Soldiers Get Rough With Protesters in Umm Salamuna, Bethlehem
First published on International Solidarity Movement website
On Friday afternoon August 17th I joined over 150 Palestinian landowners and their families were accompanied by Israeli and international human rights activists to protest against the Apartheid wall in Umm Salamuna, district of Wlaga, on the outskirts of Bethlehem.
This is the second such protest to have taken place in recent weeks as the community has become increasingly concerned about the illegal annexation of Palestinian land.
The Apartheid wall is currently under construction in the area, although many hectares of olive groves, pine trees and other vegetation have already been destroyed by the Israeli occupying forces.
At the beginning of the demonstration locals hung up banners at the entrance to the site which bulldozers use daily. They clearly outlined the community’s opposition with slogans stating ‘Our land is the key issue,’ ‘We are nothing without land,’ while on the march they chanted ‘No to occupation,’ ‘No to house demolitions,’ ‘No to tree destruction.’
The local community-led non-violent action commenced with an address by a local community leader in Arabic and English about the history of the local area followed by prayers conducted on the roadside, observed at close quarters by over 25 Israeli soldiers.
There was a peaceful march towards the area, which is being leveled in order to make way for the building of the wall. Local Palestinians gave further speeches were given about the devastation that is taking place despite local opposition. ISM activists initiated a nonviolent direct action by building a stone barrier to stop the path of the bulldozers on the valley that faces the illegal Israeli settlement.
The peaceful protestors proceeded uphill towards the Apartheid Wall but were blocked by Israeli soldiers and jeeps. After a non-violent attempt to get to the wall the soldiers stopped the march by aggressively pushing the activists and unsuccessfully attempting to arrest a number of Palestinians and Internationals. Demonstrators were violently grabbed and pushed to the ground, while one Irish activist was kicked in the head. Mainstream and independent media present were also deliberately pushed and obstructed from recording the soldier’s violent behavior.
The demonstrators maintained their nonviolence throughout the march and peacefully dispersed at about 2pm, confident that they manifested their dissent towards the annexation of Palestinian land by the Israeli State. A Spanish activist who attended the demonstration was arrested at a checkpoint as he left the area soon after the demonstration ended. ISM video evidence shows that he participated in a legal and nonviolent manner on the periphery of the protest.
Thanks to B. who helped me with this report.
On Friday afternoon August 17th I joined over 150 Palestinian landowners and their families were accompanied by Israeli and international human rights activists to protest against the Apartheid wall in Umm Salamuna, district of Wlaga, on the outskirts of Bethlehem.
This is the second such protest to have taken place in recent weeks as the community has become increasingly concerned about the illegal annexation of Palestinian land.
The Apartheid wall is currently under construction in the area, although many hectares of olive groves, pine trees and other vegetation have already been destroyed by the Israeli occupying forces.
At the beginning of the demonstration locals hung up banners at the entrance to the site which bulldozers use daily. They clearly outlined the community’s opposition with slogans stating ‘Our land is the key issue,’ ‘We are nothing without land,’ while on the march they chanted ‘No to occupation,’ ‘No to house demolitions,’ ‘No to tree destruction.’
The local community-led non-violent action commenced with an address by a local community leader in Arabic and English about the history of the local area followed by prayers conducted on the roadside, observed at close quarters by over 25 Israeli soldiers.
There was a peaceful march towards the area, which is being leveled in order to make way for the building of the wall. Local Palestinians gave further speeches were given about the devastation that is taking place despite local opposition. ISM activists initiated a nonviolent direct action by building a stone barrier to stop the path of the bulldozers on the valley that faces the illegal Israeli settlement.
The peaceful protestors proceeded uphill towards the Apartheid Wall but were blocked by Israeli soldiers and jeeps. After a non-violent attempt to get to the wall the soldiers stopped the march by aggressively pushing the activists and unsuccessfully attempting to arrest a number of Palestinians and Internationals. Demonstrators were violently grabbed and pushed to the ground, while one Irish activist was kicked in the head. Mainstream and independent media present were also deliberately pushed and obstructed from recording the soldier’s violent behavior.
The demonstrators maintained their nonviolence throughout the march and peacefully dispersed at about 2pm, confident that they manifested their dissent towards the annexation of Palestinian land by the Israeli State. A Spanish activist who attended the demonstration was arrested at a checkpoint as he left the area soon after the demonstration ended. ISM video evidence shows that he participated in a legal and nonviolent manner on the periphery of the protest.
Thanks to B. who helped me with this report.
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