At the height of the Second Intifada, then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the decision to construct a barrier between the West Bank and Israel. In 2003, 180km of the barrier had been completed. It was already clear that the barrier was to cause great hardships to Palestinians, especially those in areas adjacent to it. Palestinian movement was severely restricted, agricultural lands were lost and access to health and emergency services limited. Despite a 2004 ruling of the International court of Justice against the barrier, Israel carried on with its construction.
Concomitant with the construction of the wall, communities most affected by it began to organize demonstrations and invited Israeli and international activists to join. The first demonstrations occurred in Masha, Beit Sira, Kharbata and Bil’in, where determined protesters eventually brought Israeli court to move the wall further towards the nearby settlement. Gradually, more Palestinian villages joined this struggle, including communities not directly affected by the wall, such as Qaddum and Nabi Saleh.
Commemorating the battle in al-Qastel and the Deir Yassin massacre (1948), residents of the Ramallah-district village Nabi Saleh marched towards the military checkpoint at the entrance to the village. The IDF attempted to disperse the protest using tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. One man sustained a fracture to him hand, while three boys from…
The local popular resistance committee led the weekly Friday march in the village of Nabi Saleh, accompanied by solidarity activists. Marchers chanted against the occupation and ongoing land annexation, as they proceeded towards the village’s main gate. The IDF attempted to disperse the march using tear gas canisters and live (“tutu”) ammunition fired by snipers.…
Hundreds commemorated Land Day in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, in protest of ongoing land annexations, settlements and military occupation. Among the hundreds who attended the march were delegates from several local popular committees such as Ni’lin Bil’in, Kufr Qaddum and Hebron based Youth against Settlements. Many international and Israeli solidarity activists also…
Marking both Mother’s Day and the anniversary of the battle of Karameh, residents of Nabi Saleh, together with the Freedom Bus (including members of the Freedom Theatre in Jenin) and solidarity activists, set out to plant olive trees. As marchers approached the main road, close to the expropriated water spring and adjoining lands, the Israeli…
The Israeli army stepped up its violent suppression of the weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh this week. As villagers and solidarity activists marched down the main road leading to the entrance to the village, soldiers targeted them with tear gas canisters, live ammunition and finally, physical violence. One young man sustained an injury from a…
Residents of Nabi Saleh marched today in the pouring rain against the ongoing occupation and land annexation. Earlier this week, Israel revealed plans to expand the nearby settlement of Halamish, built in part on lands confiscated from villagers. Protesters marched towards the main entrance to the village, and were encountered by barraged of tear gas…
Report by Bassem Tamimi – Tamimi Press | Translated by Noa Shaindlinger Scores suffocated from tear gas today during the weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh. The march began at Martyrs’ Square and proceeded towards the main entrance to the village, whose iron gates were closed. Palestinian and foreign protesters were led by children carrying signs…
Protesting the systematic detention of children and minors by the IDF, residents of Nabi Saleh and solidarity activists marched today, demonstrating against the recent prison sentence given to 14 years old Malak al-Khatib. Malak was accused of stone throwing, and was pressured into signing a plea deal which handed her a two-months prison term and…
The weekly protest in Nabi Saleh followed a week of IDF raids in the village and arrests of residents, as well as what seems like the introduction of a new weapon that contains an unknown organge-colored chemical. Villagers and solidarity activists marched with the Palestinian and Egyptian flags to protest against arbitrary arrests of civilians.…
Under torrential rain and braving the strong wind, villagers from Nabi Saleh marched this week, protesting the recent attacks on Islam and Muhammad. Demonstrators held signs in the praise of prophet Muhammad, and marched on the road towards the IDF soldiers who attempted to disperse them. Although the IDF deployed tear gas canisters, no major…
