Four Palestinians arrested for harvesting herbs in the South Hebron Hills

(Italian follows)

March 18, 2015

At Tuwani – On March 17,  around 4 pm, Israeli soldiers detained a group of 10 Palestinian young men that were harvesting seasonal herbs in a Palestinian land near to the Israeli illegal outpost of Mitzpe Yair. After one hour the Israeli police arrived and arrested four of the Palestinians, taking them to Kiryat Arba police station.

March is the month in which Palestinians harvest this kind of herbs. Since the settlers, supported by Israeli forces, are attempting to annex the Palestinian land, even the simple activity of collecting herbs become dangerous, especially when the fields are located near to the Israeli settlements and outposts.

In the last two weeks International volunteers witnessed several settler’s attacks, army harassment and even arrest against Palestinians harvesting herbs on their own lands.

Quattro palestinesi arrestati nelle colline a sud di Hebron per aver raccolto erbe

18 Marzo 2015

At Tuwani – Il 17 Marzo, alle 16 circa, soldati israeliani hanno detenuto 10 giovani palestinesi che stavano raccogliendo erbe nelle proprie terre vicine all’avamposto israeliano illegale di Mitzpe Yair. Dopo averli trattenuti per un’ora, all’arrivo della polizia, quattro dei ragazzi sono stati arrestati e portati alla stazione di polizia di Kiryat Arba.

Marzo è il mese in cui questo tipo di erbe vengono raccolte, ma per i palestinesi anche un’attività semplice come questa può diventare molto pericolosa. I coloni israeliani, con l’appoggio dell’esercito e della polizia, tentano continuamente di annettere le terre palestinesi, in particolar modo quelle vicine alle colonie o agli avamposti, scacciando i palestinesi quando questi provano ad accedervi per lavorarle, o come in questo caso anche solo per raccogliervi erbe.

Nelle ultime due settimane i volontari internazionali sono stati testimoni di diversi attacchi da parte dei coloni e tentativi di arresto da parte dell’esercito israeliano a danno dei palestinesi che lavoravano all’interno delle proprie terre.

PRESS RELEASE

Israeli police arrest Palestinian shepherd in South Hebron Hills

Settlers and Israeli authorities continue to chase away Palestinians from their own lands.

(Italian follows)

March 13, 2015

At Tuwani – South Hebron Hills, West Bank

On the morning of March 12, Israeli police arrested a Palestinian shepherd from At Tuwani village as he grazed his flock in the valley of Meshaha, near to the illegal Israeli outpost of Havat Ma’on.

At about 11 am, two Israeli soldiers came out from the outpost of Havat Ma’on and they stopped a Palestinian shepherd that was grazing his flock on Meshaha valley, accompanied by International volunteers. The soldiers held the shepherd’s documents until the arrival of the police, at about 12:15 pm. The Israeli police collected the charges from one settler, that witnessed the shepherd grazing his flock in a forbidden area. Although the mediation of the lawyers and the request of DCO intervention, in order to clarify the status of the challenged lands, the police decided to arrest the shepherd. At about 1:30 pm, the shepherd was taken to Kyriat Arba police station and he was released at about 4 pm.

The Palestinian lands in front of Havat Ma’on outpost, which is considered illegal also under Israeli law, are object of the outpost expansion. The Israeli authorities prevent the Palestinians from accessing their own lands, even when they try to respect the unlawful restrictions imposed by the occupying forces. It shows the specious nature of these measures focused on the expropriation de facto of the Palestinians lands.

Operation Dove has maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and the South Hebron Hills since 2004.

Pictures of the incident: http://goo.gl/9A5fsU

For further information: Operation Dove, 054 99 25 773

[Note: According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Hague Regulations, the International Court of Justice, and several United Nations resolutions, all Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal. Most settlement outposts, including Havat Ma’on (Hill 833), are considered illegal also under Israeli law.]

