TWO ARRESTED IN AL MA'ASARA

Who is braver? The child waving the flag or the soldiers with their weapons?

2nd April, 2010

International Solidarity Movement

A larger than usual crowd gathered this Friday, April 4, in South Betlehem to protest the ongoing construction of the Annexation Barrier on the lands of Palestinians from Al-Ma’asara, Um Salamuna, Wadi Rahaal, and Wadi An-Nis. People from Um Salamuna and Al-Ma’asara were joined by international and Israeli activists this Friday with the intention of marching from the villages to the current construction site, near the Efrat settlement.

This gathering was also held in commemoration of Land Day, marking the anniversary of mass confiscation of Palestinian land in 1976.

Palestinians, Israelis and internationals marched peacefully towards the village’s land. The Israeli Occupation Forces set up an ad hoc barrier, stringing barbed wire across the road to try to prevent the march from proceeding. at which point the demonstrators stopped and began chanting resistance anthems.

Though the barrier was breached a few times, the Palestinians and their supporters resolved to sit behind the fence to demonstrate their non-violent stance while making their condemnation of the confiscation of Palestinian land for the construction of the Barrier clear.

Speeches were given by representatives of the non-violent popular struggle committee. The soldiers then announced that the area had been declared a Closed Military Zone (CMZ), removed the barbed wire and moved on foot and in jeeps towards the protesters, throwing percussion grenades and tear gas canisters directly at them.

Gosh those protesters sure look violent. It is wonderful to see Israelis joining the Palestinians in these demonstrations.

An Israeli supporter was taken from the group and detained for about an hour by Israeli police and soldiers before being released. Two protesters were arrested after asking to see a copy of the CMZ order. One was released in Al Masara. The other is being held at Gush Etzion Prison.No injuries were reported.

Last Sunday, a number of men from the village were arrested in Bethlehem when attempting to retrace Jesus’ Palm Sunday route into Jerusalem. The Israeli and International activists arrested with them were released on the same day, but, in a clear act of racial discrimination, the Palestinians were held in prison until Thursday, when they were released on bail to reappear in court on the 18th April.

The judge rebuked the police and prosecution,

agreeing that it had been

an entirely non-violent demonstration.

That is wonderful! Almost always the judge upholds "the law". Is this the sign of a crack within Israel's legal system by any chance?

Al Masara has held a weekly demonstration since November 2006. The villagers are restricted from accessing their land, as it is the area in which the Israeli authorities are continuing to build the illegal separation barrier. When completed, it will run for a total of over 700 km, the large majority of which runs through and annexes Palestinian land.