On Saturday, 19 May, 2012, protesters from Beit Ommar together with Israeli and international activists gathered for the weekly demonstration against the illegal Karmei Tsur settlement. They tried to reach the fence separating Palestinians from their land which was illegally seized under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Around twenty-five heavily armed Israeli soldiers prevented the demonstrators from approaching the settlement fence, forcibly pushing two members of the Popular Committee in Beit Ommar down from the road onto a lower terrace. The soldiers beat the participants with their shields.

The demonstration is protesting against the illegal settlements all over the West Bank which is built on stolen Palestinian land, making it impossible for … Continue reading

On Friday, May 11th, 2012, two Palestinian farmers were attacked in Beit Ommar by Israeli settlers from Karmei Tsur.

Walid Sabarna and Ibrahim Abu Maria were working on their land 150 meters from the settlement, when two security guards from the settlement accompanied by six soldiers approached them at 5 pm. The guards asked the farmers what they were doing here, and they gave the obvious answer: working on their land. The guards responded that this was not the case, but that the land belonged to them and that the farmers should go away.

They then attacked Walid, beating and kicking his right leg. He had an operation on this … Continue reading

Today, May 12, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists joined together for the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar. Today’s demonstration was in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike and to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Nakba. Khader Adnan, who was released from administrative detention on April 17th, 2012 and was on hunger strike for 66 days, also took part in the demonstration.

The demonstration began with a march from the center of Beit Ommar to Karmei Tsur settlement, which was built on stolen Palestinian land. As soon as the demonstrators arrived near the settlement, about 30 heavily armed Israeli soldiers came to meet them. … Continue reading

Today, May 5th, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists joined together for the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar. The demonstration took place by the fence separating Beit Ommar from the illegal settlement Karmei Tsur. The settlement is illegal under international law according to the 4th Geneva Convention, and is built on stolen Palestinian land. The fence prevents farmers from entering and working on their land.

This week, men, women and children protested in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, particularly with those on hunger strike. Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh are on the 68th day of their hunger strike, and are in grave condition. They are both held under administrative detention, and demand … Continue reading

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists joined together for the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar. The demonstration took place by the fence separating Beit Ommar from the illegal settlement Karmei Tsur. The settlement is illegal under international law according to the 4th Geneva Convention, and is built on stolen Palestinian land. The fence prevents farmers from entering and working on their land. The demonstration was in protest against the settlement, the Israeli occupation and imprisonment of Palestinians, and was also in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.

In total around 50 soldiers appeared during the … Continue reading

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, Palestinian, Israel and international activists joined together for the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar. The demonstration took place by the fence between Beit Ommar and Karmei Tsur settlement. The settlement, which is illegal under the 4th Geneva Convention, was built on stolen Palestinian land, and the fence prevents many Beit Ommar farmers from accessing their land. The demonstration was in protest against the settlements, the fence, and the occupation.

During the demonstration, about 25 activists were stopped from reaching the fence by about 50 soldiers, while border police waited nearby. The Israeli soldiers pushed several demonstrators with their shields and their guns, knocking several people to the ground and into the bushes. Soldiers hit Hamza … Continue reading

On Saturday, April 14, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists joined the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar by the separation fence between Beit Ommar and the settlement Karmei Tsur. Karmei Tsur settlement is illegal according to the Geneva Convention and is built on stolen Palestinian land. The fence prevents Palestinians from accessing their land.

At today’s demonstration, protesters attempted to remove the barbed wire that was on Palestinian land in front of the separation fence. Demonstrators carried posters saying, “no more child arrests” and “free the Palestinian prisoners”. Soldiers arrived after a few minutes with a map showing that the the protesters were in a closed military zone and threatened to … Continue reading

On Saturday, April 07, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists joined the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar, by the separation fence between Beit Ommar and the settlement Karmei Tsur. Karmei Tsur settlement was built on stolen Palestinian land, and many Beit Ommar farmers can no longer access their land due to the settlement and the separation fence.

At today’s demonstration, Israeli soldiers started throwing sound bombs and beating demonstrators with clubs as soon as they arrived. The soldiers attacked children, and beat Hamza Ahmad Khalil Abu Hashim, age 14, with clubs and rifle butts. An American activist had difficulty walking after a soldier beat her ankle with a club and a … Continue reading

On Saturday, March 31, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists held the weekly demonstration in Beit Ommar, by the fence separating the town from the illegal Karmei Tsur settlement. Karmei Tsur is built on stolen Palestinian land and makes it impossible for the farmers of Beit Ommar to access parts of their land. The settlement is highly secured by military forces and fences. Today’s demonstration was in honor of Land Day, which was yesterday, March 30, and in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strikes.

Israeli soldiers started throwing sound bombs at the demonstrators within the first five minutes of … Continue reading

On Saturday, March 24, 2012, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists held a demonstration in Beit Ommar against the Karmei Tsur settlement. Karmei Tsur is built on stolen Palestinian land and makes it impossible for the farmers of Beit Ommar to access parts of their land. The settlement is highly secured by military forces and fences. Today’s demonstration was against the settlement, and against any further encroachments on Palestinian land. It also marked the 38th day of Hana Shalabi’s hunger strike in protest of her administrative detention. Additionally, demonstrators protested the recent arrests of 8 minors from Beit Ommar, to be followed up in Ofer … Continue reading