacks to each other, while donations of food, medicine, blankets and other items continue to flow in despite state security forces trying to block them.

If this revolution can succeed and keep with it the spirit that is now present at Tahrir, it has the potential to form a democratic government unlike the world has ever seen. Forming such a system will of course be up to the wants and desires of the Egyptian people as they continue their struggle. As for non-Egyptians like me, we will continue to get out as much information as possible. That is the act of solidarity and revolt that we can and must offer.

Matthew Cassel is based in Beirut, Lebanon and is Assistant Editor of The Electronic Intifada. His website is justimage.org.

Demonstration in support of the Egyptian uprising / Manif de soutien au soulevement Egyptien, Ramallah, 05.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills,org, Ramallah, 05.02.2011

photo 2: Sign reads : "Long Live the Revolution!" / "Longue vie à la Revolution!"

photo 4: Sign reads " 'leave' means walk away......maybe he doesn't understand" / "Pars" veut dire "vas t'en"..peut-etre qu'il ne comprend pas!"

2000 people demonstrated in Ramallah in support of the Egyptian uprising despite a ban issued by the PA against "unlicenced gathering".

2000 personnes on protesté à Ramallah en soutien au soulèvement du peuple egyptien, en debut d'un decret de l'Autorité palestinienne interdisant tout rassemblement non autorisé.

Protest in front of Jewish National Fund office / Manif devant le bureau du Jewish National Fund, Jerusalem, 01.02.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Jerusalem, 01.02.2011

Following the 11th demolition of the Bedouin village of Araqib in the Neguev, demonstrators protest in front of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) office, in Jerusalem, 01.02.2011. The Jewish National Fund , which has been trying to build a “peace forest” on the site of El Araqib, began working on the site.

translations of the Hebrew signs: "the JNF robs the Bedouins' land", and "Jews and Arabs against house demolitions"

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Après la démolition pour la 11eme fois du village bédouin d'Araqib dans le Neguev, une manifestation a été organisée devant le bureau du Fonds national Juif (JNF) à Jérusalem, 01.02.2011. Le Fonds national juif, a pour objectif de construire une «forêt de la paix" sur le site d'El Araqib, et a commencé à travailler sur le site.

Traduction des slogans en hébreu: "le JNF volent les terres des Bedouins". et " Juifs et Arabes contre les démolitions de maisons".