(Photos by Hamde Aburahma)
Two weeks ago I did a post about the Israeli military raiding the village of Bil'in in the middle of the night. In addition to sharing the horrifying news, it was also an example of what life under occupation looks like. Residents of Bil'in are reporting another similar raid this morning. Bil'in does receive extra attention from the Israelis because it has been at the forefront of resisting the occupation, but this treatment is not reserved for them. This is life under occupation. Imagine yourself living under these conditions. Imagine how you would respond. From the Friends of Freedom and Justice in Bil'in:
Explosions Pierce the Quiet of Bi'lin
On July 7th at 3:30, soldiers disrupted the tranquility of Bi'lin by forcing their way into several houses. Israeli soldiers came with a list of 10 names for arrest. When Palestinian, international, and Israeli activists arrived at the scene they were subjected to violence and intimidation by the Israeli occupation forces. One activist with the International Solidarity Movement had non-violently blocked the entrance to one of the doors when he was attacked by soldiers, forced to the ground, and subjected to pain compliance. He was then arrested and carried by a group of soldiers into a military jeep. When activists and community members responded, they were beaten back with batons and forced to dodge a large number of percussion grenades.
Meanwhile, activists tried blocking the jeeps from leaving by erecting makeshift barricades in the street. The Israeli occupation forces responded with a number of percussion grenades and then rammed their jeeps through. They forced their way up the street and to several other houses. While there, they arrested a young man and issued nine summons to families of youths who were not present. This was done without explanation or warning. In the process of storming other houses, the soldiers were again confronted by activists and community members who refused to be dispersed even after repeated percussion and flash bang grenade attacks by soldiers. The jeeps had to make an escape through a second set of erected barricades and they exited into the night with their victims inside.
Imagine how you would react to a group of people that move in to the house next door to your home and create a daily distraction so that the pedophile living there can continue molesting children in your neighborhood. Then imagine reading about how these outsiders causing trouble every day are victims.
Pigs.
That post said nothing.
Thugs. Who are the real "terrorists" in this equasion? If this footage came from Iran, it would be top of the Nightly News, and the topic of every neo-con columnist the Wahsington Post could get its hands on.
Amazing comment again, by our dear Richard Witty. You mean the people arrested must be terrorists, correct?, and since Adam and/or Friends of Freedom and Justice in Bil'in don't tell us about their crimes the information is worthless. How high is the rate of political criminals in Palestine. How many in 100? 10%? 20%? But how should anyone be able to tell us something about the charges, since they seem to disappear in prison without official charges, all secret service knowledge? And you consider that fine? How is this connected to Bil'in's peaceful protests and the fact that they don't surrender?
Somebody here alerted me to Tony Greenstein's blog. I have to admit that when I first encountered the stories of the JDL, I considered them antisemitic myth, but here we go. Paris bookstore attacked, books destroyed by Zionist fanatics of the "Jewish Defence League" http://azvsas.blogspot.com/2009/07/paris-bookstor...
How can they form a state side by side, when Israel believes the Palestinians are sub-human? Remove the prejudice, and there will be results. Israel must agree to pay for the the collective punishment of Palestine – Rebuild the cities they destroyed, and work as a neighbor and not a superior ethnic state. The population numbers tell us this is inevitable, that they will be absorbed into the mesh of religions. They strive to eliminate human life & dignity, in the effort to become a Jewish majority. Where does great Israel stop? When they realize the myth that this land is promised to them by the Almighty, or is that for the rest of the fools to buy into, they can integrate into the middle east plan and the hoax will end.
And yours says much less than nothing. It depicts an example of life under the occupation, just as Phil says. It does no more, no less than at least raising the question of why and documenting the event as it happened. Due to censorship by the USA MSM it's an achievement even gets this much news out to the Americans that will pay attention. Any we are tired of you pretending otherwise. You always lecture us to do something, but nobody ever takes a step anywhere unless they are motivated to do so. Without blogs such as Phil's how do you expect anyone to act without some vision, and how can one get broad vision during a long blackout? But you know this. I'm sure you recall the photo of the little girl running naked and howling and the man shot by the gun with his head–as you are well aware, that was a wake-up call to many Americans who really knew little about what was going on in Vietnam at the time, not to mention why–which issue came after those photos for most Americans.
correction: by the gun to his head correction: Anyway we are tired
That's exactly what Witty means. He denies any shred of collective punishment by Israel.
