Articles in the Betlehem District Category
Arrest, Beit Ommar, Betlehem District, Hebron District »
At around 10pm on the night of the 11th August, the Israeli army once more invaded the town of Beit Ommar. Around eight jeeps and more than twelve soldiers entered the town and advanced along the main road, closing off the entrance to the village behind them, preventing residents returning to their homes.
The soldiers proceeded to fire dozens of rounds of teargas into highly residential areas, accompanied by concussion grenades and flares. Several families inside their homes suffered the effects of teargas inhalation and required medical treatment, some being taken by ambulance to hospital in … Continue reading
Arrest, Beit Ommar, Betlehem District, Child Arrests »
Late in the night of August 6th, Israeli soldiers launched a pre-dawn raid into the village of Beit Ommar.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., the Israeli military closed off Beit Ommar. Firing bullets and launching stun grenades and tear gas, 45 soldiers approached the town park near the entrance of the village. They were targeting a party celebrating the release of a prisoner that was held there. The gate to the park was closed in response to the military incursion, so the soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas.
Though there was damage to the park and the party was disrupted, they did not succeed in gaining … Continue reading
Beit Ommar, Betlehem District, Hebron District, settlement expansion »
On the 29th of July, 2011 a large group of settlers was observed passing through the land of Beit Ommar and Surif. The group, which consisted of 40 settlers, 2 of whom were armed, and 4 soldiers, walked through farmland in Beit Ommar and crossed through the town of Surif.
They were observed by a group of residents from the towns as well as two internationals. Members of the group harassed residents as they passed through Surif, and briefly sat down near the entrance of a Palestinian house. They were seen carrying maps and taking pictures of the land and Palestinian homes.
Betlehem District »
The Palestine Solidarity Project declares its support for and solidarity with the people of Norway. The act of terrorism committed against the Norwegian people shows the tragic repercussions of violence and hatred. As we extend our sympathies and condolences to the families of victims of these attacks, we also extend our hand to all of those willing to fight with us for a world free of injustice, violence and hate.
Betlehem District »
Welcome to Palestine (Bienvenue en Palestine), an initiative with over 550 activists from Europe, the U.S. and Canada, began flights into Ben Gurion Airport today. The action was begun by a group in France, who was invited by 15 Palestinian civil society organizations, including Palestine Solidarity Project, to enter Ben Gurion airport (the only functioning airport in historic Palestine) and state their intention to enter Palestine and visit family and friends. As their first press release stated,
“The July “Welcome to Palestine” initiative will take participants (Palestinians and Internationals) to different parts of Palestine from the north to the Negev and highlight the power of nonviolence and peace building efforts. Visitors will be accommodated locally and will enjoy Palestinian … Continue reading
Betlehem District, checkpoints »
Around 2 pm on 27 June 2011, Yousef Abu Hashem was arrested from the Container checkpoint between Bethlehem and Abu Dis. As of 12 pm on June 28, PSP has no further information about when he will be released or charged. Yousef is the son of Beit Ommar National Committee member Ahmed Abu Maria.
Yousef has been arrested from the same area before. In May 2010, the military invaded Yousef Abu Hashem, 17, suffered complications from severe tear gas inhalation and was taken to the hospital after losing consciousness.
On Nakba Day, 15 May 2011, the Israeli military occupied six houses in Beit Ommar, and Yousef was shot in the leg with … Continue reading
Betlehem District »
On Friday, May 6th, Al Ma’asara Popular Committee member Mahmoud Zwahre was arrested during a peaceful demonstration organized by the village’s popular committee. Around twenty international and Israeli solidarity activists joined with about thirty Al Ma’asara residents in a march towards the proposed site of the Annexation Barrier. Many carried signs decrying Israel’s recent withholding of almost 90 million dollars of Palestinian tax revenue and promising that the nonviolent struggle for a unified Palestinian state could not be bought. Four carried a prop coffin draped in Palestinian flags as a reminder of the true costs of occupation.
As the demonstration approached the … Continue reading
Betlehem District »
One Israeli and one international solidarity activist were arrested in the village of Al Ma’asara during the village’s weekly demonstration against the Israeli occupation and annexation barrier. About 40 demonstrators marched from the center of the village to the main road, holding flags and banners and chanting against the occupation and for freedom for Palestine. The demonstration then marched away from the village, down the main road toward the Efrat settlement. Soldiers flanked the demonstrators, pushing them off the road onto the shoulder. About 15 minutes down the road the soldiers halted the procession and forced the demonstrators up onto a hill next to the road. One Israeli solidarity … Continue reading
Betlehem District, Hebron District, Settler Violence »
On Friday, January 7th, at 10am, Israeli settlers attacked Azmi Shoyokhi, a general member of all National Committees in the West Bank, while he was supporting Palestinian farmers in Om Al-Arrays, in the South Hebron Hills. About a dozen settlers surrounded Azmi, striking him in his head. Israeli military along with police were in the area and witnessed the attack, but they did nothing to intervene.
Palestinian organizers with the Palestine Solidarity Project were also present in Om Al-Arrays at the time of the attack to show solidarity with Kamal Nawajeaa, a farmers who owns 1500 dunums of land close to an Israeli settlement. Settlers plant … Continue reading
Beit Ommar, Betlehem District, Hebron District, Other »
On Tuesday November 16th, Beit Ommar National Committee Member Eyad Jamil Al Alami was released from prison. He was arrested on Monday, October 11th, 2010, when Israeli forces raided his house in Beit Ommar. After three days he was taken to military court, where he was sentenced to four months administrative detention. He was released after one month, most likely due to the total lack of evidence against him.
Eyad is a 25-year-old student at the Polytechnic University in Hebron. He was arrested in April of this year at a nonviolent demonstration in Beit Ommar and was released after twenty days without charges.
Palestinians held in administrative detention are not informed … Continue reading
