Ongoing Nakba in the Jordan Valley. / Une Nakba à petit feu dans la vallée du Jourdain.

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Al Maleh, Jordan Valley, 26.03.2011

March 30, 2011: Ongoing Nakba in the Jordan Valley.

For Land day I want to talk about what happened last week in the Jordan Valley.
Last week I went in the Jordan Valley to continue my work with Activestills on forced displacement of populations. My little trip could have been almost idyllic, sleeping in a tent with a Palestinian family in a beautiful setting. Spring transforms the nature and the valley has turned green and is covered in places with flowers. Most residents of the Jordan Valley are Bedouins. They have a simple life but it has become difficult to sustain because of the restrictions on freedom of movement they face. For their livestock to have enough pasture, they used to move between several locations, but now it is almost impossible to find spots between the areas taken by the settlers, those declared "military training area" or "natural areas". It remains almost nothing left for the Palestinians and many Bedouins were forced to abandon their traditional lifestyle and go to cities.

But some resist and refuse to leave or work in the settlements. This is the case of the family Daraghma. Nabil is a Bedouin. He lives in a tent with his 4 children and his wife. They move around but for the last 15 years they have been regularly staying on a piece of lands that belongs to the Church. Last Tuesday I was in the valley with the Jordan Valley Solidarity group when we learned on Wednesday morning that during the night, a group of settlers put a tent a few meters away from the tent of Nabil. We went there and Nabil told us how he had been threatened in recent days by the Israeli army and police who ordered him to leave, of course without having shown any official paper. But Nabil refused, and “coincidentally” a large group of settlers came shortly after the middle of the night. The strategy is fairly simple: the settlers set up a tent, the Israeli army arrives and for reasons of "security" evacuates everyone. Ultimately of course the land is vacant and will soon be taken by the settlers.

I stayed all day with other volunteers with the family and also Wednesday night. The settlers were constantly making trips back and forth, armed of course with rifles and guns. The soldiers also came in late afternoon, saying again to Nabil that he had leave and that if he did not demolish his tent itself they would do it tomorrow.
The night was pretty rough. The settlers directed their spotlights at the Palestinian tent and made the most noise possible. At one point an armed settler tried also to encourage his dog to attack the dogs of the Palestinians. During the night settlers attacked the animals by throwing stones at them. We could hear them laughing and walking around the tent. They also urinated on the water tanks of the Palestinians. The next day I had to leave but Keren, another photographer from our photo group, replaced me. She stayed with the family and called me the next day to tell me that the tent had been demolished. The family refused to leave the tent and had been dragged out by soldiers as well as some Israeli and international activists who were with them. Everyone was pushed down to the road and the area was declared a closed military zone until the next day 7am. The family was therefore in the street without any of their things. With the help of volunteers they tried to rebuild a tent, but the Israeli police immediately came to tell them that it was forbidden. The settlers also left with their tent, but they had succeeded : a Palestinian family was evicted from a land they covet.

The Daraghma family spent the night in the tent that serves as a school. The next day I joined them for the grim task of recovering their belongings which were all buried under the destroyed tent and of moving elsewhere. The whole family climbed the hill and in silence collected their things and out them in a tractor. They also recovered the structure of the tent, but some parts were broken. Tomatoes and cucumbers, the small gas cooker, everything was still in place under the destroyed tent. The children were remarkably calm and helped as much as they can. Then we went a few miles away to Al-Maleh. I watched the mother behind its Palestinian children carrying bags as they walked from the road to reach to their new place. Looking at them, I could only think back to those images of Palestinians in 1948 when they were driven from their villages and took the road with their things. The Nakba, the catastrophe as the Palestinians call it, continues today but in a more insidious way, slowly but surely.

With the help of everyone, the tent was up in a few hours, still with some parts missing because some of the bars were broken. A plastic cover was given to replace the torn one.

Even with the tent up, Nabil did not seem so relieved, he obviously knew that the army might come back. And indeed in the afternoon the soldiers visited us. The army initially tried to play the intimidation trick: "you have 10 minutes to go and demolish the tent!" A soldier also told Nabil that they monitored him 24 jour a day and that they would destroy his tent wherever he decides to put it: he must go to Tubas, they said. Tubas is the nearest town, and Nabil has twenty cows: where is he supposed to put them? The army also tried to play the “nice” tome trick: they wanted to make Nabil believe of he goes now, then after two weeks they would forget about him and that he could come back.
But Nabil was not fooled and refused to leave. And when we asked the army to show the demolition order, the soldiers told us that they would bring it the next day. The soldiers are really acting like cowboys, brutal and arrogant. They think that if they just bark at the Palestinians, they will leave their lands, but the soldiers are unable to see how deep the roots of the Palestinians are. They will not be able to uproot them.

I spent another night under the tent with the family. All our mattresses were bonded as if that would protect us better, unless this was just one way to keep warm. The night was quiet, the stars were beautiful, and everything would have been perfect if it was not the fear of being awakened by the soldiers. I left the next day, asking myself if I'm going to see again this family walking with their bags to their next destination, leaving room for settlers and soldiers who can not even leave a family of 6, their 20 cows, their horse and donkey in peace. This is just one example but the multiplication of the similar cases indicates a clear policy: that of a forced population transfer from the zones "c" (areas of the Palestinian that are totally controlled according to Oslo agreements by the Israelis) to areas "a", areas which are “controlled” by Palestinian Authority.

I just learned that three Bedouin families have also received notice of evacuation. Tomorrow I will return to the valley.

for more info see also: Jordan valley solidarity website

------FRANÇAIS-------------------------------------------------------------------------

30 Mars 2011: Une Nakba à petit feu dans la vallée du Jourdain.

A propos de Land Day, je veux parler de ce qui s'est passé dans la vallée du Jourdain.
La semaine dernière je me suis rendue dans la vallée du Jourdain pour continuer mon travail avec Activestills sur le déplacement forcé des populations. Mon petit séjour aurait pu être presque idyllique, à dormir dans une tente avec une famille palestinienne, dans un cadre magnifique. Le printemps pointe son nez et la vallée est très verte, et couverte par endroit de fleurs. La plupart des habitants de la vallée du Jourdain sont des bédouins. Ils ont une vie simple mais rendue de plus en plus difficile par les restrictions à la liberté de mouvement. Pour que leur bétail puisse avoir assez de pâturage, ils avaient l'habitude de bouger entre plusieurs endroits mais désormais c'est bien presque impossible entre les zones prises par les colons, celles déclarées «zone d'entrainement militaire » ou « zones naturelles », il ne reste plus grand chose aux Bedouins et beaucoup ont été obligés d'abandonner leur mode de vie traditionnel et des partir dans des villes.

