The government of Israel's policy of home demolitions and land destruction/confiscation is now reaching a "closed Paradise." This is what Palestinian residents of the village of Artas call their village, because it is situated between two beautiful mountains, with the valley stretching and snaking from one side of the valley to the next, with a big church built into the side of the mountain, caves scattered throughout the lush mountainsides, chik peas growing here, apricots there.
In the distance the illegal Israeli settlement of Efrat sits atop a hill. And because of this, the trees of the Abu Swai family will be deleted from the history books, and in its place, a pool of dung.
"Don't S**T on my apricots!"
Mohammad Abu Swai, who holds the deeds to this land, explains the situation in Artas village
Maybe it was because the word was spread, the call was headed, and 4 Israeli and 9 international solidarity activists joined Palestinians in the village of Artas today to resist the Israeli army's demolition of a field of apricot trees in Jesus' hometown of Bethlehem.
Photo of apricot tree, cut by Israeli forces
Or maybe it was because it started to pour down rain, equipped with lightning and thunder, causing not only the army, but also the activists to take shelter in the nearby caves.
Israeli bulldozers ripping apart land for extension of Israeli settlement of Efrat
Regardless, the Israeli bulldozers will be back tomorrow morning, and the Palestinians of Artas village are still seeking the help of solidarity activists to join them in resisting these abhorring actions on behalf of the Israeli army.
The illegal Israeli settlement of Efrat is in the distance. The army is destroying this field of apricot trees in order to pave the way for a new sewage system for the illegal colony. The day before we arrived, contractors and soldiers lined the trees and land with markers, reading "10 meteres, 40 meters, etc," leading all the way up to 150 meters.
Israeli settlement of Efrat in distance,
Some of us want to make T-shirts that say "Don't shit on our aprictos!"
Artas is a beautiful village, as are her apricot trees and her people. As Israeli bulldozers ripped away the hilltop in the distance to make way for military roads, settler roads, and a place for the militarily-funded Bedouin security personnel to sleep at night and guard the construction site, farmers from Artas whipped up some delicious tea and thanked us all for coming to resist the demolition of their fields.
But the rain came and pushed all the soldiers away.
Soldiers and construction workers continued their "security"-housing project. The next morning, the fence completely in place around a generator and an observation-tower. This they will utilize when Israeli contractors dig 6 meters into the ground, place the sewage pipes, and replace the dirt and rocks back over top. In a year or so, the sewage drain will effectively turn Artas, what residents call a "closed Paradise," into a cesspool.
Today is Saturday, May 19, 1:15 pm Palestine time. Israel and international solidarity activists are currently heading back to Artas, to sleep in tents in the field of apricot trees. It is Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, so no work is work/demolition of the land is expected to occur until sundown.
I will update more on the demolitions as the news comes in...
(I was able to get this story published in The Palestine Times)
And the Israeli occupation forces in Bil'in were just as destruction-happy last Friday (May 11) when they used unnecessary, excessive violence to quell the regular Friday demonstration against Israel's Apartheid Wall, arresting 10 and injuring seven.
Palestinians were joined by international and Israeli solidarity activists after Friday prayers. Abdallah, a resident of Bil'in and member of the popular committee, explained the theme of the demo for today. He stated, "This demonstration today is dedicated to Azmi Bishara. Azmi Bishara was a Palestinian member of the Israeli parliament. Israel is accusing him of working with Hizbollah during Israel's lost war with Lebanon last summer. Azmi is now living in Qatar because, if he returns, Israel will put him in jail for 25 years. But it is Olmert and Peretz who should be in jail."
"From Bil'in, we are sending out support and solidarity for Azmi Bishara," rang a chant as the demonstration started.
The demonstration left the mosque and marched towards the gate in the Apartheid Wall. Israeli soldiers and border police were already waiting for the non-violent demonstration at the destination.
Photo by Jonas
Demonstrators reached a wall of barbed wire which the occupation forces had constructed on the path. Chants of "End the Occupation" and "Tear down the wall" could be heard. One Israeli border policeman suddenly took aim and shot a Palestinian demonstrator with two rubber-coated steel bullets.
Martinez, and American activist, described the event: "I was just a few feet from Adeeb Abu Rahma when the border policeman shot him. The officer was just about 6 feet away. He took aim for Addeb's legs and hit him twice on the inner side of his thighs. Immediately, Adeeb fell to the ground screaming. Activists immediately came to his assistance. When they lowered Adeeb's pants to assess the injuries, I could see two fairly large holes, bleeding."
Adeeb was taken away by medics with the Red Crescent and driven to the hospital, where he sits at this moment. The rubber-coated steel bullets, because they were shot from such a close range, entered Adeeb's body. He just finished two operations in a Ramallah hospital where he must remain for at least two days under physician supervision. Rubber bullets are considered deadly by the Israeli army if they are shot at a distance from under 40 meters.
At this point, Israeli activists confronted the Israeli commanders to demand an explanation.
Jonathan Pollock explained, "when we tried to get details from the commander, details which he is mandated to give, the commander instead arrested us. There has been a rapid increase in violence in the last few weeks on the part of Israeli forces. This reflects a desperate attempt to break the non-violent resistance by using unwarranted military force and violence."
Israeli activist being arrested
In all, 6 Palestinians (Iyad, Abid, Aid, Naser, Issa, Yosef) and 4 Israelis (Jonathan, Sarah, Nir, Gur) were arrested and later released.
Israeli forces invade the village, firing tear gas, Photo by Jonas
Six other demonstrators were wounded by rubber bullets or tear gas when the border police left the site of the wall and entered the village.
Photo by Ahmad Daghlas
Police were shooting projectile tear gas cannisters and firing rubber bullets as they progressed further into the village of Bil'in. Border police were pushing people out of the way with their rifle and throwing activists around.
Israeli forces assaulting Palestinian activist
The border police effectively chased the majority of the demonstrators back into the village by using brute force.
And I wonder when the day will come when all of this will hit the mainstream media over your ways...