Interesting–why did you originally assume the stories of the JDL were antisemtic myths? You should think about that. I know you will be honest in your reply because you have demonstrated honesty many times on this blog.
To use your words, it documents events that form the rational self-understanding of the Palestinians who will have to accept the terms of any future peace agreement. You've requested several times for Phil to compile a list of every single terrorist attack from 1993 on. Yet you denigrate any post which documents abuse of Palestinians. Why?
But the language used was so vague and indistinct. You couldn't tell (unless you had a prejudice) whether the IDF was just doing their job, or was using excessive force. You've never been in a demonstration and a police officer used some "pain trreatment" to get you to move, that wasn't excessive force? Say an arm-twist.
Yeah Richard, they *might* have just been doing their job, dragging people out of their homes at ungodly hours. When robbers break into your home in the middle of the night to kidnap you and steal all your shit people have got to *expect* that they are going to get roughed up a bit. Richard, as my 4 year old niece says… "are you for true?"
Citizen, my time is limited as is the time of all of us. i simply didn't know anything about these matters, I am learning.
No, it merely said nothing that you were willing to hear.
Tell you what, Richard. Let's reinstate the Third Reich here in the US and send the Gestapo over to your house to do things typical of what the IDF does to Palestinians. Then let's have a debate about whether the Gestapo were "just doing their job" or "using excessive force." If what they are doing is unjust and oppressive in the first place, "just doing their job" is no excuse. That's the Eichmann defense.
You're so full of shit Witty. What RIGHT do the IDF have to be in the OT in the FIRST place? How can you keep posting here in the way that you always do when you're so clearly and insanely biased? Here you are regurgitating legal spittle to justify an OBVIOUS immoral act. No Israeli has the right to be in the OT. END OF STORY, moron.
What a hilarious "report"! I've seen NYPD officers arresting suspects – and they get beat up much worse in NYC. And if you "non-violently" block a police officer in a major US city, you're gonna get more than "non-violently" moved out of the way. The Israeli authorities have a DUTY to arrest suspects, EVEN if they are Arabs. Arabs are prominent in cases of car theft, rape and robbery as well as child molestation cases (especially WITHIN the Arab community). On the one hand the Pals want OPEN BORDERS with Israel (so that it is so very easy to drive all those stolen vehicles home to Kalansua, Kalkilya, Kafr Kassem, Rammallah, etc) but all you MondoIdiots get SO UPSET when the Israelis go through those open borders. Thanks for the laughs.
OT but couldn't help but notice http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/22/world-of... huffington post will post the "world of warcraft" freakout kid, a very popular viral video making the rounds, but not Max Blumenthals video of the partying teens in israel. Are we really supposed to beleive this has some sort of educational value about video game addiction? the columnist phones something in along those lines, then basically concedes it's for entertainment purposes. This is what pissed me off so much during the 2008 campaign when the press wouldn't show ron pauls huge rallies or do any substantive stories on him, but had no problem showing youtubes of cute cats for a minute. like okay we've covered ALL the news here's something "fun".
Bi'lin's not in Israel. Israel has no authority to arrest anyone outside the Green Line. NYPD does not arrest people in Tierra del Fuego. The IDF is engaging in terrorism and should be considered terrorists or Gestapo or both.
If it was Gilad Shalit's family, it would be a global catastrophe for global media and provoke unending revenge for Israel.
By right of conquest in a defensive war against Jordan.
What your point? Jews are good and Palestinians are evil. Oh yeah, original material. Police can't enter your home without a warrant in the United States Jake. Furthermore, it's not even Israel's territory. I am glad you can laugh at what a fool you are. Go spread your insight with your family, at least they'll be likely to believe you, and you can all laugh together about the evil forces that hold your broken society together.
Just another reason why a Palestinian might want to strap on a bomb to take out some of these IDF thugs. With its every action Israel shows why it must be considered a pariah state. BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS NOW!!!!
