Jamie, a British national, was arrested today during a demonstration in Beit Ommar. While the main group of Palestinians were prevented from participating, a small group including PSP activists and Beit Ommar National Committee members, walked through the fence that was cut open in a previous demonstration and marched along Route 60 (not stopping traffic), carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags. They were soon corralled into an area in front of a shop where they stopped and made speeches of solidarity with the people on the Freedom Flotilla, the recently stopped Rachel Corrie boat, as well as the 3 people injured and 2 killed by settlers in the … Continue reading

Early on May 31st, the people of Beit Ommar received news that Fatma Elyaan Sabarneh, age 55, who was hit yesterday by a settler who was speeding on route 60, had died in a hospital in Hebron. A funeral procession was subsequently organized by villagers, in which hundreds followed the casket down the main road towards the village`s cemetery.

Immediately following the burial at around 2:00 p.m., the Israeli military prevented the crowd from walking towards Road 60, after which a confrontation ensued between Palestinian youth and soldiers. Soldiers began grabbing Palestinians from the crowd, including PSP … Continue reading

A dozen Palestinians, joined by eight internationals, stood at the gate separating farmers in Beit Ommar from their land. The land has been expropriated by the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur. The fence around the settlement denies the farmers regular access to their fields, so they are unable to properly tend to their fruit trees–their livelihood.

During the nonviolent demonstration, PSP co-coordinator Mousa Abu Maria placed two flags in the barbed wire above the fence. Even though it was a peaceful demonstration on Palestinian land, the Israeli military told the demonstrations to back away from the fence and to return to the village. The demonstrators walked back slowly through … Continue reading

On May 30, at 7:30 PM, a settler was driving a taxi at excessive speed on Route 60 by Beit Ommar and hit a husband and wife walking in the road. Local Palestinian residents saw the two Palestinians hit, shouted at the driver, and called for an ambulance. The Israeli army came and the driver fled the scene.

A Palestinian ambulance took the Palestinians to the hospital in Al Khalil. Both Palestinians have head injuries and are in critical condition. Their names are Fatma Elyaan Sabarneh, age 55, and Shedah Abd Sabarneh, age 59.

The driver had been driving about120 km/h in a 70 km/h zone.

3 teens and an adult were injured during a military invasion from the Karmei Tsur settlement into Beit Ommar Monday, May 24. Fathi Sabarneh, 20, was shot with a rubber-coated steel bullet in the hand, Mohammed Jamil Abu Maria, 15, was shot in the hand and leg with rubber-coated steel bullets, Hatem Sabarneh, 17, was shot in the leg with a rubber-coated steel bullet, and Yousef Ahmed Abu Hashem Abu Maria, 17, suffered severe complications from tear gas inhalation and was taken to the hospital after losing consciousness. Yousef is the son of Beit Ommar National Committee member Ahmed Abu Maria.
The military also invaded the homes of three families near the Karmei Tsur settlement, using their roofs for … Continue reading

Last Wednesday, May 12, 500 settlers from the Karmei Zur settlement, which is located south of Beit Ummar, blocked the Route 60, which links Jerusalem to Hebron. Settlers walked all the way to Gush Etzion settlement with the help and protection of the Israeli army and police, causing a roadblock for five hours. They also blocked the access to Beit Ummar and Al Aroub Refugee camp for two hours.

At the settlers’ request, Israeli army and police ensured that no Palestinian would disturb their protest, which is against the police and army mandate. They were more concerned about the march than about all the traffic blocked and commotion it … Continue reading

In Al-Walaja Thursday, May 6, a small group of Palestinians, internationals and Israelis surprised the bulldozer operators destroying agricultural land for construction of the Annexation Barrier and managed to avoid Israeli forces and block the bulldozer’s progression for nearly half an hour before being violently pulled out of the way. 3 Palestinians were seriously injured, with 2 reported broken limbs.

In Ni’lin on Friday, May 7, residents, also joined by Israeli and international activists, marched towards the now-completed barrier that cuts through their agricultural land. The copious amount of tear gas shot as usual was less effective, mostly blowing harmlessly out of the area. The demonstration lasted … Continue reading

At 19.30 today, May 2, an Israeli army snatch squad of 6 soldiers dressed as Palestinians drove into Beit Ommar in a white Ford Transit with Palestinian number plates and took away at least 6 youths aged between 13 and 16. Under cover of darkness the soldiers terrified villagers by throwing numerous stun grenades and firing tear gas into the narrow streets of the town. It is believed that the youths are being detained in Karmei Tsur settlement.
Later this evening a group of around a dozen settlers from Karmei Tsur settlement staged a demonstration on Highway 60 and have attacked Palestinian villagers from Beit Ommar. Reports are coming in that there are 10 Israeli army and Police units at the … Continue reading

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In an action organised by the National Committee of Beit Ommar and the Palestine Solidarity Project, a group of Beit Ommar farmers and their families gathered Saturday afternoon, May 1, at the gates of Karmei Tsur settlement demanding access to their land inside the fence to inspect the 20 almond trees cut down by settlers this week.Two army jeeps arrived within minutes and the Israeli soldiers gave the farmers 5 minutes to leave however immediately fired tear gas into the crowd causing panic amongst the children present. Six soldiers with automatic weapons at the ready then rushed through the gates whilst their colleagues fired more gas at the retreating villagers.
Mohammed Awad, member of the National Committee, was thrown to … Continue reading

A peaceful demonstration at Karmei Tsur this afternoon calling for the release of Ahmed Abu Hashem, detained in a night raid on Thursday in Beit Ommar, was broken up by Israeli soldiers throwing stun grenades and shooting tear gas and rubber coated bullets at the protesters and children present. A member of PSP and the National Committee of Beit Ommar, Eyad Jamil Al Alami, was arrested by soldiers for carrying a placard calling for the release of Ahmed Abu Hashem and taken away to a military jeep. Mousa Abu Maria was struck in the ribs by a stun grenade which exploded on contact causing bruising. Dozens of protesters, including Israeli and international activists, suffered tear gas inhalation as they … Continue reading