Certains pourtant résistent et refusent de partir ou de travailler dans les colonies. C'est la cas de la famille Daraghme. Nabil est un Bedouin. Il vit dans une tente avec ses 4 enfants et sa femme une partie de l'année sur une terre qui appartient à l'Église et sur laquelle il réside régulièrement depuis 15 ans. Mardi dernier je me trouvais dans la vallée avec le groupe Jordan Valley Solidarity quand nous avons appris que pendant la nuit, des colons étaient venus installer une tente à quelques mètres seulement de celle de Nabil. Nous nous sommes rendus sur place. Nabil nous a raconté comment il avait déjà été menacé les jours précédents par l'armée et la police israéliennes qui lui ont ordonné de partir, et cela sans présenter aucun papier officiel. Mais Nabil a refusé, et comme par hasard les colons ont débarqué en masse un peu après au beau milieu de la nuit. La technique est assez simple: les colons installent une tente, l'armée israélienne arrive et pour des raisons de « sécurité » évacuent tout le monde. Au bout du compte bien sur la terre est laissée vacante et sera bientôt récupérée par les colons.

Je suis restée avec d'autres volontaires avec la famille toute la journée du mercredi et la nuit. Les colons ne cessaient de faire des aller et venues, armés bien évidemment. Les soldats sont aussi venus en fin d'après midi en disant encore à Nabil qu'il doit partir et que s'il ne démolissait pas sa tente lui-même ils allaient s'en charger le lendemain.
La nuit a été assez agitée. Les colons avaient braques les projecteurs sur la tente des Palestiniens et faisaient le plus de bruit possible. A un moment un colon aussi armé a essayé d'inciter son chien à attaquer les chiens des Palestiniens. Pendant la nuit ils ont attaqué les animaux en leur jetant des pierres. Nous pouvions entendre les colons rigoler et marcher tout près de la tente. Ils ont aussi uriné sur les réservoirs d'eau des Palestiniens. Le lendemain, j'ai dû partir mais Keren, une autre photographe du groupe, m'a remplacée. Elle est restée avec la famille et m'a appelé le lendemain pour me dire que la tente avait été démolie. La famille qui a refusé de laisser la tente se sont fait trainés dehors par les soldats ainsi que les quelques activistes israéliens et internationaux qui étaient avec eux. Tout le monde a été repoussé jusqu'à la route et la zone a été déclarée zone militaire fermée jusqu'au lendemain 7 heures. La famille était donc à la rue sans aucune de leurs affaires. Avec l'aide des volontaires ils ont essayé de reconstruire une tente mais la police israélienne est tout de suite venue pour leur dire que c'était interdit. Les colons étaient eux aussi partis avec leur tente mais ils ont bien obtenu gain de cause: l'expulsion forcée d'une famille palestinienne d'une terre qu'ils convoitent. La famille Daraghme a passé la nuit dans la tente qui sert d'école. Le lendemain je les rejoignais pour la triste tâche de récupérer leurs affaires sous la tente détruite et de partir ailleurs. Toute la famille a grimpé la colline et en silence ont récupéré leurs affaires et les ont amassées dans un tracteur. Ils ont aussi récupéré la structure de la tente mais certaines parties avaient été cassées. Les tomates et les concombres, la petite gaziniere, tout était encore en place sous la bâche. Les enfants étaient d'un calme remarquable et aidaient de leur mieux. Puis nous sommes partis à quelques kilomètres à Al Maleh. La mère Palestinienne devancée par ses enfants portant des sacs ont marché depuis la route pour rejoindre leur nouveau campement. Les regardant, je ne pouvais que repenser à ces images des Palestiniens en 1948 quand ils ont été chassés de leurs villages et ont pris les routes avec quelques affaires. La Nakba, la catastrophe comme les Palestiniens l'appelle, continue aujourd'hui mais d'une manière plus insidieuse, à petit feu.

En s'y mettant tous, la tente a été montée en quelques heures, une partie reste manquante car des barres ont été cassées. Une bâche a été donnée pour remplacer celle déchirée.

Nabil se semblait pas tranquille pour autant, il savait évidemment que l'armée risquait de revenir. Et en effet dans l'après midi elle nous a rendu visite. L'armée a d'abord essayé de jouer l'intimidation: « vous avez 10 minutes pour partir et démolir la tente! » Un soldat a aussi dit à Nabil qu'ils le surveillent 24h sur 24 et qu'ils détruiront sa tente peu importe où il décidera de la planter: il doit aller à Tubas. Tubas est la ville la plus proche, et Nabil a une vingtaine de vaches: où sont-elles censées restées? L'armée a aussi essayé d'amadouer Nabil en lui faisant croire qu'au bout de deux semaines il pourra revenir.
Mais Nabil n'a pas été dupe et a refusé de partir. Et quand nous avons demandé à l'armée de montrer l'ordre de démolition, le soldat nous a répondu qu'il l'apportera le lendemain. Les soldats agissent décidément comme des cowboys, brutaux et arrogants. Ils pensent qu'il suffit d'aboyer pour que les Palestiniens partent de leurs terres, incapables de voir combien leurs racines sont profondes.

Je passe encore une nuit sous la tente avec la famille. Tous nos matelas sont collés les uns aux autres comme si cela allait nous protéger davantage, à moins que cela ne soit qu'une manière de se tenir chaud. La nuit est calme, les étoiles sont magnifiques, et tout serait parfait si ce n'était la crainte d'être réveillée par les soldats. Je suis repartie le lendemain, en me demandant si je vais revoir la famille une nouvelle fois marcher avec leurs sacs jusqu'à leur prochaine destination, laissant la place à des colons et des soldats qui ne peuvent même pas laisser une famille de 6 personnes, leurs 20 vaches, leur cheval et leur mulet en paix. Ce n'est qu'un exemple parmi d'autres mais qui multiplié finit par indiquer une politique claire: celle d'un déplacement forcé de population des zones « c » (zones des territoires palestiniens contrôlées selon les accords Oslo par les Israéliens), vers les zones « a », des zones qui sont contrôlées avec l'aide active de l'autorité palestinienne.

Je viens d'apprendre que trois familles bédouines ont aussi reçu des avis d'évacuation. Demain je retourne dans la vallée.

Pour plus d'info voir aussi le site du group Jordan Valley Solidarity

Palestinian family forced out of Ein Hilwe / Une famlle palestinienne expulsee de Ein Hilwe, Jordan Valley, 26.03.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Ein Hilwe, 26.03.2011.

On 25.03.2011, a Palestinian family with 5 children was forced out of the village in Ein Hilwe by the Israeli army who demolished their tent without presenting any demolition orders. The demolition was provoked by the presence of settlers who put a tent next to the Palestinian family three days before. On the next day, the Palestinian family could collect most of their belongings which were buried under the demolished tent and moved to the area of Al Maleh where they built a new tent. The same day the Israeli army came and told them to destroy the tent and to "go to Tubas".

Le 25.03.2011, une famille palestinienne avec 5 enfants a été contrainte de quitter le village d'Ein Hilwe par l'armée israélienne qui a détruit leur tente sans présenter un ordre de démolition. La démolition a été provoquée par la présence de colons qui ont mis une tente à côté de la famille palestinienne trois jours avant. Le lendemain de la demolition, la famille palestinienne a ou recueillir la plupart de leurs biens qui ont été ensevelis sous la tente démolie et ont transporte leurs affaires à l'aide d'un tracteur dans la zone d'Al Maleh où ils ont construit une nouvelle tente. Le même jour, l'armée israélienne est venue et leur a dit de détruire la tente et à d'"aller à Tubas".

Settlers put a tent and try to force out Palestinians of their lands / des colons mettent une tente pour faire evacuer une famille palestinienne

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Ein Hilwe, Jordan Valley, 23.03.2011.


