Ni’lin: During the weekly march against the Wall and Settlements after Friday Prayers at the village of Ni’lin soldiers of the occupation fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Dozens suffered from temporary suffocation. The demonstrators chanted slogans in support of the prisoners and condemning the policies of the occupation against the Palestinians. Ahed Khawaja of Stop the Wall said “this march is to commemorate Al Naksa [the start of the occupation in 1967], to remember Akel Sror, a Martyr of popular resistance in Ni’lin, and to show solidarity with the prisoners as we support the steps they have taken to ensure their dignity is respected in the prisons of the occupation.”
Bil’in: Eyewitnesses reported that once again large tracts of agricultural land were burned near the village of Bil’in. Fires started by tear gas fired at protestors endangered lives and trees, as dozens of Palestinian and International Activists were temporarily suffocated. The occupation forces also used rubber bullets, stun grenades, and skunk water to disperse demonstrators, protesting against the Wall and Settlements.
Al Masara: Similarly the protest in the village of Al Masara was repressed as participants demonstrated against the Wall. Stop the Wall co-ordinator for the Bethlehem area reported that after the march gathered at the entrance to the village protestors were attacked by soldiers who prevented them from reaching the Wall.
Beit Ummar: The Israeli Occupation Forces used batons to suppress the weekly march in the town of Beit Ummar, to the north of Hebron. They detained the media spokesman for the Popular Committee in the town, Yousef Abu Maria, as well as a foreign activist under the pretext of their entering a “closed military zone” at Khallet Al Kutlah near the settlement of Kermit Tzur to the south of Beit Ummar. Abu Maria was issued with a 1,000 shekel fine and ordered to appear before a military court in December. “Evacuation of the Settlements and Freedom for the Prisoners” was the prevailing slogan of the march, expressing the participants’ rejection of Israeli Settlement policy as well as their anger at continuing to be denied access to their agricultural land near Kermit Tzur.
Nabi Saleh: Checkpoints were set up in advance of any demonstration at Nabi Saleh on Friday, meaning a walk through the surrounding hills for activists wishing to attend. As demonstrators approached the Israeli Forces, rubber bullets, tear gas and skunk water were used to push demonstrators back to the village. Three international activists were then temporarily detained, being released 2 hours later. Meanwhile skunk water and tear gas were fired into the village, temporarily enveloping some houses and leading to multiple cases of temporary suffocation.
Weekly Report 9.6.12