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COMUNICATO STAMPA

La polizia israeliana arresta un pastore palestinese nelle colline a sud di Hebron

Coloni ed autorità israeliane continuano a scacciare i palestinesi dalle proprie terre

13 marzo 2015

At Tuwani – Colline a sud di Hebron, Cisgiordania

Il 12 marzo la Polizia israeliana ha arrestato un pastore palestinese del villaggio di At Tuwani che stava pascolando il suo gregge nella valle di Meshaha, vicino l’avamposto illegale israeliano di Havat Ma’on.

Intorno alle ore 11:00 due soldati israeliani sono usciti dall’avamposto di Havat Ma’on e hanno fermato un pastore palestinese che stava pascolando il gregge presso la valle di Meshaha, accompagnato da volontari internazionali. I soldati hanno trattenuto i suoi documenti per oltre un’ora, fino all’arrivo della polizia, alle ore 12:15. Dopo aver raccolto le accuse di un colono che sosteneva di aver visto il pastore pascolare in un’area vietata ai palestinesi, la polizia ha deciso di arrestare il pastore. A nulla è valsa la mediazione degli avvocati e la richiesta che intervenisse la DCO (District Coordination Office) per far luce sullo status delle terre contese. Alle ore 13:30 il pastore è stato condotto alla stazione di polizia di Kyriat Arba, dalla quale è stato rilasciato alle ore 16.

Le terre palestinesi antistanti l’avamposto di Havat Ma’on sono obiettivo di espansione dell’insediamento che, va ricordato, è illegale secondo lo stesso diritto israeliano. Le autorità israeliane impediscono ai palestinesi il libero accesso alle proprie terre, anche quando questi cercano di rispettare le illegittime limitazioni imposte dalle forze occupanti. Questa è la dimostrazione della natura pretestuosa di questi provvedimenti mirati di fatto all’espropriazione delle terre palestinesi.

Operazione Colomba mantiene una presenza costante nel villaggio di At-Tuwani e nell’area delle colline a sud di Hebron dal 2004.

Foto dell’incidente: http://goo.gl/9A5fsU

Per informazioni: Operazione Colomba, +972 54 99 25 773

[Note: secondo la IV Convenzione di Ginevra, la II Convenzione dell’Aja, la Corte Internazionale di Giustizia e numerose risoluzioni ONU, tutti gli insediamenti israeliani nei Territori Palestinesi Occupati sono illegali. Gli avamposti sono considerati illegali anche secondo la legge israeliana.]

Israeli forces arrest two shepherds in the South Hebron Hills

The life of South Hebron Hills residents is one of a daily resistance to the Israeli occupation

(Italian follows)

March 1, 2015

At-Tuwani – South Hebron Hills, West Bank

On the morning of February 28, Israeli police arrested two Palestinian shepherds as they grazed their flock in the valley of Umm Zeitouna near the Israeli settlement of Ma’on.

In late morning the security chief of Ma’on settlement and Israeli soldiers arrived in Umm Zeitouna valley where the shepherds, accompanied by international volunteers, were grazing their flock on land which Israeli settlers from Ma’on are attempting to annex. After few minutes the Israeli police arrived and they immediately detained two shepherds and two international volunteers. At about 12.30 pm Israeli police arrested the two shepherds and took them to Kyriat Arba police station. The volunteers were released. The Palestinians were released at about 3 pm, after paying a fine of 500 NIS for each person.     

Residents of the South Hebron Hills experience continual harassment from settlers in nearby settlements and outposts, but remain steadfast in their commitment to nonviolent resistance. Each day that they graze their sheep in contested areas, the shepherds continue to resist settler attempts to drive them from their lands. International volunteers have witnessed shepherds chased from Umm Zeitouna six times since the start of the year (in five of these occasions the Israeli army came after a settler’s call).

The arrest followed a nonviolent action that morning during which residents successfully repaired the road which links At-Tuwani village to Yatta, and the attendance on February 27 of the South Hebron Hills Popular Resistance Committee at the 10th anniversary nonviolent action in Bil’in. These are two examples of the commitment of the South Hebron hills people to use nonviolence to resist the occupation, both in their own communities and throughout Palestine.           

