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Israeli soldiers don keffiyehs to try to break the back of Palestinian resistance, then stop photographers from filming them

Notes from the moral battleground: an amazing post by Joseph Dana on a demonstration against the illegal colonization of the village of Beit Ummar in which Israeli security disguised themselves as Palestinian demonstrators in order to arrest three Palestinian protesters. Vicious. Look at Dana’s photograph:

dana

There are more photos at the link. And here is Dana’s report, with a video. Where is the international protest of the military support for the criminal confiscation of people’s land? Where are the legions of support for these brave villagers who did not ask to be thrust into an international battle but who had no choice? Listen to the man cry, “This is our land!” Look at the noble, noble internationals who have come to their side. Where is Hillary Clinton? Where are Barney Frank and Alan Grayson and Jon Stewart?

Four Palestinians, three internationals and one Israeli solidarity activist were arrested by Israeli Forces during a Palestinian demonstration against Karmei Tsur, an illegal Israeli settlement built on Beit Umar land. The arrested Israeli solidarity activist was injured after the Army held her down and deployed pepper spray directly to her eyes. Several undercover soldiers disguised as Palestinians came behind the demonstrators and arrested three Palestinians teenagers. An additional Palestinian activist with mental disabilities was arrested during the protest. Sound bombs and tear gas were used by the Army against the demonstrators, and one member of the press had their camera broken by a soldier.

Around two dozen Israeli soldiers and border police blocked the path of the demonstrators, who began to chant against the occupation. Israeli soldiers then began making arrests and firing sound bombs and tear gas directly at protesters. Members of the press were also beaten by soldiers. Some of the youth in the demonstration responded by throwing stones. Karmei Tsur is one of five Israeli settlements, deemed illegal by international law, that are built on land belonging to Beit Umar villagers. The demonstration, which takes place in Beit Umar every Saturday, started at around 1pm as 70 Palestinians, supported by International and Israeli solidarity activists, marched towards the Karmei Tsur settlement. The demonstration is organized by the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Umar, and the Palestine Solidarity Project.

One other thought. They didn’t ask to be thrust into this battle, those villagers, as I said above. In Nilin, they have lost five young people (including this beautiful boy) to Israeli bullets, people trying to save their land. Now let me quote the New York Review of Books, which deserves great credit for the reporting it has published in recent months. Here is Nathan Thrall, commenting on the occupation:

The danger, for Israel and the Palestinian Authority alike, is what will happen if negotiations fail and Fayyad’s plan does not produce significant concessions from Israel. “[Israel is] not going to withdraw from certain areas just because there was a declaration or a UN resolution,” [former Barak aide Mike] Herzog said. In that event Hamas will be able to present a persuasive argument that violence is the only means of achieving national liberation.

I am against violence, but read that last line over again, and then quarrel with the logic, after 62 years of being promised a state and getting nothing from the world. Then tell me you are against BDS.

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