On a particularly hot Saturday, August 7, Approximately 50 Palestinian, International and Israeli activists marched once again towards the Karmei Tsur settlement. This week’s demonstration was to protest in particular a new order from the District Commander of the Israeli Army that a further 10 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land (2.5 acres) is off-limits to its owners, presumably to be annexed to the settlement. The demonstrators therefore made their way through that land towards the settlement but were met with a large force of Israeli soldiers in the fields well before they reached the perimeter fence. The group, which included women and children, attempted to make their way … Continue reading

Last week, July 17, an Associated Press photographer was seriously injured in Beit Ommar during the weekly demonstration against the settlement when a sound grenade exploded near his head, blowing out his eardrum. A strong statement by the Foreign Press Association was made and Israeli and international media reported on the incident. Yet all of this attention to the misuse of these dangerous weapons did not deter the large group of soldiers present at this week’s demonstration from again launching sound grenades, as well as tear gas, directly at demonstrators, particularly aiming at their heads.
As the group of approximately 50 demonstrators, including several women … Continue reading

On Saturday, July 10, approximately 50 Palestinian, international and Israeli activists marched towards the fence of the Karmei Tsur settlement for their weekly demonstration against the illegal settlements and the continued confiscation of Palestinian land through settlement expansion and the Annexation Barrier. This week, the participants planned to hold their own session of the International Court of Justice, in honor of the 6 year anniversary of the ICJ court decision that declared the Annexation Wall illegal. The group approached the settlement and began reading statements as witnesses and the prosecution, condemning the confiscation of land, demanding reparations for land and lives lost, as well as … Continue reading

In an action organised by the National committee of Beit Ommar and the Palestine Solidarity Project a group of Palestinians joined by Israeli and International activists marched to the gate of Karmei Tsur Settlement and protested the expropriation of local farmers’ land Saturday, July 3. Making noise with world-cup inspired vuvuzelas, the demonstrators were confronted at the gate by Israeli soldiers and private security of the illegal settlement.

Israeli forces broke their way through the gate and pushed the protesters, including children. The settler security spat several times in the direction of the Palestinian demonstrators. After the area was declared a closed military area the demonstrators slowly dispersed, with Israeli forces shooting tear gas in their direction.

Karmei Tsur is one of … Continue reading

This Saturday a group of Palestinian, Israeli and international activists were met in the vineyards of Beit Ommar by several Israeli soldiers as they attempted to make their way to the fence surrounding the illegal Israeli settlement Karmei Tsur, built on Beit Ommar land. The soldiers insisted on preventing the group from even approaching the outer fence, declaring the entire area a closed military zone and arresting two Israeli activists. Unlike the international and Palestinian activists who have been arrested in the same area in recent weeks (the Palestinian arrested last week is still in jail; the internationals were banned from the entire West Bank for the remainder of their visas, pending appeal), the Israeli activists were released … Continue reading

Early this morning, Wednesday, June 16, 7 year-old Muhsen Yousef Awwad was handed a summons by Israeli forces ordering him to report to the Etzion settlement police station for interrogation during an arrest campaign throughout the village of Beit Ommar. Two young men were also arrested this morning, bringing the total to six arrests this week of young men from Beit Ommar, most residing near the Karmei Tsur settlement and ranging in age from 15-24.

On Saturday, June 12, a group of farmers, Palestine Solidarity Project activists, and members of the Beit Ommar National Committee held a protest at the fence around the Karmei Tsur settlement, built on Beit Ommar agricultural land. They carried Palestinian flags and chanted against the settlements and the theft of their land. There were Israeli soldiers already waiting on the other side of the fence. The demonstrators stood on their side of the fence, planted their flags in some of their own land and continued chanting. The soldiers watched for a few minutes until they came across the fence, down a hill to the ground that the demonstrators were standing on. One soldier, carrying an M16 and a … 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

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