Operation Dove has maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and South Hebron Hills since 2004.

Pictures of the actions:  http://goo.gl/LjwcDz

Video of the arrest:  http://goo.gl/dSeJgT

[Note: According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Hague Regulations, the International Court of Justice, and several United Nations resolutions, all Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal. Most settlement outposts, including Havat Ma’on (Hill 833), are considered illegal also under Israeli law.]

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Le forze israeliane arrestano due pastori nelle colline a sud di Hebron

La vita degli abitanti delle colline a sud di Hebron è già una quotidiana resistenza all’occupazione israeliana

1 marzo 2015

At Tuwani – Colline a sud di Hebron, Cisgiordania

La mattina del 28 febbraio, la polizia israeliana ha arrestato due pastori palestinesi mentre pascolavano il loro gregge nella valle di Umm Zeitouna, vicino alla colonia israeliana di Ma’on.

In tarda mattinata il capo della sicurezza di Ma’on e alcuni soldati israeliani hanno raggiunto la valle di Umm Zeitouna, dove i pastori, accompagnati da volontari internazionali, pascolavano il loro gregge in una terra che i coloni israeliani di Ma’on stanno cercando di annettere. Dopo pochi minuti è arrivata la polizia israeliana che ha immediatamente detenuto i due pastori e i due volontari internazionali. Intorno alle 12:30, la polizia israeliana ha arrestato i due pastori e li ha portati alla stazione di polizia di Kyriat Arba. I volontari sono stati invece rilasciati. Intorno alle tre del pomeriggio anche i palestinesi sono stati rilasciati, dopo aver pagato una multa di 500 NIS a persona.

La vita dei residenti delle colline a sud di Hebron è fatta di continue minacce da parte dei coloni dei vicini insediamenti e avamposti, ma resta ferma nell’impegno per la resistenza non violenta. Ogni giorno, quando pascolano le loro pecore nelle aree contese, i pastori continuano a resistere ai tentativi dei coloni di cacciarli dalle loro terre. Volontari internazionali hanno registrato l’inseguimento di pastori in Umm Zeitouna sei volte dall’inizio dell’anno (in cinque di queste occasioni l’esercito israeliano è arrivato dopo la chiamata dei coloni).

L’arresto avviene dopo che, quella stessa mattina, gli abitanti dell’area hanno riparato con successo, tramite un’azione nonviolenta, la strada che collega il villaggio di At-Tuwani a Yatta, e dopo la partecipazione, il giorno precedente, del Comitato di Resistenza Popolare delle Colline a sud di Hebron al decimo anniversario dell’inizio delle azioni nonviolente a Bil’in. Questi sono due esempi dell’impegno degli abitanti delle colline a sud di Hebron a resistere all’occupazione, sia nelle proprie comunità, che in tutta la Palestina.

Operazione Colomba mantiene una presenza costante nel villaggio di At-Tuwani e nell’area delle colline a sud di Hebron dal 2004.

Foto delle azioni:  http://goo.gl/LjwcDz

Video dell’arresto:  http://goo.gl/dSeJgT

[Note: secondo la IV Convenzione di Ginevra, la II Convenzione dell’Aja, la Corte Internazionale di Giustizia e numerose risoluzioni ONU, tutti gli insediamenti israeliani nei Territori Palestinesi Occupati sono illegali. Gli avamposti sono considerati illegali anche secondo la legge israeliana.]

(Italian follow)

On February 11, in the morning, Israeli soldiers and police arrested one man on the bypass road (317) near the village of Tuwani in the South Hebron Hills, and then raided the nearby village of Jawwaya. The man who was arrested had obvious signs of violence, including blood and a scratch on his face, and was probably injured during the arrest. While this man was arrested on the road, Israeli army and police raided Jawayya, where they damaged a tent used by villagers for the storage of livestock food. The soldiers slashed the walls of the tent, probably with a knife.

