Unsettling the settlements
A mural on the apartheid wall imposed by Israel, courtesy http://bethlehemghetto.blogspot.com
Articles of interest
- Sami Awad reports on the latest non-violent actions in Bil’in in “…then they fight you, then you win…”:
As the nonviolent protests and demonstrations against the Apartheid wall continue to gain momentum and strength in the Palestinian community in general and in villages in particular we are seeing even greater violent response and threat by the Israeli army. This is not new, in villages like Bil’in, the army has for two years responded to almost every nonviolent action with appalling violence.
As I have witnessed these actions grow, I remember the famous quote by Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.”
- Ori Nur writes that in part as a result of its participation in illegal settlements, Heftzibah Construction, one of Israel’s largest contractors and a chief builder of West Bank settlements, is on the brink of bankruptcy – (Settlements are a risky investment, Common Ground News, 17 August 2007):
WASHINGTON – When West Bank settlers recently launched an ambitious campaign to sell homes in settlements to American Jews, Peace Now warned that investing in real estate across the Green Line was not only politically and morally wrong but also financially risky.
Little did we know that this real estate twilight zone would play a role in bringing Heftzibah Construction, one of Israel’s largest contractors and a chief builder of West Bank settlements, to the brink of bankruptcy.
Although the financial collapse of Heftzibah was due not only to its illegal building on privately owned Palestinian land, its story should serve as a red flag for anyone considering a real estate deal in a West Bank settlement. Ask the 430 fervently Orthodox families that paid Heftzibah $100,000 each for small apartments in the settlement of Modi’in-Illit. These homeowners are barred by court order from occupying their homes because Heftzibah built some of them on private Palestinian land.
- Nora Barrows-Friedman, Bethlehem land destroyed as settlers anchor in (IPS/ ei, 17 Aug):
BETHLEHEM, 16 August (IPS) – Israeli forces began Wednesday to bulldoze hundreds of trees on land owned by a Catholic convent near the city of Beit Jala near Bethlehem. This section of forest is being razed, according to Israeli plans, to complete a section of the separation wall, which continues to carve the West Bank into pieces.
- IRIN, Palestinian wells, homes destroyed in West Bank (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 16 Aug):
… “Israeli control over Palestinian land is becoming more common and many areas are declared closed military zones, leading to the evictions of Palestinian communities from those areas,” she said.
Recently, Palestinians were told they could not use a section of their land near the northern border area between the West Bank and Israel for security reasons. However, the land, residents say, is now being used by settlers and they are concerned it will never be returned to them.
How to put this diplomatically? Israel s***s.
Thanks for another great “PPPG Picks” Ann.