Inspiring Images Of Resistance To Apartheid: Right Of
Freedom For Palestinians
03 April 2010By Mazin Qumsiyeh
We now have three videos up on youtube for the
historic march that breached the apartheid walls on
Palm Sunday insisting on right of freedom of movement
for Palestinians. Ten people of the original 16 are
still held by the occupation forces (as were the
donkey and horse used in the event! )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSsxd-JhVvA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1uBMnPBFCQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f8hlye2y78
Since then, the Israeli authorities are trying to
punish the town by preventing even those few with
permits from crossing between Bethlehem and Jerusalem
(again a war crime to do collective punishment). But
the people will not succumb and in Bethlehem area we
had other events in the days that followed. It also
happened that Tuesday was land Day and hundreds of
demonstrations, vigils, and other events were held not
only in Palestine but throughout the world.
I will start with our own event in Beit Sahour. Land
day events were appropriately held at Ush Ghrab
(threatened area of the Bethlehem district) and
despite an Israeli military presence at the site, the
events involved participation from over 1000
individuals from throughout the district (several
towns and villages represented). Over 300 women and
their very young kids participated (also a belated
celebration of International Women's day). Six high
schools sent buses. We also had volunteers and
activists of all walks of life. See story at http://www.imemc.org/article/58325
and video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mo_wK_LR-w
and photos at : http://www.flickr.com/photos/imemc
The main action this year was in the town of Sakhnin
in areas occupied since 1948. Over 10,000 attended the
events from throughout historic Palestine. See
pictures here (scroll to bottom, truly inspiring)
http://www.panet.co.il/online/articles/1/2/S-282259,1,2.html
and Haaretz story here http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1160094.html
It is a shame the this event is covered widely
throughout the region but not in many western media
outlets.
In other areas, the Israeli troops attacked
demonstrators (e.g. in Budrus where several civilians
were injured including a TV reporter, and in several
locations in Gaza near the borders were Israeli troops
opened fire on demonstrators killing a youth and
injuring many). Actions were also held outside of
Palestine on Land Day (which is also International Day
of Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions against
Israeli Apartheid). An example of action from over 400
events world-wide is shown in this video (again
illustrating what a few individuals can do to make a
huge impact) ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsYS2iLHhHg
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a
villager at home http://www.qumsiyeh.org
Popular Committee to Resist the Apartheid Wall and
Settlements-Beit Sahour Professor, Bethlehem and
Birzeit Universities Chairman of the Board,
Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between people,
http://www.pcr.ps
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EsinIslam.Com
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