From Jordan Valley Solidarity:

Breaking news : the army is forcing the Bedouin family out of the land, arresting the head of the family and international and Israeli volunteers

Please contact us : 0599 352266 or 0598 853743

Report of our members in the village 24.3.11

Two days ago, Israeli soldiers came to Ein Il Hilwe community,in the Northern Jordan Valley, to tell the Bedouin to destroy their tent and if they don't they would go to jail.

During the night, settlers from the nearby settlement came to build a tent beside the Bedouin tent and told them 'if you destroy your tent we will destroy our tent too'. Then all night settlers walked and shout all around the Palestinian tents.

Settlers built a fence all around the Palestinian tent and are being aggressive with the family and international supporters staying there.

Ein Il Hilwe Bedouin community is surrounded by five settlements willing everyday to expend.

Last November, settlers already tried to take possession of this piece of land, building a fence all around it. After few days of struggle, the army finally removed the fence.

But today, few days after Netanyahu visit in the Jordan Valley, settlers are trying again to take the land.

Once again the occupation forces are trying to take more land and ressources from the Palestinians, pushing them to live the area. And once again we will struggle against this injustice !

JVS is calling international volunteers to join the struggle against this land theft.

Then the next day the tent was demolished:

Army declares the Bedouin land a 'closed military area' and demolishes the Bedouin tent

Ein Il Hilwe Bedouin land that faces settler aggression for 3 days is now declared 'closed military area' and their home was demolished by the army. Tonight Nabeel's family will have to sleep in the Jordan Valley Solidarity school.

After trying to build another tent beside the main road and being asked by the army to leave the area, the family has no other choice than to sleep in the tent school.


-----FRANÇAIS--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dans un petit village bedouins dans la vallee du Jourdain, des colons ont erige une tente au milieu de la nuit, a une distance de 15 metres d'une tente de Bedouins, sur des terres palestiniennes appartenant a l'Eglise. Les colons ont menace la famille pour qu'elle parte. L'armee israelienne est aussi venue, et ont aussi dit a la famille de partir et ont menace de detruire la tente, tout cela sans le moindre ordre officiel de demolition ou d;expulsion.
Le proprietaire leur a repondu que c'etait sa tente, sa maison et qu'il n'etait pas question de la detruire. Le lendemain les colons ont comence a batir une cloture et continuer de menacer la famille, l'armee est quant a elle intervenue,,,au lieu d'arreter les colons, les soldats ont detruit la tente de la famille qui cette nuit dormira dans l'ecole contruite par le groupe Jordan valley solidarity. La famille comprend 6 personnes dont 4 enfants, ils viennent sur ces terres depuis 15 ans.

Egypt proved to Palestinians that revolution has a point

Egypt proved to Palestinians that revolution has a point

In their attempts to suppress youth demonstrations in Gaza and Ramallah, the two rival Palestinian ruling parties appear to be remarkably in tune
By Amira Hass

At around 10:30 P.M. last Thursday, several brooms and trash bags suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and a few young men began sweeping the square and filling the trash bags. This wasn't Tahrir Square in Cairo, but Manara Square in Ramallah.

An act of imitation, or perhaps, one of inspiration? Cleaning a public space to express a connection to it is not not an Egyptian invention, many here are quick to remind you. Indeed, the hope sparked by the first intifada also led to collective clean-up efforts in various neighborhoods and refugee camps in the Israeli occupied territories. Whatever the case, this is clearly not just about sweeping up dusty asphalt, but rather, an expression of the unwritten correspondence taking place now between Cairo, Ramallah and Gaza.
Rally Gaza - Reuters



The young boys in Manara square - some of whom recently held a hunger strike and camped out here for nights - have also volunteered over the past year to carry out various chores in Nabi Salah, a village that has been waging a popular uprising against the army and Jewish settlers from Halamish, with many detainees and casualties to show for it. So there is really no need to go all the way to Cairo to search for inspiration.

The boys suspended their hunger strike for three days after PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced plans to travel to the Gaza Strip, and activists here say they will do their utmost to make sure he doesn't renege on his promise because as they see it, ending the internal rift among the Palestinians is vital to the success of the popular struggle against the Israeli occupation.

They've been hanging out in the square since the beginning of last week preparing for the demonstration that took place on Tuesday, March 15. Their motto fuses together various elements of the captivating slogans created by demonstrators in Tunisia and Egypt - "The people want an end to the rift, the people want an end to the occupation."

Palestinian and foreign media have reported that the protest in Gaza on Tuesday was violently repressed. Hamas has good reason, then, to claim that the media are biased against it, because at exactly the same time (around 7 P.M. ) that motorcycle-riding thugs in civilian clothes were attacking thousands of demonstrators in Gaza's Al-Katiba Square with batons and sticks and then proceeded to destroy their tents, bullies in civilian garb were also swooping down on dozens of demonstrators in Manara Square.

Without any coordination, the two rival ruling parties were able that day to operate in marvelous harmony. In Ramallah, dressed as demonstrators, the Fatah activists arrived early. Hoisting shiny Palestinian flags fresh out of the sewing workshop and carrying big bullhorns that were able to drown out any other noise, they chanted slogans not particularly friendly to Hamas. In Gaza, Hamas activists used flags, loudspeakers and slogans to gain control of the Square of the Unknown Soldier, but the protesters there outnumbered them and were able to fan out around the city despite attempts to intimidate them. Both sides in the dual-headed Palestinian regime tried out different tactics of repression used by neighboring governments (minus the stinky water, the lethal rubber bullets and the uniforms of the Israeli military court judges. ) The suppression of the demonstrators in Gaza was more brutal and less sophisticated. The thugs acting on behalf of the regime broke the arms of some of the young leaders and beat dozens of the other protesters, including women and children. Hamas security agents, driving cars with dark windows and without license plates, joined the attackers. Journalists were beaten, cameras were confiscated and several people were detained. As one of the protesters described it: "If in Gaza, [Hamas] beats me up in the street in order to intimidate and deter, in Ramallah, they [Fatah] invite an activist out to a restaurant."

But it went beyond tempting someone into a restaurant. When some of the young people insisted on remaining in Manara Square, a bunch of thugs identified with Fatah attacked and beat them. A respectable Fatah delegation rushed to the scene to clarify that "they are not us." The delegation members even brought a tent sent by Abbas as compensation for the two tents that had earlier been destroyed. But the demonstrators refused to accept the gift, showing the same determination they had shown previously when they asked representatives of three left-wing parties to leave the scene. "This is not a photo studio," one of them explained to me, referring to the exaggerated interest of the cameras in prominent personalities. The young demonstrators were also able to identify, smiling as they did, the various plainclothes intelligence officers mingling among them with serious expressions on their faces.

The Hamas Interior Ministry claimed, in a press release quoted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, that the demonstrators in Al-Katiba Square were mainly Fatah activists, particularly former members of the security branches. "They tried to use the demonstrations in order to create chaos," the press release said. "They shouted fiery slogans against the government. The security people intervened in order to disperse the crowd and force Fatah to observe the law and maintain security."

