Palestinian farmers (Beit Ummar) oppose Land confiscations aug 09

Palestinian farmers (Beit Ummar) oppose Land confiscations aug 09:

"On August 21st 2009, we joined local Palestinian farmers and members of Palestine Solidarity Project at a nonviolent action near the security fence [read apartheid wall] around Karmei Zur settlement. This settlement is near the village of Beit Ummar, half way between Bethlehem and Hebron.

The army have apparently agreed to allow the farmers access their land inside the fence: however, the local farmers dont see why they should have to ask the army to go to lands which they legally own. As has happened in other places, the farmers see this as the slippery slope to a permit system and eventually to being excluded altogether. (I have seen the same thing in Hebron city, where Palestinians are either barred from using certain roads, or are now required to have permits to go where they traveled freely before.)

Also present were a number of other internationals, some Israelis from Tel Aviv, as well as some journalists. The group walked to the outer security fence of the Karmi Zur settlement. Two Palestinian activists/farmers inserted papers with the slogans we will never leave our land, stop illegal building on Palestinian land on the fence'. Two of the landowners joined the group. They showed copies of ownership papers the Ottoman period.

On the video, you can see part of the new road being built, for the settlers, on Palestinian land, between the settlement and the security fence built by the military. ِِIn addition, a watchtower is going to be erected.

When the army arrived, we spoke to one of the soldiers. He was able to have a respectful talk, even though he wasnt accepting that their presence there legalized theft. Oh yes, he said, we all want peace and love. He said the fence was built after attacks on settlers by the terrorists.

The names of the families who cant access their land are Abu-Marya, Soleiby, Awwad, Abu Ayyesh, and Sabarna. Since the security fence was built, the army either prevents access, or wants farmers to co-ordinate their access with them. Several of the Palestinian farmers here are refusing to seek permission to access land which is legally theirs. They have also turned down offers of large sums of money for their land.

Polite conversation with the soldier ended when an armed and aggressive settler security person arrived. He shouted insults at the internationals, and Go back to Germany and Go back to the Holocaust to an activist who identified himself as Jewish. He then opened the gate in the fence, insisting that the army disperse the activists. We all left. The army followed behind, then randomly seized an international, who was detained then later released.

For more information about Palestine Solidarity Project, see the website: http://palestinesolidarityproject.org"



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