Anti-Wall Peaceful Protests in Nabi Saleh and Walaja Attacked by Israeli Occupation Soldiers, 13 Injured, 3 Abducted

February 6, 2012

Anti-Wall Protest in al-Walaja Attacked by Israeli Troops, Three Abducted

Monday February 06, 2012 07:33 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

On Sunday, villagers from Al-Walaja and international supporters went to the area where Israeli authorities are in the midst of destroying lands to build the Annexation wall. They held a non-violent march and rally, until a group of Israeli soldiers attacked the marchers.

The focal point for Sunday’s protest was the oldest olive tree in the Bethlehem District, which is over 3,000 years old, and is scheduled for demolition by the Israeli authorities in order to expand the illegal settlement of Gilo.

Protesters were met by a squadron of Israeli soldiers who attacked them with tear gas and pushed them back out of the area. The troops detained three protesters, including organizer Mazin Al-Aza, but released them later that same day.

According to the Popular Committee Against the Wall, in a recent decision regarding the western section of the Wall, (on the ‘West Bank’ side), the Israeli High Court lifted an interim injunction that had managed to stop work on the Wall in that area since 28 December 2010. The judgment confirmed a partial change in the route of the Wall, keeping an ancient water spring and a cemetery within the ‘West Bank’ side of the Wall.

However, the decision also rejected another proposed change to the Wall’s path, which means that a large area of agricultural land owned by residents of Al Walaja will remain on the ‘Jerusalem’ side of the Wall, accessible only by agricultural gates and a permit system. Construction of the Wall continues although legal procedures are not yet exhausted.

Protests have been held in the village every week for the last several years, organized by local villagers and members of the Popular Committee Against the Wall.

13 Injured in Nabi Saleh During Weekly Non-Violent Protest

Friday February 03, 2012 16:11 by Circarre Parrhesia - IMEMC News

During the weekly non-violent protest in the village of an-Nabi Saleh on Friday several injuries were reported including that of a French citizen who was struck in the neck by an Israeli projectile.

The young woman, reported to be named Amessi, was struck in the neck, initially thought to be by a tear gas canister, but later reported to be a rubber coated steel bullet. As of yet reports remain conflicted. The young woman was cut by the shot which led to bleeding from the wound.

Reports state that the young woman has been transferred to hospital where she is stable.

Israeli military major, Peter Lerner, claimed via his Twitter account that the young woman was struck by Palestinians throwing stones, but journalists at the scene countered this statement, supporting the activists report of events.

Those in attendance claim to have video footage of the Israeli fired projectile striking the protestor.

Furthermore, it was reported by activists at the scene and by the Popular Struggle Co-ordination Committee that Nariman Tamimi attempted to film the young woman’s injuries, but was assaulted by Israeli soldiers.

In addition to the injury sustained by Amessi, another international activist was struck in the waist by a tear gas canister. The young man, reportedly, has extensive bruising to the area.

In total residents of the village have reported 13 injuries in an-Nabi Saleh, not including those suffering ill effects from tear gas inhalation.

On December 9th 2011 village resident, Mustafa Tamimi was killed when military personnel shot out of the back of their armed jeep, striking Tamimi in the face with a tear gas canister.

Tamimi succumbed to his wounds.

The firing of high velocity tear gas canisters directly at protestors violates both international law regulating the use of so called non lethal munitions, and Israeli domestic law, yet several activists, both Palestinian and international, have been killed and severely injured by direct shots from tear gas canisters.

In April 2009, Basem Abu Rahme was killed in the village of Bil'in when shot in the chest with a tear gas canister, and U.S. citizen Tristen Anderson was left disabled when shot in the head by a canister in March 2009.

Anderson was taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv where he underwent brain surgery, having a portion of his frontal lobe and fragments of shattered bone removed.

Updated from:

Woman Shot in Head by Israeli Military in Nabi Saleh

Friday February 03, 2012 16:11 by Circarre Parrhesia - IMEMC News

Activists in the village of Al-Nabi Saleh are reporting on Friday that a woman has been shot in the head by a tear gas canister fired by the Israeli military.

Resident of the village Linah al-Sa'afin stated on her Twitter account that a young woman was shot in the face by the Israeli military, which was followed by information from Deema Al-Sa'afin that the young woman was shot by the military with a tear gas canister and then taken from the scene by the military.

Activists based in the villages that hold non-violent protests regularly update followers as to the events of the protest via their accounts on social networking platforms such as Twitter.

On December 9th 2011 village resident, Mustafa Tamimi was killed in a similar incident when military personnel shot out of the back of their armed jeep, striking Tamimi in the face with a tear gas canister.

Tamimi succumbed to his wounds.

The firing of high velocity tear gas canisters directly at protestors violates both international law regulating the use of so called non lethal munitions, and Israeli domestic law, yet several activists, both Palestinian and international, have been killed and severely injured by direct shots from tear gas canisters.

In April 2009, Basem Abu Rahma was killed in the village of Bil'in when shot in the chest with a tear gas canister, and U.S. citizen Tristen Anderson was left disabled when shot in the head by a canister in March 2009.

Anderson was taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv where he underwent brain surgery, and had to have a portion of his frontal lobe and fragments of shattered bone removed.

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