Israeli soldiers open fire on demonstrators

March 14th 2004

Villagers from Nai'lin (west of Ramallah) demonstrated this morning against
the construction of Israel?s controversial ?Security wall? on their land.

Groups of local people gathered together with members of the Middle East
Peace Caravan (Ya Basta! and Global Radio), with the aim of stopping ? even
if only for a day ? the bulldozers. Their determination is notable: Abed
Al-Rahim Zaied, 32, an English teacher at Nai'lin Girls? School, said he
felt that it was ?impossible? not to stop this another attempt to take their
land. He talked passionately about the ancient olive groves in the area,
now being uprooted ? ?Cutting down these trees means annulling our existence?it
would be better to die with them.? It was in Budros, where Abed lives,
that a demonstration in January stopped the bulldozers. The inhabitants
of these villages now seemed determined to follow their example.

A procession of men, women and children (as well as the nine Italians) moved
out into the olive groves to meet the bulldozers. The demonstration was
supported by both secular and religious groups ? it was possible to see
the flags of the religious Hamas, Fatah (considered to be close to Arafat)
and the secular Palestinian Initiative. At Nai'lin everything passed off
without incident, after which the demonstration moved a few kilometres as
far as Al Tamia. Here, the group split into two. A group of young shebab
moved closet to the soldiers who were protecting the bulldozers and began
to throw stones while at the same time the numerous women (of all ages)
moved sideways. The villagers? spokesman asked the Italian group to speak
to the soldiers. During this attempt to request the right to a peaceful
demonstration, the large part of the group of villagers moved forward. At
this point, the soldiers who had up until now been shooting at the shebab
began to indiscriminately open fire in all direction, and launched tear
gas grenades.

Despite this, the determination of the demonstrators managed to stop the
soldiers and the bulldozers. While the armoured cars retreated, the young
boys put large rocks in the middle of the military access road. Among the
sense of fear, the injuries and those choking on the tear gas (An old woman
almost suffocated). There was space for scenes of jubilation as the soldiers
retreated. After a while, the soldiers returned with reinforcements, and
the demonstrators retreated.

While they moved back toward Al qualla Hindy, a Medical Relief volunteer
accompanying the demonstration warned everyone that the situation was critical:
"look, here is not a joke, it's very serious".

In fact, at this point, the troops? fire drew much closet, and they began
to use live ammunition. Four injured shabab were taken to hospital by Medical
Relief, one with a serious leg wound. Young boys ran into the soldier?s
fire to help them carry away the injured. Cotton wool soaked in an indeterminate
liquid was distributed among the demonstrators, who were told that it would
protect them against the strong tear gas. Despite all this, however, the
demonstrators did not give up, causing the soldiers to pause.

During this lull, some of the kids set fire to one of the unmanned bulldozers.
Despite knowing that this action would inevitably bring about incursions
and arrests in their villages, everyone seemed proud to ? at least for a
few hours ? have raised their heads and decried their right to live in peace
in what remains of historical Palestine.

At the end of the day I spoke to Amna Amina Amira. Now aged 70, she used
to own land around the colony of Hashmo Naim, built on land from Nai'lin.
Amna didn?t take part in the demonstration as she now has trouble walking,
but told me not to worry about the Israeli soldiers, saying she had seen
so many of them, and was determined to stay where she was and hold on to
the little she has left. Amna is far from being unique among the women of
these villages. The wall is yet far from being built.

Francesca Marretta