Sunday, January 13, 2013

BAB AL SHAMS REMAINS DEFIANT: "We have had enough of demanding our rights from the occupier – from now on we shall seize them ourselves"

Dear friends,
as already reported, Israeli Occupation Forces - in violation of their own High Court - ethnically cleansed the Palestinian resistance village, Bab Al Shams in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee who was the umbrella group under which Bab Al Shams was organised has issued a media release on Israel's attack.  Please find it below.   PSCC has also distributed photographs of some of those injured during the Israeli attack on the village.

In solidarity, Kim


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Sunday, 13 January 2013
Palestinian Village of Bab Alshams Violently Evicted

Although established on privately owned Palestinian lands, Israel forcefully expelled residents of the village in a pre-dawn raid this morning. Six required medical attention


Shortly before 3 AM, hundreds of Israeli cops and soldiers staged a raid on the newly founded Palestinian village of Bab Alshams (Gate of the Sun), violently evicting its 150 inhabitants. Use of police brutality is even more objectionable in light of the passive resistance offered by the residents. No arrests were made, and all persons detained were released shortly after.

In light of harsh international criticism over the plan to expand the Ma'aleh Edomim settlement, and in an attempt to draw away attention from the case, eviction took place early this morning. Following its arrival at the scene, a massive police force began by removing journalists from the residents' immediate surroundings and proceeded to drag people away, beating some of them. Six Palestinians later required medical care at the Ramallah Hospital.

Following his release, Mohammed Khatib of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said, "We will not remain silent as Israel continues to build Jewish-only colonies on our land. Bab Alshams is no more, but during its short days it gave new life and energy to all who passed through it. Israel continues to act in violation of every imaginable law and human decency. In establishing Bab Alshams we declare that we have had enough of demanding our rights from the occupier – from now on we shall seize them ourselves."

Last night the state appealed to the High Court to withdraw an injunction prohibiting the eviction. The state argued, among other things, that the very existence of the village may occasion rioting, despite its remote and isolated location. The state further argued that the village was established by the Committees to Resist the Wall (a body which does not exist), also behind a blockade of Route 443 in October 2012. This claim, backed only by an affidavit signed by an Israeli police chief, has never been supported by any indictments or arrests for the questioning of individuals.

The village of Bab Alshams was established last Friday by Palestinian activists, on privately owned Palestinian lands, in an area between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma'aleh Edomim, which Israel refers to as E1. After the acceptance of Palestine as a non-member state to the UN, Israel announced the approval of a plan to expand the Ma'aleh Edomim settlement by building some 4,000 residential units in this area. Such construction would effectively bisect the West Bank and effectively cutting it off from Jerusalem


 Above: Photo via PSCC


 Above and below: Photo via PSCC 



Photo by Ammar Awad/Reuter

Photo by Elo B

Photo by ELO B

Photo by ABBAS MOMANI /AFP

PSCC spokeswoman Abir Kopty and Palestinian activist/writer Maath Musleh attacked by IOF
Photo by Nasser Shiyoukh/AP


 PSCC spokeswoman Abir Kopty and Palestinian activist/writer Maath Musleh attacked by IOF
Photo by Elo B

 IOF Border Police
Photo by ABIR SULTAN
Photo by Flash90

Photo by Xinhua/Muammar Awad

 Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI

 Palestinian activists after being evicted from Bab Al Shams at Qalandia Checkpoint

Palestinian activists after being evicted from Bab Al Shams at Qalandia Checkpoint
Photo by Raya Images


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