Yesterday, the Popular Committee of Beit Ommar invited international and Israeli activists to plant 300 olive trees in the land near the extremist settlement, Karmi Tsur. Karmi Tsur has been a focus of Palestine Solidarity Project’s work recently because of its aggressive policy of consficating land from Beit Ommar and harassing farmers working their land near the settlement. Yesterday, over 30 Palestinian farmers of Beit Ommar along with nearly 20 Israeli and international activists continued their defiance of the confisgation of their land by planting nearly 300 olive trees along settlement fence and in the fields just below.
When soldiers arrived they first were given the order that the … Continue reading
At 12 pm April 20, the Israeli Occupation Forces once again invaded Beit Ommar. This time, 4 soldiers came first on foot into a densely populated area near the center of town. They began to shoot dozens of tear gas canisters and hundreds of rubber-coated steel bullets around and into nearby houses. One older man from the Beit Ommar Popular Committee, who was standing on his porch at the time, was shot in the shoulder with a rubber-coated steel bullet. The army also shot live ammunition into the streets, though thankfully no one was injured.
During the three hour invasion which did not seem to serve any obvious … Continue reading
In an act of solidarity with the murdered students at Virginia Tech University in the United States, the people of the South Betlehem villages planted 30 olive trees along the path of destroyed land that is meant for the Annexation Barrier near Um Salamuna and Wadi an-Nis. The people of the South Betlehem villages marched to the path of the Annexation Barrier. Activists from the popular committee and Holy Land Trust read the names of the people who were killed in Virginia and wanted to express their solidarity with the families of those people killed. As they marched they carried signs saying, “from Palestine to Virginia, we support you!” and … Continue reading
Our coordinator, Yousef Abu Maria, who was violently arrested at a demonstration on friday, April 13, was released on bail on Thursday, April 19. The army was given 10 days to bring charges against him, which they have so far not done. He has vowed to continue to go to non-violent demonstrations against the Occupation. We are still raising money to cover the legal fees, please consider donating via paypal on our website.
On Monday, April 16, 3 Israeli Occupation Force jeeps drove into Beit Ommar from the Karmi Tsur settlement. The IOF enters the village from this area nearly every other day as a show of force, antagonizing the local residents and young boys. On this day, the jeeps entered the village and picked out ‘Az Mahmoud Migbal, 15, from a group of young boys, and forced him into a jeep. His mother came out to the jeep and pleaded with the soldiers to let him go. When she asked why her son was being arrested the soldiers said he was throwing stones. They then pushed her away and took ‘Az … Continue reading
