This Friday, like every Friday for the past few years, saw demonstrations across the West Bank. In Al-Ma’asara, residents along with Israeli and international solidarity activists marched towards the razor-wire arbitrarily placed along the entrance to the village beyond which more than a dozen soldiers, some from a unit that was involved in the massive invasion in Beit Ommar, waited. Demonstrators, carrying Palestinian and party-affiliated flags, began climbing a pile of stones to the side of the razor-wire, demanding their right to access their lands beyond the line. They were met by Israeli soldiers and border police who began grabbing demonstrators and attempted to push them off the mound of stones. Committee member Mahmoud Zahre … Continue reading

By Gideon Levy Ha’aretz

Young Mahdi Abu Ayash lies in the intensive care unit of Al Ahli Hospital in Hebron, with no chance of a meaningful recovery. Look at the picture and understand – or not. Why was this teenager – who maybe, or maybe not, threw rocks at soldiers who had arrested and beaten two of his friends – shot with live ammunition? Is the IDF once again using the Ruger 0.22 caliber rifle, after it was specifically banned as a means of crowd dispersal in December 2001, by the then chief military prosector, Menahem Finkelstein? The doctors said they had never seen such a bullet before, which spins about in the brain and destroys its tissues. Why wasn’t … Continue reading

The following is an excerpt of the transcript of a program held in February at the Yitzhak Rabin pre-military preparatory program convened at Oranim Academic College in Kiryat Tivon. Danny Zamir, the founder of the program, invited former graduates who served in the Gaza offensive to discuss their experiences there. The names of the soldiers were changed by the transcribers.

Danny Zamir: “I don’t intend for us to evaluate the achievements and the diplomatic-political significance of Operation Cast Lead this evening, nor need we deal with the systemic military aspect [of it]. However, discussion is necessary because this was, all told, an exceptional war action in terms of the history of the IDF, which has set new limits for … Continue reading

By Amos Harel, Ha’aretz

During Operation Cast Lead, Israeli forces killed Palestinian civilians under permissive rules of engagement and intentionally destroyed their property, say soldiers who fought in the offensive.

The soldiers are graduates of the Yitzhak Rabin pre-military preparatory course at Oranim Academic College in Tivon. Some of their statements made on Feb. 13 will appear Thursday and Friday in Haaretz. Dozens of graduates of the course who took part in the discussion fought in the Gaza operation.

The speakers included combat pilots and infantry soldiers. Their testimony runs counter to the Israel Defense Forces’ claims that Israeli troops observed a high level of moral behavior during the operation. The session’s transcript was published this week in the newsletter … Continue reading

Due to the large number of arrests in Beit Ommar in the past two weeks, as well as the review of the detention of two PSP committee members, Mousa Abu Maria and Mohammed “Hamude” Abu Maria, we offer this short update.

The two international activists who were arrested on March 3, 2009 while documenting the occupation of a home in Beit Ommar were released with the condition that they stay out of the southern West Bank for 10 days.

Of the approximately 40 Palestinians who were arrested on March 11 during a day-long military incursion and curfew, approximately half, or 21, were released within 24 hours, having never even been processed as being arrested. They were released throughout the … Continue reading

Tristan Anderson, 38, an American citizen working with the International Solidarity Movement, was critically injured on Friday by Israeli troops during protests against Israel’s Wall in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. He was hit in his forehead by a new type of high velocity, extended range teargas projectile, and has been transferred to Tel Hashomer hospital, near Tel Aviv. Tristan is unconscious, anesthetized and artificially respirated, has sustained life-threatening injuries to his brain (as well as to his right eye), and is expected to undergo several operations in the coming days, in addition to the one he underwent yesterday.

The impact of the projectile caused … Continue reading

In the early hours on Wednesday, March 11, approximately 15 Israeli military vehicles entered the village of Beit Ommar and began a day-long operation of harassment, violence, and destruction. Scores of soldiers, many with faces painted or ski masks on, began breaking into homes at approximately 1am, tearing rooms apart, breaking furniture, computers, and other electronics, and arresting men aged 11-80. By 4 am, 22 people had been arrested, including Mohammed Awwad, PSP committee member and freelance journalist. His home suffered severe damage, with all of the cabinets torn from the walls, bedding cut open and cameras broken. … Continue reading

From CPT Tuwani

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At 11:30 am, Sunday, 8 March, Israeli police detained 19 Palestinians who were trying to access their land near the village of Um al-Khayr. The police also arrested two Christian Peacemaker Teams members (CPTers) and charged them with obstruction and trespass, despite them being invited to the land by the Palestinian landowners.

Palestinians from the village observed workers using road building
equipment on Palestinian owned land near the Israeli settlement of Karmel – the settlement sits adjacent to Um al-Kheir. When the Palestinians and CPTers approached the work area, an Israeli settlement security guard began to shout, demanding they leave. When they remained on their land he contacted the Israeli army and police. At 12 pm, Israeli … Continue reading

Yesterday another demonstration was held in the small village of Wadi A-Rasha against the destruction of their land for the re-routing of the Annexation Barrier. When local Palestinian residents arrived, accompanied by Israeli and international solidarity activists, the bulldozers were already on the land, destroying olive groves. The protesters held a peaceful sit-in on the land a short way away from the bulldozers when suddenly 6 jeeps of Israeli military forces arrived and surrounded the group. They declared the area a closed military zone and began arresting people. They detained some Palestinians, and arrested 2 Israelis and 3 internationals. All were released later the same day, on the condition that they would not enter the … Continue reading

For the Original Report from B’tselem, click here

B’Tselem recently wrote to the judge advocate general, demanding that he order the army to cease using Ruger rifles to disperse demonstrators.

In recent weeks, the army has again been employing Ruger rifles, which use 22-caliber live bullets, in the course of demonstrations. The gunfire has resulted in injury to many Palestinians in the West Bank and to at least one foreign national. B’Tselem knows of injury to Palestinians from the villages of Ni’lin, Bil’in, Jayyus, Bitunya, and Budrus. Most of the victims were struck in the arms or legs and suffered light to moderate injury.

In 2001, Maj.-Gen. Menachem Finkelstein, then judge advocate general, ordered that use of the Ruger rifle be stopped. … Continue reading