I’ll spare you today’s report, which would only follow the standard sequence. By now you know it better than I do—the stolen fields, ripening barley, settlers, soldiers, detention, release, expulsion, waiting, more waiting, arrests, release, more soldiers, sheep, thorns, fury. And you don’t need me to draw the stark lines of right and wrong. Some time ago a high officer from the Civil Administration summoned Sa‘id al-‘Awad, who’s leading the Palestinian cause in Umm al-Ara’is, where the stolen lands have been officially classified as “in dispute.” Settlers have plowed and ...Sunday, March 24 2013 What IDF does not want you to see by Mairav Zonszein According to Guy, an Israeli Ta’ayush activist and documentarian of occupation in the South Hebron Hills area of the West Bank – there has been an increase in incidents over the last month in which Israel Defense Forces soldiers have been preventing him and other Israelis from filming what goes on. In this 7-minute video, edited together from footage taken just over the last few weeks, between February 23 and March 9, IDF soldiers – as well as high-ranking officers – are seen blocking camera lenses over and over ...
Saturday, February 23 2013 Shamasteh Family lands, Susya, Zanuta by David Shulman
— It’s cold, blustery, a grey-green day. This is that evanescent moment when the hills turn green, like in Ireland, and the red anemones break through the hard surface of the soil. Dark clouds, dark earth. We’re at a bus-stop on the highway near Susya, waiting for the Shamasteh family to pick us up. Here’s their story. They own a large swathe of good land, and they have the registry documents to prove it, but the Susya settlers have stolen, in broad daylight, a big chunk of these holdings; now ...Saturday, January 19 2013 15 arrested in Umm el-Arayes, among them an 18 month old baby 10 Palestinians and five Israeli activists were arrested in Umm el-Arayes for violating a closed military zone issued to prevent the Palestinian farmers from plowing their own land. The occupation forces used much violence and a skunk truck was brought to the spot. Among the detainees was an 80 year old man, and three minors, among them an 18 month old baby who was arrested along with her mother. Most detainees were released on Sautrday. Two were held in arrest overnight: one Palestinian woman,the mother of the arrested baby (the ...
Saturday, January 19 2013 Rihya by David Shulman
For a brief report of the violent arrest of fifteen people, at Umm Arayes about the same time as the event recounted below, click here. — Three armed reservists are waiting for us when we arrive. Initially, they are rather jolly. “Shalom, Shabbat Shalom. Please tell us your names.” They shake hands with Yusuf, who is leading the Ar-Rihiye contingent. Most of the Palestinians are carrying olive saplings in their hands. They want to plant them in this field. Ar-Rihiye (population 3500) clings to a tall hill; its best lands ...Friday, January 4 2013 ‘Isawiyya protest by David Shulman
— I meet the drummers on the city bus to French Hill. They ask me: “Are you going there?” Yes. Smiles. I tell them I’m happy to see the big drum again; it brings up good memories of Sheikh Jarrah, the demonstrations two years ago and more. There the drums made all the difference. They say to me: “You’re an honorary drummer.” Now that’s worth putting on my CV. — The Border Police are, of course, waiting for us at the gas station at the edge of the village. Quite ...Saturday, December 1 2012 Partnering in justice by Jon Simons This post was originaly published in Jon’s blog – israelipeaceimages.com If I were a cinematographer, I’d show you the scene this way. First you see small groups of Palestinian men and children sitting on rocks on a sunny hillside, mostly in everyday, modern clothes, many smoking as they chat. The camera passes over a few Israelis and a Westerner sitting among them, apparently basking in the sun. To one side, women, more of whom are in traditional dress, are preparing tea over an open fire. You might think it’s a ...
Saturday, November 17 2012 Mitzpe Yair and Susya by David Shulman
10 AM. A dusty blue tractor, idle at the edge of the field. Some twenty soldiers, including many officers and a Druze super-officer from the Civil Administration. Six army vehicles plus the big police van. A dozen settlers or so, held at bay by the soldiers. Fifteen Palestinians of the ‘Awad and Jabareen families, whose land we are standing on. Sa’id ‘Awad, restrained, dignified, is their spokesman today. Children—like Latif, in school in Yata, and Sara, in a long brown coat and pink boots and a knitted scarf for the ...
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