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ISM Reports: November 9th Action In Palestine

ISM Media Office | 10.11.2003 11:07 | Anti-racism | World

Press Release

Information regarding action against the Israeli Apartheid Wall, Zbooba village, Jenin District, November 9, 2003.

From ISM in Jenin on activities against the apartheid wall and war crimes against innocent civilian farmers


After extensive planning and preparation, today the illegal Israeli Apartheid Wall was extensively damaged in the farming village of Zbooba, west of Jenin. The action was planned over the course of several weeks by Palestinian farmers separated from their lands, the Jenin ISM {International Solidarity Movement} and other concerned individuals. Participating in the succesful action were 200 Palestinians, 35 Israelis and 28 West Bank ISMers.
Participants departed from the Zbooba community center and marched peacefully to the Apartheid Wall {actually a fence in this region} at which time the planned direct action was initiated. Internationals and Israeli activists cut thru the large razor wire protective fence and proceeded to
cut the main fence, while pulling away cut parts using grappling hooks, ropes and digging bars. Despite the large presence of IOF, Israeli police and Border Patrol from the outset, very extensive physical damage was inflicted on the fence and its razor wire enclosure. Amid sound / concussion grenades, tear gas and warning shots, activists opened up a 20-30 meter section of both fences completely, while also inflicting considerable damage on other sections. With soldiers kicking them through the fence, activists finished the planned activity by completely severing a large section of the main fence, then peacefully retreating into the larger crowd of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals. The IOF then proceeded through the hole in the fence and fired many shots over the heads of the crowd, and were met only with a rousing chorus of "Free, Free Palestine!!!" The action was completely non-violent through its entirety and the resounding message was one of Israeli/Palestinian solidarity. Largely due to the pronounced Israeli presence, no participants were arrested or injured. The action was a complete success by all accounts, and most importantly the beleagured Palestinian farmers declared it a victory against the tyranny of the Wall and attempts to isolate them from the larger world. As was accomplished across the West Bank and countless cities around the world, today we made a serious show of support for and solidarity with the unjustly persecuted Palestinian people.
THE WALL MUST FALL!!!!!!!!!!!

ISM Media Office

Comments

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Was this smart? (or an umnfortunate accident)

11.11.2003 19:08

With most of this separation wall being located on Palestinian land WHY was this action carried out at one of the relatively few places where the fence IS on the "green line"? (the border of 1948 Israel).

Surely the Israelis at least are not going to believe "careless accident". But of course it might have been chance (poor planning).

Who precisely was supposed to get the message "by our words it's just the encroachment onto Palestinain land to whihc we object -- but by our ACTIONS intend to show that it's the border of Israel which must fall down". But of course it might not have been intended that way by the ISM folks who could very well have been unaware that the fence at that point was the old border (they could have been duped by people insisting on the so called "one state" (no Israel) solution).

Whose decision? What was the intended message?

Mike
mail e-mail: stepbystepfarm mtdata.com

Is it peace you want - or more hatred?

08.12.2003 15:20

I find it difficult to understand why people have such a problem with Israel, yet support disgusting regimes in the rest of the middle east. It should be remembered that Israel was formed following the Pogroms in Russia and many parts of Europe and also the Holocaust (not to mention thousands of years of persecution of the Jews world wide since they were evicted from their homeland). The Jews needed a homeland. They initially bought areas of Palestine from the arab landowners, mostly swampland, which they drained and made good. They were then given a tiny section of Palestine after the Holocaust, a safe haven. The vast majority of Palestine was divided between Jordan and Syria. Considering that modern day Israel represents less than 15% of former Palestine and neither Jordan or Syria has put their hands in their own pockets to contribute some of their share to a Palestinian homeland, I think that the hatred for Israel by the West's left wing is quite unfounded. Israel has played it's part in the peace process, twice in the last 12 years offering to form a Palestinian state and offering to meet around 95% of Palestinian demands. The offers have been met with murder and suicide bombers, who seem to take pleasure in bombing, not army compounds, but civilian areas on Jewish holy days. Perhaps the Palestinian cause is less to do with actual repression by the Israeli state and more to do with the long running anti-semitism fundamental to Islam (check the Koran), Possibly showing how Sadam Hussain could point his missiles at Israel in anger of the Jew's treatment of his muslim brothers, while systematically torturing and murdering thousands of his own civilians. Well, that's his excuse for his anti-semitism,what's yours?

Laura