***image2***This Friday, the people of Bilâin and al-Maâsara held their weekly protest against the Apartheid Wall in solidarity with Abdallah Abu Rahmah. Abu Rahmah, a coordinator with the popular committee of Bilâin, was arrested several days prior to the demonstrations in what is the latest arrest in Occupation forcesâ campaign to break the grassroots protests.
In al-Maâsara, Palestinians supported by Israel and international activists marched for in protest of Abu Rahmahâs arrest, raising Palestinian flags and banners demanding his immediate release. As usual, soldiers barred residents from reaching their land, violently pushing them back from the barbed wire which they had laid across the road.
In a speech to mark the international day of human rights, Mohammed Banat of the al-Maâsara popular community spoke out about the treatment Palestinians face under occupation.
The people of Bilâin also marched in solidarity with Abu Rahmah, braving tear gas, cutting through barbed wire and forcing open the gate in the fence. Abu Rahmah is the 31st arrest in the series of night raids that have targeted grassroots activists in Bilâin.
Abdallah Abu Rahmah was arrested on December 10, when Occupation forces raided his home early Thursday morning. Soldiers invaded his home, pulling him from his bed in front of his wife and children. Abu Rahmah is well-known activist and leader in Bilâin in addition to being a teacher at the Latin Patriarchate school in Birzeit.
Arrests play a key role in the repression of the Palestinian popular resistance. For a more detailed analysis of how this plays out on the ground, get a copy of the report Repression allowed, resistance denied, or see the shorter fact sheet.