Continued Non-violent Resistance to Land Confiscation is Met with Violence
[Budrus, Ramallah]
Early reports are that villagers from Budrus, and their Israeli and International supporters, made a peaceful march onto
Budrus lands that are set to be destroyed for the construction of the Israeli Apartheid Wall. Protesters were met by the
Israeli army who physically assaulted the men, women and children present and opened fire on the crowd with over 100
rubber bullets aimed at people's heads. Tear gas was also fired. There are many injuries and approximately 10 people
have been taken to the hospital. At least 4 Israelis and 6 internationals have been detained and have been threatened
with arrest. Gustav Fridolin, a Swedish member of parliament is among the group of detained protesters. Israeli
protester Nimrod Kerreet has been badly beaten.
Curfew was then imposed on the village, but protesters decided to continue their peace presence on their land and were
met with continued violence. If this phase of the Wall construction is allowed to continue, Budrus will be largely
surrounded by it and rendered an enclave without the necessary services for survival. The villagers have been peacefully
resisting the advance of the wall on their land for over one month and plan to continue their non- violent civil
disobedience campaign against it.
Among the protesters were Israelis from the Anarchists Against Walls group that participated in the non-violent
demonstration at Masha on December 26. It was during this demonstration that Israeli activist Gil Na'amati (22), was
shot with two live bullets in both legs and badly injured. An American member of the International Solidarity Movement
(ISM) was also injured by a bullet. Internationals present today were from the ISM and International Women's Peace
Service (IWPS).
Currently, the village of Budrus is under curfew and the Israeli army has occupied at least one home. Gustav Fridolin
along with one other Swedish activist and two American activists are being detained at the Bet Arye police station.