Around 7:30 am, a family from Jawayya called international volunteers and told them that there were soldiers in Jawayya village. As the volunteers were walking to Jawwaya on the bypass road (317) they saw a police vehicle next to two other cars, which had damaged wheels and flat tires. When the volunteers arrived at the vehicles they saw one man on the ground near one of the vehicles at the side of the road. He was blindfolded and handcuffed with his hands behind his back, and he appeared to have been beaten on the face and mouth. The soldiers loaded the man into one of the vehicles with damaged tires and the soldiers then drove all of the vehicles away.

At around 8:20 am, two international volunteers arrived in the village of Jawwaya, where Israeli soldiers and police were searching houses and tents, probably looking for another man. One of the soldiers attacked one of the volunteers, and then attempted to steal a camera from another. According to Palestinian witnesses, soldiers and police slashed large holes in a tent used as a shelter for the food for the animals and they fired shots into the sky in order to intimidate the inhabitants of the village. At about 8:45 am the soldiers and police left Jawwaya.

This is the second Israeli settler’s “price tag” in the last 10 days in the area

(Italian follows)

January 10, 2015

At-Tuwani – South Hebron Hills, West Bank

On January 9, in the morning, Palestinians found 40 olive trees and 3 almond trees seriously damaged probably by Israeli settlers. In the afternoon, other inhabitants of the South Hebron Hills discovered about 150 olive trees cut and seriously damaged.

At about 10 a.m. some Palestinians from the Awad and Abu ‘Aram families discovered on their properties several 32 year-old olive trees and three almond trees cut. These trees were located near the village of Qawawis, in the South Hebron Hills area, between the Israeli illegal outpost of Mitzpe Yair and the Israeli settlement of Suseya, beside the Bypass road 317.

At about 2:35 p.m. another oversized destruction was discovered in the same area, between the Bypass road 317 and Suseya settlement. Due to bad weather conditions, neither the Israeli police nor the Palestinian owners have been able to verify the exact number of olive trees damaged. One of the 16 Palestinian owners, all from the Shatat family, estimated in about 150 the number of olive trees damaged.

This is the second Israeli settler’s ‘price tag’ against the Palestinian inhabitants of the South Hebron Hills in the last 10 days. On December 31, as witnessed by Palestinians, at about 3:00 am two settlers wrote with black spray near the front door of a Palestinian’s house in the village of Ad-Deirat this sentence: “Revenge of Jewish Kingdom“. Then, settlers broke a window and threw a molotov cocktail inside the house (read more).

Palestinians in South Hebron hills have suffered the Israeli settlers’ presence since the 70s. The settlers, occupying Palestinian-owned lands and destroying their properties, deprive the Palestinians of their main livelihood. Moreover the settlers, with their ongoing violence, prevent Palestinians from having a regular daily life and restrict their freedom of movement, thus forcing them to leave the South Hebron hills area.

Nevertheless the Palestinian communities of the South Hebron Hills area are still strongly committed to nonviolent popular resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Operation Dove has maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and South Hebron Hills since 2004.

Pictures of the damaged trees: http://goo.gl/aLQia2

[Note: According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Hague Regulations, the International Court of Justice, and several United Nations resolutions, all Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal. Most settlement outposts, including Havat Ma’on (Hill 833), are considered illegal also under Israeli law.]

(Italian follows)

January 6, 2015

At-Tuwani – South Hebron Hills, West Bank

During the last school-week, the Israeli military escort failed three times in accompanying the schoolchildren from the South Hebron hills villages of Tuba and Maghayir Al Abeed.

In order to reach the school of At-Tuwani, the Palestinian children, aged between 6 and 17 years, usually walk, accompanied by an Israeli military escort, through the shortest route (about 20 minutes) that passes between the Israeli settlement of Ma’on and the outpost of Havat Ma’on (Hill 833). This route is the main road linking their villages and At-Tuwani and it is dangerous for the children since they frequently suffer from the attacks and harassment of the settlers.

On January 4, the schoolchildren waited for the escort until 7:53 a.m. but the soldiers didn’t show up. The children had to attend an exam at 8:00 so, in order to not lose additional time, chose to go through an other longer path, in which they were attacked several times in the past. International volunteers accompanied them in place of the Israeli soldiers.