In Gaza, the regime has pointed a finger at Fatah (or more precisely, the Palestine Liberation Organization ). In Ramallah, the ruling party has hinted that the blame lies with "left-wing subversion." The fact is that during the March 15 demonstration, a slogan suddenly appeared calling for elections to the PLO's national council (the parliament ). This was immediately interpreted - and justifiably so - as an attempt to transfer hegemony from the Palestinian Authority (that is, Fatah ) to the PLO, albeit a rehabilitated and improved version of the movement. As one young activist enthusiastically explained to me: "With all due respect to the elders of our tribe, the youngest of them is older than 60, and altogether, 50 members of the national council are in a state of coma." Just as they did in Cairo, activities in the square provide a good crash course in political awareness and daring.

Despite efforts to suppress their activities in Gaza and the West Bank, the young people have already put together a long-term plan of action. Their initiative began in the West Bank, but very quickly attracted budding organizations in the Gaza Strip. All this transpired before the revolution in Egypt. But the success of the Egyptian revolution has provided them with a much-needed boost of adrenaline. Just like their peers in Cairo, the Palestinian youth want to free themselves from the shackles of the "there's nothing to do because there's no point" mentality. Egypt has proven that there is a point and that there is a purpose.

Egypt proved to Palestinians that revolution has a point

Egypt proved to Palestinians that revolution has a point

In their attempts to suppress youth demonstrations in Gaza and Ramallah, the two rival Palestinian ruling parties appear to be remarkably in tune
By Amira Hass

At around 10:30 P.M. last Thursday, several brooms and trash bags suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and a few young men began sweeping the square and filling the trash bags. This wasn't Tahrir Square in Cairo, but Manara Square in Ramallah.

An act of imitation, or perhaps, one of inspiration? Cleaning a public space to express a connection to it is not not an Egyptian invention, many here are quick to remind you. Indeed, the hope sparked by the first intifada also led to collective clean-up efforts in various neighborhoods and refugee camps in the Israeli occupied territories. Whatever the case, this is clearly not just about sweeping up dusty asphalt, but rather, an expression of the unwritten correspondence taking place now between Cairo, Ramallah and Gaza.
Rally Gaza - Reuters



The young boys in Manara square - some of whom recently held a hunger strike and camped out here for nights - have also volunteered over the past year to carry out various chores in Nabi Salah, a village that has been waging a popular uprising against the army and Jewish settlers from Halamish, with many detainees and casualties to show for it. So there is really no need to go all the way to Cairo to search for inspiration.

The boys suspended their hunger strike for three days after PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced plans to travel to the Gaza Strip, and activists here say they will do their utmost to make sure he doesn't renege on his promise because as they see it, ending the internal rift among the Palestinians is vital to the success of the popular struggle against the Israeli occupation.

They've been hanging out in the square since the beginning of last week preparing for the demonstration that took place on Tuesday, March 15. Their motto fuses together various elements of the captivating slogans created by demonstrators in Tunisia and Egypt - "The people want an end to the rift, the people want an end to the occupation."

Palestinian and foreign media have reported that the protest in Gaza on Tuesday was violently repressed. Hamas has good reason, then, to claim that the media are biased against it, because at exactly the same time (around 7 P.M. ) that motorcycle-riding thugs in civilian clothes were attacking thousands of demonstrators in Gaza's Al-Katiba Square with batons and sticks and then proceeded to destroy their tents, bullies in civilian garb were also swooping down on dozens of demonstrators in Manara Square.

Without any coordination, the two rival ruling parties were able that day to operate in marvelous harmony. In Ramallah, dressed as demonstrators, the Fatah activists arrived early. Hoisting shiny Palestinian flags fresh out of the sewing workshop and carrying big bullhorns that were able to drown out any other noise, they chanted slogans not particularly friendly to Hamas. In Gaza, Hamas activists used flags, loudspeakers and slogans to gain control of the Square of the Unknown Soldier, but the protesters there outnumbered them and were able to fan out around the city despite attempts to intimidate them. Both sides in the dual-headed Palestinian regime tried out different tactics of repression used by neighboring governments (minus the stinky water, the lethal rubber bullets and the uniforms of the Israeli military court judges. ) The suppression of the demonstrators in Gaza was more brutal and less sophisticated. The thugs acting on behalf of the regime broke the arms of some of the young leaders and beat dozens of the other protesters, including women and children. Hamas security agents, driving cars with dark windows and without license plates, joined the attackers. Journalists were beaten, cameras were confiscated and several people were detained. As one of the protesters described it: "If in Gaza, [Hamas] beats me up in the street in order to intimidate and deter, in Ramallah, they [Fatah] invite an activist out to a restaurant."

But it went beyond tempting someone into a restaurant. When some of the young people insisted on remaining in Manara Square, a bunch of thugs identified with Fatah attacked and beat them. A respectable Fatah delegation rushed to the scene to clarify that "they are not us." The delegation members even brought a tent sent by Abbas as compensation for the two tents that had earlier been destroyed. But the demonstrators refused to accept the gift, showing the same determination they had shown previously when they asked representatives of three left-wing parties to leave the scene. "This is not a photo studio," one of them explained to me, referring to the exaggerated interest of the cameras in prominent personalities. The young demonstrators were also able to identify, smiling as they did, the various plainclothes intelligence officers mingling among them with serious expressions on their faces.

The Hamas Interior Ministry claimed, in a press release quoted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, that the demonstrators in Al-Katiba Square were mainly Fatah activists, particularly former members of the security branches. "They tried to use the demonstrations in order to create chaos," the press release said. "They shouted fiery slogans against the government. The security people intervened in order to disperse the crowd and force Fatah to observe the law and maintain security."

In Gaza, the regime has pointed a finger at Fatah (or more precisely, the Palestine Liberation Organization ). In Ramallah, the ruling party has hinted that the blame lies with "left-wing subversion." The fact is that during the March 15 demonstration, a slogan suddenly appeared calling for elections to the PLO's national council (the parliament ). This was immediately interpreted - and justifiably so - as an attempt to transfer hegemony from the Palestinian Authority (that is, Fatah ) to the PLO, albeit a rehabilitated and improved version of the movement. As one young activist enthusiastically explained to me: "With all due respect to the elders of our tribe, the youngest of them is older than 60, and altogether, 50 members of the national council are in a state of coma." Just as they did in Cairo, activities in the square provide a good crash course in political awareness and daring.

Despite efforts to suppress their activities in Gaza and the West Bank, the young people have already put together a long-term plan of action. Their initiative began in the West Bank, but very quickly attracted budding organizations in the Gaza Strip. All this transpired before the revolution in Egypt. But the success of the Egyptian revolution has provided them with a much-needed boost of adrenaline. Just like their peers in Cairo, the Palestinian youth want to free themselves from the shackles of the "there's nothing to do because there's no point" mentality. Egypt has proven that there is a point and that there is a purpose.

activist account of repression of unity protests in Gaza City

This is the account of a female activist on the recent wave of repression of unity protests in Gaza City.


