On Saturday, March 5th, 2011, dozens of Palestinian residents from Beit Ommar, supported by international and Israeli solidarity activists, rallied against the nearby Israeli settlement of Karmei Tsur. A sizable contingent of Palestinian activists from Hebron were also present to support the demonstrations in Beit Ommar. Though the weekly demonstration is almost always repressed, on this week, the army was even more violent than usual. Israeli soldiers pursued activists through the fields on the outskirts of the village, throwing tear gas, sound bombs, and beating at least one journalist.

Additionally, six Israeli settlers began throwing stones at the demonstrators from behind the fence surrounding Karmei Tsur, in plain sight of the soldiers. Yousef Abu Maria, … Continue reading

During this week’s unarmed demonstration, on February 26th, 2011, around 70 Palestinians from the village of Beit Ommar, supported by more than two dozen Israeli and international solidarity activists, protested the nearby Israeli settlement of Karmei Tsur. Karmei Tsur is built on land illegally taken from Beit Ommar residents, and the settlement continues to expand.

This past Saturday, the demonstrators gathered at 1pm waving flags from different countries expressing international solidarity with Palestine. At one point, four settlers aggressively came out of the fence surrounding Karmei Tsur with large dogs and threatened violence. After some time, the settlers were told to leave the area by … Continue reading

Late Sunday night at around 10pm, on February 13, 2011, a large group of about 50 armed Israeli settlers attempted to enter the Palestinian village of Beit Ommar to harass residents. The settlers arrived in the area near the military tower at Beit Ommar’s entrance. Dozens of villagers, including activists with the Palestine Solidarity Project and the National Committee, also came to the area to defend their village. After a stand-off that lasted more than one hour, the Israeli Military ordered the settlers to leave the village.

On January 28th, 2011, another group of settlers from Bat Ayn invaded the area shooting live ammunition. 17-year-old Yousef Ikhlyal was shot in the head while working on his family’s … Continue reading

On Tuesday, February 8th, 2011, Israeli soldiers entered the village of Beit Ommar and arrested three Palestinian youth. The soldiers also shot 14-year-old Shadi Ahmed Ikhlyal, with rubber-coated steel bullets three times at a distance of about 20 meters. Shadi was taken to the Ahli Hospital in Hebron where his wounds were described as moderate.

Five military vehicles and one police car entered the Jodor area of Beit Ommar from the Gush Etzion Settlement at 10am. This is the same area where Yousef Ikhlyal was shot and killed by Israeli settlers from Bat Ayn on January 29th, 2011. The soldiers erected several concrete blocks on the … Continue reading

On Saturday, February 5, 2011, at 1pm, a very large demonstration was held in the center of Beit Ommar village to remember Yousef Ikhlayl, a 17-year-old resident of the town who was murdered last week by Israeli settlers as he was working on his family’s farmland. Dozens of villagers, including Yousef’s family, were joined by Israeli and international solidarity activists, as they marched to Route 60, the main road connecting the cities of Bethlehem and Hebron. Israeli Forces attempted to disperse the demonstration using sound bombs and tear gas. Fortunately, there were no arrests or serious injuries during this week’s demonstration.

The unarmed gathering was … Continue reading

Throughout the week supporters around the world honored Yousef Ikhlayl, shot and killed on January 28 by settlers from the Bat Ayn settlement. Demonstrators in Jaffa and San Francisco carried signs with pictures of Yousef and handed out fliers explaining what had happened to him. Protesters in Chicago dropped a banner in his honor, and The Palestine Solidarity Campaing in Scottland honored Yousef at their annual conference. In Santa Fe, a presentation on Yousef drew over 150 participants.

Yousef Ikhlayl was shot and killed Friday, January 28, when 100 settlers from the … Continue reading

On January 29th, 2011, thousands of residents of Beit Ommar as well as from surrounding villages attended the funeral of Yousef Fakhri Ikhlayl, the 17-year-old boy shot in the head by Israeli settlers the day before. Yousef was brain-dead in Al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron before succumbing to his wounds early in the morning.

The Israeli military attacked the funeral around 12pm, shooting live and rubber bullets into the crowd as well as throwing sound bombs and tear gas. Over 40 people suffered from a range of injuries that included live gunshot wounds, none of which appeared serious.

After noon-time prayers an estimated 10,000 people carried Yousef’s body through the streets of Beit Ommar. The villagers also waved … Continue reading

Update: Late Friday night, Yousef Ikhlayl succumbed to his injuries. His funeral is being held in Beit Ommar Saturday, January 29, 2011.