So, let me translate from terrorist supporter to English. The IDF went to what you euphemistically call "a forefront of resisting the occupation", in other words, a terrorist infested area. Then these scumbag ISM members tried to impede the IDF to stop them from arresting a suspect, and tried to use force to trap them in the area so that they could be attacked and/or their prisoners could escape. You know, if you tried that in the U.S. you would quite rightly be taken down with as much force as necessary to reduce the time you were able to delay the police. Then they would charge you as an accessory to whatever crime they were after the guy for. As for the authority to arrest people. Of course Israel has that authority. They got it when they took the territory in the 6-day war. Again, Palestinian supporters whine about the natural consequences that flow from the Arabs' failed attempts to destroy Israel.
You couldn't tell from the article. From the article, "you believe what you want to believe", is most accurate.
Tell you what, Craig11. Let's make having a brain a prerequisite to posting. Actually, you are the Eichmann defense, "Too stupid to know better."
b'dunk – please tell us all of the times that Rabbis tell the people that the Arabs are descended from apes and pigs. We'll stop when morons like you shut up.
It is illegal to take territory through war. Israel is breaking the law and should be punished as severely as it punishes Palestinian children playing too close to the Wall. Obama should use drones against the IDF whenever it ventures outside the Green Line.
Actually, Israel has every right to arrest anyone outside the Green Line. Tough shit for you and your islamic fascist friends.
Stop vomiting on your keyboard. It just makes you look stupid.
They are not in the United States. Are you saying your racist opinion on justice should be forced on everyone? Yes, most of us do laugh at ignorant fools like you.
Wrong. Israel never formally annexed the OT and no nation on earth recognizes the OT as part of Israel. Legally Israel has no right to any lands beyond the pre-1967 borders. To say otherwise is simply delusional.
Military occupation is not the same as annexation. Israel has never annexed the OT and no country on earth recognizes the OT as part of Israel. There are a number of UN resolutions calling for Israel to withdraw to its legal pre-1967 borders. Legally and morally, Israel has no right to control the OT or to arrest anyone there.
Thank you for supplying the motivation to shoot any Palestinian that looks suspicious.
Who let all the Zionist carnies out today?????????
Israel has no claim to anything outside the 67' borders and E. Jerusalem. International law 1979 US State Dept. memo Theodor Meron World Court The ICJ etc. all acknowledge this. You're the fascist, fucking moron.
You and your fellow cowards, already kill Palestinian civilians for nothing. So I doubt you need a real reason. Shouldn't you be getting off to Schindler's List right about now? Douchebag.
Because Witty is a sanctimonious piece of garbage. He is deeply intellectually dishonest.
Richard Witty is an Israeli drone. A Jewish State with no morals is not a Jewish state. Zionism is about thuggery, not Judaism. People ask why the PAlestinians don't adopt non violence and where the Palestinian Mandela is. He lives in Bil'in. He practices non violence. In the middle of the night he is beaten up by Israeli conscripts and taken away for torture.
Lame.
Vague and indistinct.
Thank you for your racist and fascist opinion. Israel has every legal right to control the West bank, an area it captured from Jordan during a defensive war. By the way, Strahl, how do you feel knowing everyone laughs at you, right in front of you? As if you have an inkiing of a notion about International law.
Your mother. She was tired.
Good to see our all-american moron realizes how he has no power. Poor little Wasp.
Funny, Israel doesn't claim it and no country recognizes Israel's non-existant claim. Are you related to Strahl? By the way, Legally, Israel has every right to control the area. Perhaps you should go to school. Take Strahl with you. Is he your Cousin, Brother, Father, or all three?
It is not illegal. You are breaking the law to state such. You should be punished as severely as anyone else who instigates murder.
Racist opinion? Shut the hell up. Everyone who points out the facts is a 'racist' to you. Israel has no legal right to control the West Bank or Gaza or East Jerusalem. It is inadmissible to acquire territory by war according to international law. And all those sources I cited agree that the Occupation is illegal. According to your stupidity, the US Supreme Court could pull a 'law' out of their behind, saying that it is acceptable for the American army to colonize Iraq. Then when asked for a justification – they only have to say 'because we won the war' or 'because we said so'. Israeli law has no legitimacy and is not moral or just. It is simply 'policy'. And the IDF are simply mall cops. "ismail", if by 'everyone' you mean you and your fellow short-bus passengers, then I assure you I'm doing just fine.
