Up in Arms

Yesterday at the weekly demonstrations against the wall a man died.
He was shot by the IDF.
There is a demonstration in Tel-Aviv this evening, protesting the excessive violence of the IDF in the West Bank.
Most likely, this protest will not make the News and if it does, it will be written off as a disturbance, because only us Loony Leftists and Anarchists will be there.
The man's name was Bassem Ibrahim Abu-Rahma.
He lived in Bil'in and died in Ramallah.

Last month, in the West Bank village of Nialin Tristan Anderson was critically injured during a weekly demo.
The world was up in arms.
Because he was an "International", a US citizen.
He was taken to an Israeli hospital in Tel Ha'Shomer.
As far as I'm aware, he's still alive (correct me if I'm wrong).

One man comes from a people who are by default considered terrorists and essentially a non-entity in the world (most especially in my country). The other is a man coming from the most powerful country in the world and because of that made the News of being in a dangerous place.

Obviously, both are at fault for being in range of the IDF's fire.

Both of these (mortal) injuries were caused not by guns, but by tear gas canister launcher.

According to IDF spokespeople these demonstrations turned violent.

Having been to Bil'in I can tell you that the soldiers raise their guns and aim them at the people who are armed with rocks.
I dunno about you, but if I had the option of choosing a weapon I'd go for the gun, as a rock wouldn't do much to protect me.

These demonstrations by definition are violent, because these people are protesting the usurping and appropriation of their land by the IDF and according to IDF regulations it is illegal to come close to that fence because it is military property.

The people living in these villages have gone through mainstream channels and appealed to the Supreme Court which did indeed declare the outline of the future wall to be illegal.
This was over a year and a half ago.
Nothing has changed.
Nothing has happened.

There are "scuffles" between the IDF and the demonstrators every week and every week I read about it, talk about with friends and allies, but it doesn't actually register on the average Israeli radar.

"What are they even doing there?" is a question I hear a lot.
Well, they live there.
It's their livelihood.
It's their lives.
Are they just supposed to sit quietly while they're being smothered.

"Why do the demonstration have to be violent?" is another.
They don't, specifically, have to be. But when you're surrounded by guns and national fervour ('cause you don't actually have a Nation on which to stand and the guns come in to your house every night) it makes for volatile situations.
Volatile however, isn't violent.
This is a grass roots opposition movement and yes, they have the right to resist and no, they do not have to recognise those who oppress them as anything other than oppressors and occupiers.
If the Israeli government wants the PA (won't even get into Hamas) to recognise Israel, Israel in turn will have to, yes, in fact, take action regarding the Settlements and the wall/fence.
Yeah, right, I'm pulling my eye at that one.

"Don't you feel sorry for the soldiers?" I'm asked at times as well.
Yeah I do.
I feel sorry that these young boys, who are already indoctrinated in racist and nationalistic discourse, are the ones "guarding" me and mine against the dangerous Palestinian farmers.
I feel sorry that these young boys leave the army either traumatised or full of even more hate.
I feel sorry that I need to even reply to this question because my own loyalty to the "Israeli collective" put in question.

Fuck that.
I'm stopping now, as I'm just getting pissed off.

Wow, the demo actually made the News!

Tel Aviv protesters slam IDF 'murder'
By Maya Lecker

Hundreds of demonstrators hit Tel Aviv's streets Saturday evening to protest the killing of an anti-fence activist during a recent rally in Bilin.

The protesters, who marched from Ben Zion Boulevard to the Defense Ministry headquarters, said they intend to continue to protest the construction of the West Bank security fence despite their fear of being hurt by IDF troops.


The IDF is the worlds most ethical terror organisation [translation of the photographed sign by me]

Several dozen police officers were on hand in order to prevent disruptions as result of the march. Protesters were holding signs reading "Democracy isn't built on the bodies of demonstrators" and "Mr. Defense Minister, how many children did you murder today?"

Yonatan Pollack, an "Anarchists against the Fence" activist who took part in the march in memory of Bassem Ibrahim Abu-Rahma, said he believes "what happened cannot keep on happening."

"Our blood is precious to us and it should be precious to all, so that our friend's murder does not pass silently," he said.

Pollack stressed that his group will continue to protest the security fence's route in Bilin and Naalin, both focal points of violent clashes.

"We intend to continue protesting both here and in the territories, and to continue to object to the policy of robbing land…we plan to continue supporting Palestinian resistance," he said. "We are shaking in our boots, yet despite this we have no choice but to continue our activities."

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv University student Basama Fahoum said that the death of Abu-Rahma is "outrageous because it's simply inhumane."

"A person attends a non-violent protest and is met by such disproportional response," she said. "It makes no sense."

IDF officials are continuing to look into the incident, which the army characterized as a riot. During the weekend, Palestinian and Israeli medical officials met in order to engage in a joint probe, which confirmed that Abu-Rahma was hurt by an object that hit his chest, and not by a bullet.