20th August – Residents of Beit Ommar, supported by Israeli and international activists, gathered for a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Gaza, following the recent Israeli airstrikes there which killed 14 people, including 13 year old Mahmoud Abu Samara.

As the demonstration attempted to march through Beit Ommar fields towards the illegal settlement of Karmei Tsur, the Israeli military responded with extreme violence. Live ammunition was fired at protestors, and concussion grenades were thrown, setting fire to the surrounding grass.

Soldiers arrested a total of five demonstrators, including Yousef Abu Maria, a member … Continue reading

13th August: Around 40 demonstrators – comprising residents of the village of Beit Ommar, and Israeli and international activists – gathered for a demonstration against the illegal Karmei Tsur settlement.

The demonstrators, carrying flags and banners commemorating the anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were met by a large and heavily armed military presence. As the protestors marched through Beit Ommar fields, the soldiers reacted violently, pushing several protestors to the ground, and others down steep rocky drops.

After a short speech, the protestors decided to … Continue reading

At around 10pm on the night of the 11th August, the Israeli army once more invaded the town of Beit Ommar. Around eight jeeps and more than twelve soldiers entered the town and advanced along the main road, closing off the entrance to the village behind them, preventing residents returning to their homes.

The soldiers proceeded to fire dozens of rounds of teargas into highly residential areas, accompanied by concussion grenades and flares. Several families inside their homes suffered the effects of teargas inhalation and required medical treatment, some being taken by ambulance to hospital in … Continue reading

The Palestine Solidarity Project declares its support for and solidarity with the people of Norway. The act of terrorism committed against the Norwegian people shows the tragic repercussions of violence and hatred. As we extend our sympathies and condolences to the families of victims of these attacks, we also extend our hand to all of those willing to fight with us for a world free of injustice, violence and hate.

Demonstrators were assaulted in Beit Ommar today, as Israeli military forces attacked the village’s demonstration against the recent rapid expansion of building work in the illegal Karmei Tsur settlement.

Fifty demonstrators, consisting of local Palestinians, Israelis, and international solidarity activists marched from the village and attempted to protest at the nearby settlement fence. The protest was met by dozens of Israeli soldiers who prevented the Palestinians from marching across their own land. The soldiers proceeded to push numerous demonstrators to the ground. One Israeli had his ID taken by the soldiers and was later arrested, while another Israeli activist was detained. The soldiers then declared the area a Closed Military Zone, … Continue reading

A PSP activist who was arrested during a demonstration organized by the July 8th Welcome to Palestine initiative was released on bail Tuesday, after spending a week in immigrant detention refusing to be deported. While his deportation case may be re-opened, for now Chuck has been released on a $1,300 bond.

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

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

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