This story, published by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), illustrates a typical episode of nonviolent protest in Palestine, the reason behind it, which is routinely about IOF-settler coalitions taking more and more Palestinian land, and what happens as it plays out. In this case, rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannon were not used by the IDF as they have been in the weekly nonviolent demonstrations in Bil’in over the past two years, but the videos give an on the ground look of the reality rarely seen in the United States.
If you were unaware of the existence of Palestinian nonviolent protest, it is only because of its lack of publicity in the United States, where it is now replaced by Israeli shaped propaganda about Israel fighting a trumped up “war on terror” against the Palestinians. Not that it makes any difference that Israel has occupied the West Bank illegally for 40 years or that they have killed ten of thousands of Palestinians in the process, all for the singular purpose of further colonizing Palestinian land.
This nonviolent demonstration occurred on May 25, 2007. Residents of an area south of Bethlehem had earlier held a large demonstration against Israel’s Apartheid Wall, which separates them from Bethlehem. The demonstration started in the village of Umm Salamuna, where Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals had held a soccer game on the path of the Separation Wall.
From there, at least 150 activists made their way to the village of Artas to protest Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) confiscation of a Palestinian family’s land. This was a clearly non-violent demonstration, aimed at reaching the land, which belonged to the Abu Swai family, but which soldiers now claimed was a “closed military zone.” That’s how the colonization process works.
In this case, the Israeli settlement of Efrat planned to destroy a Palestinian orchard located below it in order to build a sewage system. The land was just appropriated through the IOF. Like many land confiscations, it had nothing to do with security. It was also feared that sewage waste would contaminate the nearby village of Artas.
These videos by Joe Skillet tell the story over a ten day period:
The Israeli army has already started to demolish some of the trees in the village of Artas to make way for a sewer system, leading from the Illegal Israeli Settlement of Efrat.
On May 15, 2007, Mohammad Abu Swai, the owner of the trees, was interviewed. Israeli and international solidarity activists were present on the land to prevent the demolition of the trees. The army, however, postponed the demolition, until the following day or possibly Sunday.
On Sunday, May 20, Israeli Occupation Forces proceeded to demolish the Abu Swai family’s land.
The Occupation Forces uprooted 28 apricot and date trees in order to build the sewage system. Israel is also continuing to build the Apartheid Wall right through the center of the village of Artas.
On May 25, the demonstration involving Palestinians, Israeli activists, and internationals, proceeded to the destruction site. A non-violent Greek activist was arrested (later released). The demonstration was non-violent. Not a single rock was thrown, yet the soldiers responded to the protesters with force.
Additional footage:
Reproduced by permission of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/