American arrested by IDF during peaceful walk in South Hebron Hills, Occupied Palestine.

[JstaRebel 48]

Posted on March 29, 2013 by freedombuspalestineReplyPress Release

For immediate release: 29.03.13

The Freedom Bus, Jenin Refugee Camp, Occupied Palestine.

For further comment, contact: media@thefreedomtheatre.org / Ben: +972(0)592-902256

International arrested by IDF during peaceful walk in South Hebron Hills, others attacked and injured

An international participant from the Freedom Bus has just been arrested by IDF soldiers during a peaceful solidarity walk in the South Hebron Hills. The man, from the United States, was hauled away from the group and arrested at approximately 10.40am this morning. He was taken to the police station in Kiryat Arba.

This followed the attempted arrest of Abu Mosa from the local Popular Committee, who fainted while in Israeli custody and had to be removed by the Red Cresent. The IDF are currently attempting to stop the walk altogether, and have injured several participants. One international had her leg twisted and others were hit in the head with rifle butts. There are an estimated 150 people taking part in the walk.

The planned walk brings Palestinian artists, activists, and community leaders together with internationals in a peaceful solidarity walk through five communities in the South Hebron Hills. Located in Area C, Mufaqara, Tuba, a-Sfay, Maghayir al-Abeed and al-Fakhit are five of 12 communities located within "Firing Zone 918″ – an area of the South Hebron Hills used by the Israeli Forces as a training zone. Residents have been issued with evacuation orders. All homes in these villages are faced with demolition. Each person is faced with forced expulsion from traditional homelands. [1]

This is not the first intervention by the Israeli security forces. Arab artists from Eygpt, Tunisia, and the Sudan attempting to join the event were denied travel permits by the Israel Civil Administration. [2]

The planned walk included community visits, discussions and music, with a focus on the life and resistance of residents in the South Hebron Hills. Palestinian musicians, and artists joined the ride, including Abu Naji, renowned traditional Zajaal poet, and musicians from the band Toot 'Ard.

Edited April 2, 2013 by JstaRebel

[JstaRebel 48]

‘To Exist is to Resist’: Seminar day in Jiflik

Posted on March 27, 2013 by freedombuspalestineReply

Hosted by Jordan Valley Solidarity, in the beautiful Friends’ Meeting House in Jiflik – the oldest building in the Jordan Valley – The Freedom Bus group heard talks from Mazin Qumsiyeh and Saed Abu-Hijleh about the history of Palestinian resistance, the nature of apartheid and personal experiences of living under occupation.

Members of the Freedom Bus with Mazin Qumsiyeh

Mazin Qumsiyeh, Professor of Biology, Bethlehem and Birzeit University

Mazin opened his talk by questioning the idea of coming ‘in solidarity’ to Palestine. He argued that instead of thinking of ourselves as standing in ‘solidarity’ with the Palestinians, it would better to see ourselves as part of a global struggle, of which the Palestinian struggle for freedom is only one part. The same kind of people that are the cause of Palestinian suffering are the kind of people who are in positions of unjust power everywhere, he said. The problem in Palestine, Mazin argued, is not religious. It is to dowith money, resources, and greed. The Palestinian people are seen by the Israeli state as an obstacle in the way of resources.

Mazin is the author of Popular Resistance in Palestine, a book detailing Palestinian resistance against colonisation from 1881 to the present day. He talked about the first Palestinian uprising in 1881, which used petitions, demonstrations, strikes, boycotts and lobbying to demand an end to colonization and the creation of a secular, democratic state. Arguing that these demands have been consistently made by Palestinians since this first uprising, Mazin put Palestinian resistance in the historical context of anti-colonial movements across the globe.

There were further Palestinian uprisings in 1917, 1921, 1929 and 1936. The history of these moments of resistance is not well known. For example, the first demonstration to use automobiles was held in Jerusalem in 1929. It was organised by Palestinian women, who arranged to bring 120 cars from across the country into the Old City in Jerusalem, where they drove through the narrow streets, horns blazing.

Mazin’s history of non-violent resistance – known in Palestine as ‘popular resistance’ – was fascinating. There are many forms such resistance can take, from weekly demonstrations to boycotts and strikes. Perhaps the most fundamental form of popular resistance is simply to remain on the land, living and working, and refusing to be moved. This kind of resistance is key to Palestinian life in Area C, where homes and infrastructure are constantly being demolished, and traditional ways of life are becoming increasingly difficult. Mazin argued that in this way, every Palestinian living in Gaza or the West Bank is engaged in resistance every day, hence the famous slogan: ‘To Exist Is To Resist.’

During the question and answer session, Mazin outlined the best ways in which internationals can help the Palestinian struggle. Firstly, he said, self-educate. Read and learn, so that you can make arguments and have discussions about Palestine and its history. Secondly, use the skills that you have. “I don’t want to see someone with excellent media skills planting trees,” Mazin said, “If you have specialist skills, use them.” Thirdly, he emphasized that the most useful work is not necessarily in Palestine itself, but in our own countries. Support in the West is key for Israel, especially in the United States and England. It is here that political work must be done to undermine this support.

Saed Abu-Hijleh, Professor of Political Geography, An Najar University

Saed began his speech by talking about his own history. Born in 1966, his formative years were spent under the occupation. In 1976, when he was 10-years-old, six Palestinians were killed in the ’48 territories during Land Day demonstrations. There were protests in response all over the West Bank. Shortly afterwards, a 15-year-old girl who was in his sister’s class was shot by an Israeli soldier. Along with other school students, he joined the demonstrations in response.

In April 1982, when he was 16, an Israeli soldier entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and shot dead four Palestinians who were praying, injuring seven others. In response, there was a mini-uprising. On 27 April, Saed joined a demonstration in Nablus along with other students. An Israeli soldier machine-gunned him with explosive bullets. Saed was shot many times, and was lucky to survive. A few months later he was sent to Israeli jail. He was sent to Al Farah prison near Tubas, which was in fact a military camp used to hold activists from all over the West Bank. While in prison Saed was tortured, beaten and whipped with electrical wires. However, Al Farah prison brought activists from many different areas together, and they were able to forge links and learn from each other. This enabled them to organise nationally, rather than just locally.

In 2002, during the second intifada, Saed’s mother, Shaden, was helping those in the local community who were being affected. She was a school teacher, and a member of the Popular Committee, involved in supporting those who needed help with shelter, food etc. One day Israeli soldiers came to Saed’s family home and shot his mother dead. She died in his arms. You can watch a video of Saed talking more about his mother and her legacy here:

Saed’s descriptions of his life and experiences were extremely moving. Saed is also a poet and we were lucky enough to hear some of his poetry, which you can read here.