"You couldn't tell (unless you had a prejudice) whether the IDF was just doing their job, or was using excessive force. " Since when have these ever been mutually exclusive? One could argue that the IDF was doing it's job in Gaza, which was to carry out a massacre.
"What RIGHT do the IDF have to be in the OT in the FIRST place? " That's the real question isn't it? It's like a rapist arguing hat he had to kill his victim because she fought back and he had to defend himself.
ismail , Why do you insist on Rabbis and not elected leaders like Menachem Begin? Begin thinks all non Jews are human excrement. That make them even lower than descended from apes and pigs.
"Actually, Israel has every right to arrest anyone outside the Green Line." Actually they don't. Israel's forces ar there to protect illegal settlements, thus the IDF have no legal justification for being there.
By the way, Legally, Israel has every right to control the area. For the umpteenth time, no they don't. Immediately after the 1967 war, the Israeli government was informed by its highest legal authority, Teodor Meron, that "civilian settlement in the administered territories contravenes the explicit provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention," the foundation of international humanitarian law. Israel's Justice Minister concurred.
yes it is illgeal. Immediately after the 1967 war, the Israeli government was informed by its highest legal authority, Teodor Meron, that "civilian settlement in the administered territories contravenes the explicit provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention," the foundation of international humanitarian law. Israel's Justice Minister concurred.
The legal counsel of the Israeli Foreign Ministry is the "highest legal authority" in Israel? That's going to come as a shock to the Israeli Supreme Court. The guy was in a position equivalent to being a lawyer for the State Department.
Nice cherry picking. You missed the part about Israel's Justice Minister concurring. The World Court unanimously endorsed the essential conclusion in 2004, and the Israeli High Court technically agreed while disagreeing in practice, in its usual style.
English. The IDF went to what you euphemistically call "a forefront of resisting the occupation", in other words, a terrorist infested area. So I take it you woudl have no problem with Fatah or hamas members going into Tel Aviv and arresting a suspect right Thom? And anyone who resisted that arrest would of course deserve to be taken down right Thom? Taking territory by war and keeping it s illegal, otherwise, any country would be free to take any land it chose merely by declaring war and doing so. Would you be OK with an Arab state taking Jerusalem away from Israel Thom? Oh and BTW. Israel started the 1967 war, not eh Palestinians,who in fact, played no part int eh conflict at all. it helps when you have an idea about these topics Thom. Study up.
"The legal counsel of the Israeli Foreign Ministry is the "highest legal authority" in Israel?" With regard to international law, yes.
tIt's a good thing many israelis post on this site. I hope they continue to do so. i want to remember the sort of people who are torn to pieces in suicide attacks against the Jewish state. I want to avoid all temptation to mistake israelis for human beings.
They've destroyed too many things already…..don't let them destroy your compassion too.
You're right about the lack of MSM coverage. More, I went to a large Ron Paul rally and was there the whole day. Nobody from the press ever showed up even though it was in a good-sized city. Nothing on the TV or in the newspapers appeared either.
Yes Strahl is an American. You are not. Poor little snipped one.
Like the Warsaw Ghetto Jews whined about the natural consequences that flow from their failed attempts to destroy Germany directly beginning with Judea's economic boycott heralded around the world?
It is illegal. You should be punished for inciting genocide.
Apt description of Witty. LOL
Can we at least crap in their kitchens like the IDF does?
Kindly bring a reference for your slander. Otherwise, you are a standard antisemite. A MondoBigot.
Under the Oslo Accords that Yasser Arafat signed on behalf of the Palestinean Authority, Israel has a right and a duty to police the disputed territories. Israel even has the explicit right of "hot pursuit" into PA territory. Ask Bill Clinton for a copy, if you prefer. This is part and parcel of keeping a connection to Israel (i.e. no visas are required for "Palestineans" to enter the rest of Israel). Whatever else you might think about the Middle East, Israel has a RIGHT and an OBLIGATION to provide police services and to implement law and order in Judea and Samaria (aka the West Bank). Without this, Judea and Samaria would become another lawless failed state like Somalia or… Gaza! Gaza is a good example. Israel gave control to the Pal Authority, which sent Fatah fighters to kill Hamas fighters. Hamas won and now Gaza is like Somalia. (MondoFools blame everything on Israel, of course…) Your Gestapo comment indicates your level of ignorance, bigotry and stupidity. MondoLies is your natural home.