Things are going wild here. Hamas has discredited itself by it's harsh clampdown on demonstrators, but mostly by it's unwillingness to work towards unity. On the 15th of March they took over the demo that they claimed to support. However, in the early morning they put up their stage and soon their green flags were waving all over Al Jundi Square. A group of female students arrived to the square and chanted pro unity slogans, to be hushed out in an aggressive manner by men with green flags. So the youth took the demo to Al Kattiba square to demonstrate for unity away from the banner of any party, be it Hamas or Fateh. At approximately 3 pm, Hamas supporters came with their flags, causing for disruption. They had a Palestinian flag to which they attached a long green part, the party's flag. A stone fight broke out but calmed down rather quickly, as soon as the flags disappeared. Later in the afternoon Hamas had officially declared that it would protect all demonstrators and that they would be allowed to continue as long as it would continue to be non-violent. At the same time, rumors were spreading though that they would clear the square by 5 pm. 5 pm turned into 6 pm. Nothing happened at 6 pm, but a bit after 7 pm a sudden mass hysteria broke out, hundreds of people were running away. I was sitting down, taking a break and was almost run over by them. I couldn't grasp it though. I kept on asking people what they were running from as I hadn’t heard any gunfire. "Run, it's the poliiiice!" was all I got out. I ran away with them not fully comprehending what was happening. A little later, it figured out that they [Hamas] had run into a crowd of people with their jeeps, had set tents on fire and were beating people harshly with clubs. About 20 people ended up in hospital, of whom the majority were girls, mostly with broken limbs. It was crazy. but still I wondered why people were that afraid of wooden sticks. "It's because we know how much they hate people", different people told me.


Twenty minutes later, I passed by the square in a taxi and the square was packed with police and men in civilian dress carrying guns or sticks. Internal security was everywhere and they probably instigated the mass hysteria by collectively running away. It worked, in less than 10 minutes the square was cleared. Later in the evening I heard a friend, who is a journalist, was arrested and threatened that she would better watch her steps if she cares about her life and that of her son.


The day after, the youth decided to go to Al Jundi again, leaving from Al-Azhar university. Once they were inside the university, the police locked them up and Hamas thugs started rioting from the inside. One guy was severely injured and was taken away by an ambulance. Hundreds were supporting from the outside, but after an hour or two the police chased people again with their clubs, indiscriminately of gender. They hit me as well on my leg. It’s a big bruise, which is harmless, but it bet such a hit could break your knee.

Since then all craziness has embarked on Gaza. Yesterday morning, Al Qassam shot 50 rockets into Israel within half an hour, a well coordinated attack, while Hamas was trying to maintain the calm in Gaza and was restricting armed resistance. It is clear to me now, Hamas does not want unity, many of their move or mere PR. Abbas' visit to the coastal enclave won't happen. I wonder: do they even care about Palestine? It looks like they just want power over Gaza. But do they care about the Gazans? This barrage of mortar shells is an ideal excuse for Israel to crack down with excessive violence on Gaza again.


Internal security is everywhere now, looking to arrest more demonstrators, which they have declared to be illegal now, chasing them around, kidnapping them from the street etc. Yesterday evening they raided AFP and Reuters, confiscating their material and ravaging the places. A befriended free lance journalist was picked up from the streets, they took his phone and laptop and all personal belongings and called him a Zionist collaborator in favor of the US because he had a couple of films on his laptop that they didn’t like so much. It’s gone mental here! Hamas is risking another Israeli massacre just to avoid unity. Check Ynet - Tizpi Levni is already hungry for another Cast Lead.


My feeling is that they are using the two martyrs of the other day as an excuse. They supposedly target the Israeli occupation, but create a far bigger internal destruction.

Not only armed resistance is suppressed, peaceful demos in the border area are also outlawed. The young people are angry and disappointed with the government. How they are dealing with freedom of speech and press and the right to demonstrate is outraging.


Personally, I feel more uncomfortable here in Gaza because of the authority's regime. What I hear from people who were arrested is that they are accused of being with the West. I know many of the young people here who are involved in these protests, and Hamas is wrongly trying to depict these protests as Fateh instigated, supported by Zionists and their Western allies. I think I personally don’t need to be that afraid, but it's all becoming worrisome, let's keep it at that. Since yesterday, I feel the desperation of Palestine as I had never felt it before. I don't feel the hope now, what is there to have faith in? As my friend across the table has been saying all day: "the atmosphere is dark outside".

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ACCOUNT BY PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST

Last night March 14th, Hamas took over the Square, they brought their flags and their slogans and put a podium/stand with microphones.

Today, 15 March, morning, people started gathering in the Unknown Soldier Square, and in the same time, Hamas brought their supporters holding their "flags" and started singing for Hamas. They run people by cars, beat us with the sticks of their flags.

The "authorities" restricted all the private cab companies from picking people to the Unknown Soldier Square, all water vans from supplying us with water and banned anyone to supply us with microphones and sound systems.

We called out to them, come join us, hold the Palestinian flag and join us, we're here for all of us. Their response was calling us names, violence and mockery.

They had each of their flags made in half, half of it the Palestinian flag and the other half is Hamas' "flag", I said to one of the Hamas guys, "Take down your party's "Flag", hold up the Palestinian flag and come join us." He tore his flag in half, threw down the Palestinian flag to the road, and his exact words were, "Here's your flag, take it; my party's is enough for me."

We tried to go to another field, they blocked the way, and didn't allow us to go into the Soldier Square, so they pushed us into the Katyba Square, which we were fixed on not going to, because it is very dangerous- it is in an empty area, surrounded by police stations, many vacant buildings, but we had to go to secure safety for the people and maintain the peace.

Twice, Hamas supporters came to the Katyba Square and threw us with stones.

At night, they blocked all the ways to where we were, and Hamas thugs and internal security, and the OFFICIAL police attacked us with sticks at around 8.00-8.30 (i remember my sister told me i got home at 9+, so it's something round that).

They came out from everywhere, they burnt the tents. They've arrested people two women Asmaa' Al Ghoul and Samah Alrwag-who was stabbed in the back, many of the 15th of March organizers got into hospital and Hamas went and kidnapped them from there.

They came to where the women were standing right away, everybody ran for their lives, we ended up only 6 girls staying!!

They cornered the six of us and beat the life out of us with sticks, kicked us with their feet, spit on us, called us awful names and threatened us with the choice of firing guns!

Then someone came, and they told us to go home, I told the girls to come with me cause my place was the nearest "virtually", a number of thugs, policemen and internal security agents, walked around us, all the way calling us names and beating us. I walked holding my flag in front of me, and they were all mocking us and laughing saying, "You want to end the division, here's to the division!!" and that was accompanied with a stroke either on the back, maybe on the head, on the stomach or on the hips.

They took many photographer's cameras and broke many.

They're trying to suspend universities tomorrow, to make sure no body goes out, but we will be there. We're staying and like we said before, all what happened tonight will be forgiven; I will forgive, if only they'd come down with us and realize that we are peaceful, we are demonstrating because we're demanding a better future for all of us. I told one of the guys who was beating me, I'm here for you, I'm here for your future and your children's future, but he was deaf to my pleas!

In spite of everything that's happened, the demonstration, till they forced it apart with their sticks and flying chairs, remained faithful to its message, END THE DIVISION.

None of the slogans was biased to any political party, we all chanted and called for unity, for Palestine.

And we will go out tomorrow and they day after tomorrow and the day after that, calling for peace, security and unity.