On December 31, the children arrived at the designated escort meeting place at 10.30 am in order to be accompanied from At Tuwani to Tuba, but the Israeli military escort wasn’t there. The children waited in the winter morning for the army until 11.45 a.m. The children chose to go through the very dangerous shortest route between Ma’on settlement and Havat Ma’on outpost without any escort.

On December 28, the schoolchildren arrived at the designated escort meeting place at 11.08 am, but the army wasn’t there. The children waited for the army until 11.45 am. After that the children chose to go home through an other longer path, but not less dangerous, accompanied by International volunteers in place of the Israeli escort.

In this half school year (from 24 August 2014 to 4 January 2015) Operation Dove volunteers, who monitor the Israeli military escort, collected the following data: on a total of 170 cases, six times the children were not escorted on their trip from and to school. In contravention of the protective mandate of the escort, in this half school year on 98,53% of the cases (on 136 of 170 recorded cases in which the volunteers monitored the military escort) the Israeli soldiers failed to fully complete the escort, not walking until the end of the settlement. Furthermore in this period on 23% of the cases the escort refused to walk with the children, as establish the agreement between the DCO and At-Tuwani major. On 49,4% of the mornings, the children were late to school by more than 5 minutes due to escort delay. The children lost 9 hours because of late or missing military escorts. On 54,1% of their school days, the children had to wait more than 5 minutes after school for the military escort. In the afternoons, the children waited it a total of 22 hours.

Operation Dove has maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and South Hebron Hills since 2004.

Pictures: http://goo.gl/F9Y2VA

[Note: According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Hague Regulations, the International Court of Justice, and several United Nations resolutions, all Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal. Most settlement outposts, including Havat Ma’on (Hill 833), are considered illegal also under Israeli law.]

After the Israeli army carried on several demolitions in the Bedouin village of Um Al Kher during the months of October and November, Palestinian inhabitants together with Israeli activists and supported by several International NGOs are now building new structures.

The European Union provided three tin-plated shelters to be used as houses, through the program “Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection”. Palestinians together with Israeli activists rebuilt the traditional oven for the third time, after it was recently illegally demolished once again; worked on an old well that can now provide water to the village through pumps; built a dirt patch that leads to the above-mentioned well.

On November 19 the DCO issued demolition orders for the three tin-plated shelters. Nevertheless Palestinian inhabitants of Um Al Kher are still strongly committed to the nonviolent popular resistance as a way of defending their right to live on their own land.

The well recently improved with water pumps.

Palestinians and Israeli activists work at the new dirt-patch on December 13.

One of three new tin-plated shelters recently provided by the European Union and already under demolition order.

In corso i lavori di ricostruzione nel villaggio beduino di Um Al Kher, nelle colline a sud di Hebron.

Dopo le varie demolizioni effettuate dall’esercito israeliano nei mesi di ottobre e novembre nel villaggio beduino di Um Al Kher, gli abitanti palestinesi stanno ora costruendo nuove strutture con l’aiuto di attivisti israeliani e il supporto di varie ONG internazionali.

L’Unione Europea, attraverso il programma “Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection”, ha fornito al villaggio tre case di lamiera. Palestinesi e attivisti israeliani hanno ricostruito il taboon, forno tradizionale, per la terza volta dopo che era stato illegalmente nuovamente demolito di recente; hanno apportato migliorie ad un vecchio pozzo che ora fornisce acqua al villaggio tramite tubature; costruito una strada sterrata che porta al suddetto pozzo.

Il 19 novembre la DCO (District Cordination Office, una branca dell’esercito israeliano che si occupa dell’amministrazione civile nei territori occupati palestinesi) ha emesso ordini di demolizione per le tre case di lamiera. Nonostante questo, gli abitanti palestinesi di Um Al Kher sono fermamente impegnati nella resistenza popolare nonviolenta quale via per affermare il proprio diritto a vivere sulla propria terra.

