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January 14, 2013

Israel Raids Palestinian Encampment Protesting Settlement Growth 
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Israel has cracked down on the latest non-violent effort by Palestinian
activists to stop the ongoing expansion of Jewish-only settlements in
the occupied West Bank. On Sunday, Israeli troops raided a tent
encampment dubbed Bab al-Shams, Arabic for "Gate of the Sun," in the
so-called E1 settlement zone that bisects the West Bank. The E1
construction had largely been put on hold following U.S. objections
dating back to President George W. Bush. But Israel resumed work there
last month in response to the U.N. vote recognizing Palestine as a
non-member observer state. The activists behind Bab al-Shams pitched
around 20 tents at the site on Friday in a bid to oppose the latest
settlement growth. Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti said
Palestinians are protecting the land of their future independent state.

Mustafa Barghouti: "This is Palestinian land. It is owned by a
Palestinian and we are legally here, what you see here is the best and
most beautiful act of non-violent resistance. We are encountering the
Israeli illegal settlements with building settlements on stolen
Palestinian land by building on our own land."

The inhabitants of Bab al-Shams remained there until early Sunday
morning, when around 500 Israeli forces raided the encampment and
detained several people. Organizers say at least six people were wounded
in the crackdown. In a statement, the Palestinian Popular Struggle
Coordination Committee vowed to continue similar actions, saying: "This
is not the end of the popular struggle and it will continue in its full
strength."

 

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