Our message is, yes, we are willing to die for what we believe in, but that's not what we're trying to advocate.

Why die, when what we're doing is worth living for?

We're out because we want a better future for us and for our children. We're going out because we want to build our independent country. We're going out because we believe in life.

We had enough of death and violence, now we want peace, prosperity, love, LIFE.

We are the youth of Palestine, and we will NEVER cave in or give up, till we earn our right of having a choice in life.

We will not back down till we are free.



REVOLUTION!

- 15th of March activist/protester.
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ONE MORE (blog post by an activist)
with pictures: http://ranabaker.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/march-15-gaza-calls-for-end-to-the-palestinian-internal-division/

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Friend arrested and threatened: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=370192

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Human Rights Watch report
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/19/gaza-stop-suppressing-peaceful-protests

Palestinian youth still holding protest activities in Bethlehem / Les jeunes Palestiniens continuent leurs manifestations a Bethleem, 18.03.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem, 18.03.2011

Speeches, Music, Songs, Poetry and theater were all part of a series of activities led by Palestinian Youth in the Nativity Square during the evening of 18.03.2011.
Some Palestinian Youth have been staying in the protest tent that was erected on Wednesday evening. They continue to call for the end of division between Palestinian parties which resulted in the division between Gaza and the West Bank. The atmosphere was very nice and uplifting. Some special forces of the PA did appear around the tent but did not intervene.
More activities will be organized tonight. In the meantime, some young Palestinians are also staying in Ramallah around al manara square. Today some more demonstrations are also organized in Gaza. In the last few days, somne human rights organizations from the Gaza Strip denounced the attack by security forces on the demonstrators and journalists.
See for instance the press release by Al Mezan:



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Discours, musique, chansons, poésie et théâtre faisaient tous partie d'une série d'activités menées par un groupe de jeunes palestinienne qui ont elu domicile à la place de la Nativité dans la soirée du 18.03.2011.

Certains jeunes Palestiniens restent et campent dans la tente de protestation qui a été érigée, mercredi soir. Ils continuent a reclamer la fin de la division entre les partis palestiniennes qui ont abouti à la division desastreuse entre Gaza et la Cisjordanie. L'atmosphère était plutôt joyeuse . Certaines forces spéciales de l'Autorité palestiniennes sont apparu neanmoins autour de la tente, mais ne sont pas intervenues.
Plus d'activités seront organisées ce soir. En attendant, certains jeunes Palestiniens restent egalement à Ramallah autour de la place al Manara. Aujourd'hui, des manifestations sont également organisées dans la bande de Gaza. Certaines organisations des droits humains de la bande de Gaza ont dénoncé ces derniers jours les attaques contre les manifestants et les journalistes:
voir par exemple le communique de Al Mazan:

Palestinian youth still holding protest in Bethlehem / Les jeunes Palestiniens continuent leurs manifestations a Bethleem, 17.03.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem, 17.03.2011

A group of Palestinian calling for the end of division between Palestinian parties continue protesting and stay overnight in a protest tent, Bethlehem, 17.03.2011. They have been sleeping in the nativity square since the first day of the demonstrations calling for unity on 15th of March. They are determined to stay until unity and their other demands are met (including the release of political prisoners, and elections of the Palestinian national council). This is a new and fresh social movement led by Palestinian youth inspired by what happened elsewhere in the Arab World. They are connected with the other groups which are still organizing protests and sits-in in Ramallah and the Gaza Strip. Some results had already been achieved with 1) a significant number of Palestinians did go into the streets and left their political parties flags behind, clearly asking the PA and Hamas to reach a solution 2) Mahmoud Abbas agreeing to meet Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh...but as a young Palestinian told me last evening at the nativity square: " I want to see them "make" things and not "say"".
From what I could witness so far, this movement is truly independent and youth-led, and has clear goals and potential...these youth are not naive, they know they cannot change things overnight but they believe in the possibility of change. and more than just believing in it, they make it happen. That might be the best news for Palestine for a long long time. If this movement continues growing and is not kidnapped or strangled by the PA or Hamas, we might witness the start of a revolution that will come as a surprise to many analysts, the international community and Israel...a revolution for which nobody can forsee the end.

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Un groupe de jeunes Palestinien manifestant pour la fin de la division entre les partis palestiniens continuent de protester et de passer la nuit dans une tente de protestation, a Bethléem, 17.03.2011. Ils ont dormi sur la place de la Nativité depuis le premier jour des manifestations appelant à l'unité le 15 Mars. Ils sont déterminés à rester jusqu'à ce que l'unité et leurs autres demandes sont satisfaites ( qui incluent libération des prisonniers politiques, et les élections du Conseil national palestinien). Il s'agit d'un nouveau mouvement social dirigés par des jeunes palestiniens, inspirés par ce qui s'est passé ailleurs dans le monde arabe. Ils sont reliés avec les autres groupes qui sont encore en train organiser des manifestations et des sit-in à Ramallah et dans la bande de Gaza. Certains résultats ont déjà été obtenus avec 1) un nombre considérable de Palestiniens qui sont allés dans les rues et ont laissé leur drapeaux politiques derrière eux, demandant clairement l'Autorité Palestinienne et au Hamas pour parvenir à une solution 2) Mahmoud Abbas a accepté de rencontrer le de facto premier ministre Ismail Haniyeh à Gaza .. . mais comme un jeune Palestinien m'a dit hier soir sur la place de la Nativité: «Je veux les voir" faire "des choses et non pas" dire ".
D'après ce que j'ai pu voir jusqu'à présent, ce mouvement est réellement indépendant et dirigé par des jeunes, et a des objectifs clairs et un grand potentiel ... ces jeunes ne sont pas naïfs, ils savent qu'ils ne peuvent changer les choses du jour au lendemain, mais ils croient en la possibilité de changement. et plus que simplement croire en elle, ils sont en train d'agir pour le réaliser. C'est peut-être la meilleure nouvelle pour la Palestine depuis très très longtemps. Si ce mouvement continue à croitre et n'est pas detourné ou étranglé par l'Autorité palestinienne ou du Hamas, on est en train d'assister au début d'une révolution qui viendra comme une surprise pour de nombreux analystes, la communauté internationale et Israël ....et dont personne ne peut encore prédire la fin.



see also PNN article:

Youth Continue to Demand National Unity in Bethlehem

18.03.11 - 15:28

Ghassan Bannoura – PNN Exclusive – Three days after thousands of Palestinian youths rallied in the West Bank and Gaza Strip demanding national unity, a group of youth continued their sit-in in Bethlehem’s Manger Square. The young men and women are calling their tent a "unity tent," which they erected in the square on Tuesday, March 15. The protestors are part of the March 15 Youth coalition, which organized rallies in Gaza and West Bank cities to demand national unity and a new Palestinian National Council based on a one-person, one-vote model for all Palestinians around the world. After midday prayers ended at the nearby Mosque of Omar, youth chanted today, “The people demand national unity. Hamas and Fatah, unity for Palestine.” Manger Square Today -Photo by Circarre Parrhesia Joudat al-Sayah, one of the youths, told PNN, “We are staying until all our demands are met. We been here for three days so far and we are not leaving until our demands are reached.” The sit-in started on Tuesday with only 9 youths. Organizers say the number of people joining them in the tent is increasing every day. “We were 9 on the first day," said al-Sayah. "On Wednesday we became 30, last night were reached 90 and today we are 100. We expect the number to rise.” The protest tents set up by the youth in Ramallah and Bethlehem have not been attacked by security forces as yet. On Wednesday night, however, Palestinian police tried to remove the Unity Tent in Bethlehem without success.