The Oslo Accords EXPLICITLY state Israel's rights and obligations to police the Disputed Territories. Israel gave up those rights in Gaza, handing the entire Strip to the Pal Authority – and it then became a terrorist homeland. Gaza is a great reason for Israel to NOT repeat that mistake with Judea and Samaria. You know nothing about the legal foundations of Israel's actions. Punjabi.
Paul, 1) The photo shows an arrest OUTSIDE a home. I've SEEN NYPD people arrest people on the street. Israel does the same. Goose? Gander? 2) Under the Oslo Accords Israel has EXPLICIT RIGHTS to arrest suspects in the Disputed Territories. Yasser Arafat himself signed those accords. 3) Who's the fool now, Paul?
The 1967 lines are not borders but armistice lines, delineating positions at the time of the ceasefire in 1948. A few dozen Muslim states STILL TO THIS DAY do not recognize Israel nor those "borders" you mention. Israel has EXPLICIT RIGHTS OF ARREST written into the Oslo Accords. You Arab-Lovers are such a riot. You sign agreements and then claim you've been robbed. Soooo Middle East. Maybe your kaffieyh needs cleaning…
Wow, stupid and ignorant too. He was a lawyer, not a judge. As such his opinion had no legal authority. Not the highest, not even the lowest. Same with the Justice Minister. As in, the politician who heads Israel's ministry of justice (or whatever they call it). Also a person whose opinion carries no legal weight. Assuming that your citation of his opinion is correct (vague though it is). The highest legal authority in Israel is the Supreme Court. Gah, I can't stand people who like to throw around legal jargon but have no idea what it means.
Since Hamas and Fatah are the terrorists, and they take hostages, not arrest suspects, I would have a problem with that. The policeman and the bank robber both carry guns, that does not make their moral positions equivalent. Sorry to disillusion you, but absent a treaty, taking territory by war and keeping it is exactly how it works. Any country is free to take any land it chooses merely by declaring war and doing so. The catch is that if the country you are taking the land from has allies strong enough to defend it, then you may end up losing the war. Also, there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny. There have been treaties signed by various nations since WWII that put a stop to taking land _of other nations that obey the same treaties_. But if the other side chooses not to play by the new rules then the old rules apply (law of the jungle). You can repeat your lies about the 1967 war as often as you like. It doesn't change the fact that the Egyptians declared war on Israel and blockaded an Israeli port in violation of treaties it had signed before Israel wiped out their airforce. Oh, and the Syrians had been shelling Israeli villages from the Golan Heights for months before that.
Ah, I googled your statement. As I suspected, you are a plagiarist. You aren't the one who came up with that statement, you just plagiarized it from Noam Chomsky. Apparently he is the ignoramus who doesn't know what "highest legal authority" means. Well, an ignoramus who doesn't know what it means, since you obviously don't know either. Look, if you are going to cheat off the guy next to you, make sure he isn't putting the wrong answer down.
Joachim, you sly little antisemite, changed your handle?
He/she has no compassion to be destroyed. Just another Jew hater who is less able to conceal it than you are Ana.
It isn't illegal. You should be punished for being an idiot.
Arafat.
Strahl is a powerless American. Just like you.
Aw, quit projecting your zionist lack of compassion onto non-zionists here.
The Israeli police go into Arab towns to arrest Arab murders and rapists. Like the Arab guy who raped and murdered his 6-year old niece, convicted today by DNA evidence. Like the two Palestinean murderers from your oh-so-perfect "Occupied" territory who robbed and murdered Israeli taxi drivers. Like Yihya Farhan, the Arab serial murderer arrested just a few weeks ago, following several years of murdering young women. Shingo, your support for the sexually depraved and bloodthirsty Arabs who commit these crimes does not speak well of you…
Strahl is a Punjabi Indian, not an American.