The Only Democracy? » Entries tagged with "Bi’lin"
Remembering Bassem (Pheel) Abu Rahma
Exactly one year ago, Bassem Abu Rahma (who everyone called Pheel, which means “elephant”), was killed by Israeli forces. Pheel, as he did every Friday, was demonstrating at the Wall which cuts off Bil’in from its own lands. His last words were to ask the soldiers not to shoot because an Israeli had been injured. He was shot in the chest by a tear gas canister, as can be seen in this video (somewhat graphic). Pheel … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
How the Shabak Use the Children of Palestine
Ed. Note: The following is a report from Bi’lin resident Yasser Awad Yasin on his interrogation by Israeli security forces. My name is Yasser Awad Yasin. I am 27 years old and I’m from the village of Bil’in. I’m married and I have two sons and one daughter. The Shabak (Israeli security ) had called me on the phone and told me to go to their office. I didn’t go, so the army raided my house. I was … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Wife and Nine Children of Bil’in Political Prisoner: Life Without Adeeb
Adeeb Abu Rahma, a taxi driver from the West Bank Village of Bil’in, is known for his firm committment to nonviolence during the weekly demonstrations against the Wall. At the July 10, 2009 demonstration, he was grabbed by Israeli soldiers as he walked away from them, his message of resistance on a sign he held. He has been imprisoned ever since, without trial. Adeeb is the sole provider for his nine children, wife and mother. Bil’in Village reports on an interview with Adeeb’s … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli Military Offers “Cartoon” Theories to Explain Fatal Shooting of Bi’lin Protester, and Declines to Investigate
Ha’aretz reports that a year after Bassem Abu Rahmeh was fatally shot in the chest by a tear gas grenade as he stood unarmed at the weekly protest against the Wall in the West Bank village of Bi’lin, the military prosecution has decided that it would not investigate his death. Although ballistic experts had concluded that the grenade was fired directly at Abu Rahmeh based on footage of the shooting from three separate video cameras, the military found … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Live from The Only Democracy? Part 3: Not This Week
By Libby Amit After all the fuss, all the speculations and media coverage, local and international interest, internet buzz and adrenaline – nothing out of the ordinary happened in Bil’in or Ni’lin today. The Israeli military raised our expectation and craving for confrontation by widely publicizing the new military order declaring the two villages closed military zones on Fridays for the next six months. But when it came right down to it and … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Live from The Only Democracy?, It’s Friday Day. Part 1: Showing Up.
by Libby Amit. When the Israeli army declared the villages of Bil’in and Ni’lin closed military zones on Fridays all day for the next six months, many seasoned Israeli activists shrugged and said “big deal.” This military order does not reflect a major change in policy on the ground, the villages are generally declared closed zones for this time period, just not preemptively for six months. This does not mean that the order is … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Closure of West Bank Villages Decried by Israeli Advocates and By Haaretz
In previous posts, we reported that the Israel Defense Force declared the Palestinian villages of Bil’in and Na’alin closed military zones on Fridays for a period of six months . Friday is the day on which the villagers, joined by Israeli and International supporters, hold their weekly demonstration against the Wall which separates them from their agricultural land. Now Haaretz reports that Israeli advocacy groups and attorneys are harshly criticizing the IDF closures as a breach of freedom of speech. From Yesh Din: The IDF is trampling on freedom of speech in a place that has turned into a symbol of protest. From Michael Sfard, a legal adviser to Yesh Din: Whoever signed this new order has apparently lost all sense of shame and pretense of representing a regime respecting freedom of speech and the rights of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
First Day of Bil’in and Na’alin Closure–Follow It Live!
This week, the Israeli Army declared the villages of Bil’in and Na’alin closed military zones from 8am-8pm on Fridays for the next six months. It was announced that any Israeli activist in the villages during those hours would be arrested, foreigners would be deported, and Palestinians from other villages would be jailed. For over five years now, Fridays have been demonstration days, when Israeli and international activists join Palestinian protesters in their efforts to stop the … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Entire Villages Declared “Closed Military Zones” for Protesting, UPDATED with Israeli Military Reaction
From the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. Israeli Army: Bil’in and Ni’ilin a Closed Military Zone for a Six Months Period Dozens of masked soldiers raided the West Bank villages of Bil’in and Ni’lin this morning to post decrees designating the village’s lands as a closed military zone on Fridays for a period of six months. One week after the head of the Israeli Shin Bet threatened to aggravate the repression of the Palestinian popular struggle, a large military … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Hass: IDF Preventing Cars of Israeli Activists From Entering West Bank Villages
We have been posting articles about the participation of Israeli human rights activists in protests against the Wall in villages such as Bi’lin and Nai’lin. Today, Amira Hass reports that Israeli Defense Forces have recorded the license plates of these protesters, and are using the information to bar their entry through checkpoints. A document was presented to a number of left-wing activists during the last three demonstrations. The activists were forbidden from crossing the Rantis checkpoint on their way to the two villages. In the document entitled “Data of vehicles used by left-wing Israeli activists and anarchists to reach demonstrations in Na’alin and Bil’in,” registration numbers of 11 vehicles are listed. Advertisement The activists assume that the details were sent to the IDF by police who were present at recent demonstrations. Shai Gorsky, one … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Interactive Video
“You have a choice! Israeli Anti-Militarists Speak”
Four Israelis—Dorothy Naor, Sergeiy Sander and Eli Fabrikant, and Ofer Golani—talking about their personal histories, political views and activism in 132 short films.