Demonstration for unity / Manifestation appelant a l'unite, Bethlehem, 15.03.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activesills.org, Bethlehem, 15.03.2011

Why Palestinians will protest on 15 March
Rawan Abu-Shahla, The Electronic Intifada, 14 March 2011

We are a group of Palestinian youths who have come together for the sole purpose of leaving behind our political identities and affiliations, and deciding to put our best interests above all else, united under our Palestinian flag. We have called for peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday, 15 March across the Palestinian nation -- in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the territories of 1948 and the Palestinian diaspora, calling out together one slogan: "The people want to end the division!"

We call for peaceful actions in support of unity in the Palestinian political scene under one banner, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Division in the Palestinian body politic has affected every aspect of our lives: socially, economically, educationally and intellectually. It is ordinary Palestinians who have paid the price of the four-year long division that serves no one but the Israeli occupier.

Our campaign to end the division started out as a thought which stirred discussion, and some youths decided to give it a try and did everything possible to make this initiative happen. Day after day, the idea grew and became a plan and then a public decision to not be silenced anymore, not to be terrorized or oppressed and most importantly, not to be ignored and forgotten anymore. That is how we came to our decision to demonstrate on 15 March, state the public's refusal of the status quo and the practices of the political "leadership."

It is an idea so beautiful in its simplicity and purity, that all the political parties' attempts to alter it, complicate it, or accuse those behind it of serving some subversive agenda, have failed. And after discovering that this is a genuine movement that reflects nothing more than the conscience of the Palestinian public being awakened, the political parties are in distress and confusion. To oppress or not to oppress? -- that is the question they now face.

In recent weeks, we worked to spread the idea among the people, encouraging them to participate with their families, to trust that their voice will be heard once they raise it, and to trust each other and understand that we are all in this together no matter what political affiliations or beliefs we hold. We have sought to convince them that with unity in our call and in the field, we will vanquish the fear that is nesting inside us, and that when we stand together as one to claim or rights, no one can harm us or oppress us.

The peaceful 15 March demonstrations will be the start of a series of activities, and the first day of an open-ended sit-in. The main idea is that we're staying until the political "leadership" wises up, subjects itself to the people's demands and takes serious actions toward fulfilling them. What happens next is totally in the hands of the people.

This movement is from the people, and for them. As for Gaza Youth Breaks Out (GYBO), and all other participating groups working in the field, we have only the honor of initiative. All else now depends on how the Palestinian street responds, and on how strong they can be.

Things will be hard; there are threats, whether of violence from controlling parties, or fear of chaos. But we have complete faith in our call and in our people. We are betting on the patriotic Palestinian conscience to act up, and for all to learn to accept, respect and salute our differences, forgive the past and start anew, showing the world a true Palestinian example of tolerance. Our calls are peaceful and our only purpose is to restore the lost harmony in Palestinian society.

The campaign to end the division is a long-awaited public decision to move, and to cast away all the fears. There is a long list of reasons why people are so fed up and why they are going out to make their demands heard.

Palestinians have now come to understand that through their silence and submission to the political parties' wills, through accepting to be manipulated and terrorized, they become accomplices just as guilty as the parties themselves.

The people are going out so that they will do their part in bringing change, and breaking out of the general air of indifference that has been filling our hearts for the past four years.

We Palestinians, with all our different backgrounds, will no longer be ignored. We will claim our rights as citizens and human beings to be respected, protected and recognized as the sole source of legitimate power. Our government must understand that we the people are a force to be reckoned with. We will not be deceived by speeches -- we've had enough of those. We believe that actions speak louder than words and we, the Palestinian public, are doing our part with this initiative to give the "leadership" one more chance to earn our trust.

The day of a one-way relationship between the governors and the people will be, come 15 March, over.

The division among Palestinians must end. It has weakened our cause and instead of remaining the internationally-renowned symbol of a righteous and lawful struggle that it has always been, it has deteriorated into an illusion of authority and positions, allowing our occupier and real oppressor, Israel, to violate us. Israel continues to kidnap and imprison more innocent Palestinians without fair trials, to invade our territories, wreck our homes, uproot our trees, steal our heritage, bomb our cities and besiege the Gaza Strip for five consecutive years. Israel continues to violate UN resolutions without anyone holding it accountable. And with the lack of a proper Palestinian leadership, there will be no stopping Israel from doing what it wants.

So our message is clear and simple: end the division, turn to Palestinian public opinion and work for the prosperity of Palestinians to pave the way for the establishment of our democratic, independent Palestinian state. Unity is due.

Our call goes out to every Palestinian, be true to yourself, be true to your cause, be true to the sacrifices that our great people have given throughout 63 years of suffering. Go out on 15 March, denounce the division and anyone who stands by it.

Together in the name of our sacred cause, our martyrs and our prisoners, we call for unity under our Palestinian flag. There's absolutely no doubt in our hearts that our peaceful demonstrations will be the dawning of a new Palestinian day, where every Palestinian feels that he or she belongs.

Rawan Abu-Shahla is a member of Gaza Youth Break Out and lives in Gaza

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Pourquoi les Palestiniens manifestent le 15 mars

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Nous, un groupe de jeunes Palestiniens, nous sommes réunis dans le seul but de laisser derrière nous nos identités et nos affiliations politiques, et de décider de placer notre intérêt avant tout, unis sous le drapeau palestinien.

Mardi 15 mars 2011 - Manifestation à Gaza

Nous avons appelé à des manifestations pacifiques, ce mardi 15 mars, à travers la nation palestinienne - dans la bande de Gaza et en Cisjordanie, les territoires de 1948 et la diaspora palestinienne, avec un seul slogan : « Le peuple veut mettre fin à la division ! »

Nous appelons à des actions pacifiques en faveur de l’unité sur la scène politique palestinienne, et sous une même bannière, celle de l’Organisation de Libération de la Palestine [OLP].

La division dans le corps politique palestinien a touché tous les aspects de notre vie : social, économique, éducatif et intellectuel. Ce sont les Palestiniens ordinaires qui ont payé le prix de la division qui dure depuis quatre ans et ne sert rien d’autre que l’occupant israélien.

Notre campagne pour mettre fin à la division a commencé comme une simple idée qui suscite la discussion, et certains jeunes ont décidé de lui donner réalité et de faire tout son possible pour faire que cette initiative aboutisse.

Jour après jour, l’idée a grandi et est devenu un projet et ensuite une décision publique de ne plus se taire, de n’être ni terrorisés ni opprimés et, surtout, de ne pas être ignorés et oubliés. Voilà comment nous sommes arrivés à notre décision de manifester le 15 mars, refusant le statu quo et les pratiques de la politique du « leadership ».