Despite the ongoing expansions of Israeli illegal outposts and the restrictions on accessing Palestinian owned lands inflicted by the Israeli civil administration, Palestinians successfully plowed their lands in the South Hebron Hills.

During the last few weeks Palestinian families gathered on their own lands to plow with tractors or donkeys. Palestinians from At Tuwani and Tuba villages plowed the lands surrounding Havat Ma’on Israeli illegal outpost, that during the month of November expanded with 25 iron pylons hammered in the ground rounding the border of the outpost.

Palestinians from Al Mufaqarah plowed the lands nearby Avigayil Israeli illegal outpost. On December 3, Israeli soldiers came twice toward the Palestinians and prevented them from working saying they were not allowed to plow that land. Palestinians asked Israeli soldiers to call the DCO and check their right to plow there. When DCO arrived on the place, Palestinians could prove they were allowed to work. On December 4, Israeli soldiers again came on the place and argued with International volunteers on the right of Palestinians to work the same land, but Palestinians kept on working without stopping for the presence of the army.

Palestinians from Jawwaya village had to wait the permission of the DCO in order to plow the land in front of Ma’on Israeli settlement’s entrance. That Palestinian owned land was declared a closed military area by the Israeli army on the spring of 2013 after different episodes of violence perpetuated by Israeli settlers toward Palestinians . On December 3, Palestinians could plow while Israeli soldiers and DCO officers monitored the all work.

“Plowing our own lands despite the violent policies of the Israeli civil administration, aimed to prevent us from accessing our basic resources, is an act of resistance in this area” says a member of the South Hebron Hills Popular Committee.

Palestinians plowing nearby Havat Ma’on illegal Israeli outpost on November 21.

Palestinians plowing in front of Ma’on Israeli settlement’s entrance, on December 3.

Stagione della semina 2014

I palestinesi delle colline a sud di Hebron sono riusciti a coltivare le proprie terre nonostante continui lavori di espansione degli avamposti illegali israeliani e le restrizioni sull’accesso alla terra inflitte dall’amministrazione civile israeliana dei territori occupati.

Nelle ultime settimane famiglie palestinesi si sono riunite per coltivare le proprie terre usando aratri trainati da trattori o asini. Palestinesi dei villaggi di At Tuwani e Tuba hanno seminato sulle terre circostanti l’avamposto israeliano illegale di Havat Ma’on, che durante il mese di novembre si è aspanso con 25 pali di ferro piantati attorno i confini dell’avamposto.

Palestinesi di Al Mufaqarah hanno coltivato le terre adiacenti l’avamposto israeliano illlegale di Avigayil. Il 3 dicembre soldati israeliani per due volte si sono avvicinati ai palestinesi impedendogli di lavorare, dicendogli che non avevano il permesso di coltivare quella terra. I palestinesi hanno chiesto che venisse chiamata la DCO (District Coordination Office) per dimostrare il proprio diritto di coltivare la suddetta terra. Arrivata sul posto la DCO, i palestinesi hanno potuto provare il loro diritto a lavorare la propria terra. Il 4 dicembre, soldati israeliani sono tornati sul posto e hanno discusso con i volontari internazionali presenti riguardo al diritto dei palestinesi di coltivare quella terra, i palestinesi hanno continuato ad arare senza fermarsi nonostante la presenza dell’esercito.

Palestinesi del villaggio di Jawwaya hanno dovuto aspettare il permesso della DCO per coltivare la terra di fronte all’entrata della colonia israeliana di Ma’on. Quella terra di proprietà palestinese è stata dichiarata un’area militare chiusa dall’esercito israeliano nella primavera del 2013, dopo diversi episodi di violenza perpetuati sui palestinesi da coloni israeliani di Ma’on. Il 3 dicembre, i palestinesi hanno potuto seminare mentre soldati e ufficiali della DCO hanno monitorato i lavori.

“Coltivare la nostra terra nonostante le violente politiche dell’Amministrazione civile israeliana, che puntano a negarci l’accesso alle risorse essenziali, è un atto di resistenza in quest’area” dice un membro del Comitato Popolare delle Colline a Sud di Hebron.