Articles tagged with: Beit Ommar

Apartheid Wall, Beit Ommar, Ni'lin »

18 Jul 2011
Budrus Demonstration Concludes Palestine Popular Resistance Conference

At least 2 were injured and hundreds suffered tear gas inhalation following the conclusion of the Palestine Popular Resistance Conference in the village of Budrus, in the northern West Bank. The conference brought together over a thousand Palestinians along with international and Israeli supporters over three days to discuss the state of the popular resistance in Palestine, concluding with a large protest against the Annexation Barrier in Budrus.


Large crowds listened to speakers and attended workshops in the villages of Beit Ommar, Ni’lin, and Budrus. Palestinians debated the merits of the resistance and asked questions of political leaders in open forums. Workshops were given on topics ranging from the growing … Continue reading

Arrest, Beit Ommar »

12 Jul 2011
2 Internationals, 3 Israelis Beaten and Arrested in Beit Ommar

Two internationals and three Israelis were arrested and beaten in Beit Ommar today, when fifty demonstrators from the Palestine Solidarity Project (PSP), the Welcome to Palestine campaign, and residents of Beit Ommar convened at the secondary fence around Karmei Tsur settlement to protest the annexation of Beit Ommar land.

Thirty of these international solidarity activists were part of hundreds of internationals who attempted to enter Ben Gurion airport on July 8, declaring that they wished to visit Palestine. Only this small group succeeded in entering Palestine.

As the demonstrators walked towards the fence, Israeli soldiers lined the field and declared the area a closed military zone. After ten minutes, they began … Continue reading

Beit Ommar »

10 Jul 2011
Kites Soar Over Karmei Tsur Settlement

On Saturday, July 9, about 70 children ages 8-14 from the Center for Freedom and Justice’s annual summer camp flew kites on a hill across from the Karmei Tsur settlement. The kites featured Palestinian flags and children flew them over the area for about an hour. Children from the summer camp were joined by about 15 Palestinian and international demonstrators. A group of about 15 Israeli soldiers watched from a distance, but did not approach the group.

The settlement of Karmei Tsur is surrounded by a secondary fence, which takes even more land from Beit Ommar residents, for whom farming is a major source of income…. Continue reading

Betlehem District »

8 Jul 2011

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

Beit Ommar »

6 Jul 2011
Second Annual Summer Camp Begins in Beit Ommar

The Center for Freedom and Justice, a close partner of the Palestine Solidarity Project, is currently hosting its second annual summer camp for 150 youths, age 8-14, in the Beit Ommar area. Campers have so far participated in two of the three weeks of the camp, and have engaged in a wide range of activities, including traditional Palestinian dance, arts and crafts, drama, music, sports, and nonviolence training.

Last years summer camp, named the Freedom Flotilla Summer Camp by the camp counselors, had over 100 participants. The camp combined educational, recreational and cultural activities, including sports, English lessons, traditional Palestinian dance classes and workshops on a wide range of topics, … Continue reading

Beit Ommar »

2 Jul 2011
For Immediate Release:  PSP and Popular Committee Member Brutally Beaten After Detention at Demonstration

Update: Yousef Abu Maria was released from the hospital but is still under observation for potential head injuries.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Issued by Beit Ommar Popular Committee and Palestine Solidarity Project

Yousef Abu Maria beaten by Israeli Border Police While in Custody, Dumped on Road

After the weekly demonstration against the Karmei Tsur settlement today, July 2, 2011, a Palestinian protester was brutally beaten by Israeli Border Police.

Yousef Abu Maria, a member of the Beit Ommar Popular Committee and Palestine Solidarity Project, was one of 60 Palestinian, Israeli and International protesters who marched peacefully towards the fence of the illegal settlement. Dozens of Israeli soldiers were waiting for the marchers and soon detained Abu Maria with no reason or due cause apparent.

Once detained, … Continue reading

Beit Ommar, Gaza »

30 Jun 2011

By Max Suchan

In the past few months, my family and friends keep asking me why I am participating in the Freedom Flotilla as a passenger on the US boat, the Audacity of Hope. As part of this initiative, 40 of us have gathered in Athens in the hope of sailing towards Gaza in the coming days to challenge the Israeli naval blockade. We will join ten boats in international waters consisting of hundreds of passengers from 22 countries around the world. This second Freedom Flotilla comes a little over a year after Israeli commandos killed eight Turkish and one Turkish-American activist as they were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid on-board the Mavi Marmara when the ship … Continue reading

Betlehem District, checkpoints »

28 Jun 2011
Beit Ommar resident arrested at Container Checkpoint

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

Beit Ommar, Hebron District »

26 Jun 2011
Taxi Driver assaulted in Beit Ommar

On the morning of June 26, Mahmoud Ahleia, a resident of Beit Ommar, was driving back into the town when Israeli soldiers stopped him at the entrance and questioned him about his car. Ahleia is a taxi driver, and although he has a taxi license, the soldiers told him that he needs to post a sticker which will identify his vehicle as a taxi, instead of a private car. Most of Beit Ommar is located in Area B, where the Palestinian Authority has jurisdiction over civil control. Thus, the Israeli soldiers who stopped Ahleia did not have legal precedence to do so.

The Israeli soldiers removed Ahleia from … Continue reading

Arrest, Beit Ommar, Hebron District »

26 Jun 2011
One Palestinian and Two International Activists Arrested & Beaten in Beit Ommar Demonstration

On Saturday June 25, about 50 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists gathered in Beit Ommar to demonstrate against the Israeli Karmei Tsur settlement, which has annexed hundreds of dunams of Palestinian land. As demonstrators attempted to enter land belonging to Beit Ommar farmers, Israeli soldiers announced that the area was a closed military zone and said they would not allow anyone to pass. Several Palestinians and internationals then attempted to circumvent the military blockade. At this point, at least 6 soldiers assaulted Mohammed G., a 22 year old Palestinian man from Surif. During attempts to rescue him from the attacks, two international activists were also arrested. … Continue reading