C’est une idée si belle dans sa simplicité et sa pureté que toutes les tentatives des partis politiques de la modifier, la compliquer, ou d’accuser ceux qui sont derrière elle de servir les objectifs de la subversion ont échoué. Et après avoir découvert qu’il s’agit d’un véritable mouvement qui reflète rien de plus que la conscience en éveil de l’opinion publique palestinienne, les partis politiques sont dans l’inquiétude et la confusion. Réprimer ou de ne pas réprimer ? Telle est la question à laquelle ils sont confrontés aujourd’hui.

Ces dernières semaines, nous avons travaillé à diffuser l’idée parmi les gens, les encourageant à participer avec leurs familles, à avoir confiance dans le fait que leur voix sera entendue une fois qu’elle sera exprimée, et à se faire mutuellement confiance et à comprendre que nous sommes tous pareillement impliqués, indépendamment de nos affiliations politiques ou nos croyances. Nous avons cherché à les convaincre que unis dans notre appel comme sur le terrain, nous allons vaincre la peur qui niché à l’intérieur de nous, et que lorsque nous nous tenons ensemble comme un seul homme pour affirmer nos droits, personne ne peut ni nous nuire ni nous opprimer.

Les manifestations pacifiques du 15 mars seront le début d’une série d’initiatives, et le premier jour d’une série illimitée de sit-in. L’idée principale est que nous restions sur place jusqu’à ce que la politique de « leadership » se soumette aux exigences du peuple et prenne des mesures sérieuses pour les respecter. Ce qui se passera ensuite est totalement entre les mains du peuple.

Ce mouvement est celui du peuple, et pour lui. En ce qui concerne Gaza Youth Breaks Out (GYBO), et tous les autres groupes travaillant sur le même terrain, nous avons seulement l’honneur de l’initiative. Tout le reste dépend maintenant de la façon dont la rue palestinienne réagit, et sur ​​sa force.

Les choses seront difficiles, il y aura des menaces, qu’il s’agisse de la violence des partis dominants ou de la peur du chaos. Mais nous avons une confiance totale dans notre appel et dans notre peuple. Nous parions sur la conscience patriotique palestinienne, et pour que tous nous apprenions à accepter, à respecter et à saluer nos différences, à pardonner le passé et à recommencer à zéro, à montrer au monde entier un véritable exemple de tolérance parmi les Palestiniens. Nos appels sont pacifiques et notre seul but est de restaurer l’harmonie perdue dans la société palestinienne.

La campagne pour mettre fin à la division est une décision attendue depuis longtemps par beaucoup, pour abandonner toutes les craintes. Il y a une longue liste de raisons qui font que les gens en ont assez et qu’ils sortent dans la rue pour faire entendre leurs revendications.

Les Palestiniens ont fini par comprendre que par leur silence et leur soumission aux volontés des partis politiques, en acceptant d’être manipulés et terrorisés, ils deviennent les complices tout aussi coupables que ces partis eux-mêmes.

Les gens prennent la rue, amenant leur part du travail pour imposer le changement et pour sortir de l’atmosphère générale d’indifférence qui a paralysé nos cœurs ces quatre dernières années.

Nous, Palestiniens, avec toutes nos différences, ne seront plus ignorés. Nous revendiquons nos droits en tant que citoyens et êtres humains qui doivent être respectés, protégés et reconnus comme la seule source d’un pouvoir légitime. Notre gouvernement doit comprendre que nous, le peuple, représentons une force avec laquelle il faut compter. Nous ne nous laisserons pas tromper par des discours - nous en avons assez. Nous croyons que les actions sont plus éloquentes que les mots, et nous, l’opinion publique palestinienne, contribuons à cette initiative pour donner au « leadership » encore une chance de gagner notre confiance.

Après le 15 mars, la relation à sens unique entre les gouvernants et le peuple sera abolie.

La division entre les Palestiniens doit être terminée. Elle a affaibli notre cause et au lieu de rester le symbole, de renommée internationale, de la lutte juste et légitime qu’elle a toujours été, elle s’est détériorée dans une illusion de pouvoir et de postes, permettant à notre occupant et notre vrai oppresseur, Israël, de nous martyriser.

Israël continue de kidnapper et d’emprisonner les Palestiniens innocents, à envahir nos terres, à détruire nos maisons, à arracher nos arbres, à voler notre patrimoine, à bombarder nos villes et à assiéger la bande de Gaza depuis cinq années consécutives. Israël continue à violer les résolutions de l’ONU sans que personne ne le tienne pour responsable. Et en l’absence d’un leadership palestinien adéquat, il n’y aura rien qui empêchera Israël de faire ce qu’il veut.

Donc, notre message est clair et simple : mettre fin à la division, se tourner vers l’opinion publique palestinienne et travailler pour la prospérité des Palestiniens en ouvrant la voie à la création de notre État palestinien démocratique et indépendant. L’unité est une nécessité.

Notre appel est lancé à tous les Palestiniens, à nous-mêmes, pour que nous soyons fidèles à notre cause, aux sacrifices que notre grand peuple a supporté tout au long de 63 années de souffrance. Sortez dans la rue le 15 mars, dénoncez la division et tous ceux qui ne vivent que par elle.

Ensemble, au nom de notre cause sacrée, de nos martyrs et de nos prisonniers, nous appelons à l’unité sous notre drapeau palestinien. Il n’y a absolument aucun doute dans nos cœurs que nos manifestations pacifiques seront l’aube d’un jour nouveau.

* Rawan Abu-Shahla appartient au mouvement Gaza Youth Break Out et vit à Gaza

14 mars 2011 - The Electronic Intifada - Vous pouvez consulter cet article à :
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/ar...
TRaduction : Naguib pour info.net

Demonstration for unity / Manifestation appelant a l'unite, Ramallah, 15.03.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Ramallah, 15.03.2011.

Thousands of Palestinians gather in Ramallah to call for the end of division between Palestinian parties, which include the release of all political prisoners and new elections for the Palestinian National Council, 15.03.2011.

Des milliers de Palestiniens ont manifesté a Ramallah pour demander la fin de la division entre les partis, ce qui inclue la liberation de tous les prisonniers politiques et la tenue d'election du Conseil national Palestinien, 15.03.2011

Solidarity Day in Araqib / Jour de solidarité avec Araqib, Neguev, 12.03.2011

(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Al Araqib, 12.03.2011

On 12.03.2011, the Bedouins from the village of Al Araqib together with a group of Israeli, Palestinian and international supporters, planted olive trees on their devastated lands. The planting was followed by a protest march to the nearby site iof the Jewish National Fund where the bulldozers and equipments which are used to destroy the village and build a forest on it are kept. Al Arakib, home of around 300 people, had been destroyed 19 times. The remaining inhabitants currently live in the cemetery.

Le 12.03.2011, les Bédouins du village de Al Araqib avec un groupe de supporters israéliens, palestiniens et internationaux, ont planté des oliviers sur leurs terres dévastées. L'action a été suivie d'une marche de protestation jusqu'au site du Fonds National Juif (JNF) à proximité , où les bulldozers et les équipements qui sont utilisés pour détruire le village et construire une forêt sont gardés. Al Arakib, un village bedouin d'environ 300 personnes, a été détruit 19 fois. Les habitants restants vivent actuellement dans le cimetière.