Summary of Freedom March Highlights with Photos Links
August 11, 2004
PALESTINE FREEDOM WALK
July 30-August 19, 2004
Palestinians, internationals and Israelis are marching along the path of the Apartheid Wall, beginning in the Jenin
area, through cities, towns and villages affected by the Wall all the way to Jerusalem. The march began Friday, July 30
from the village of Zububa in the Jenin District and is traveling along the path of the Wall where they plan to reach
Jerusalem, August 19.
On Friday the marchers travelled from Zubaba to Anin. They covered about ten kilometers. Saturday began in Anin and
walked about 9.5km from to Tura Ash Sharqiya. On Sunday the march began in Tur Ash Sharqiya and travelled 13km to
Qaffin.
The march is being organized with villages along the route from Jenin to Jerusalem in order to highlight the serious
problems the Wall is creating for Palestinian communities. Thousands of Palestinians have been impacted by the
construction of the Wall recently ruled as illegal by the International Court in The Hague. The construction of the Wall
has resulted in the confiscation of Palestinian land and water sources. Thousands of men, women and children have been
separated from their families, place of work and schools and farmers have been unable to reach their farms. .
Day 1: March Begins
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_31Jul04_15_13_25JeninMax.htm
[ISM Media Office]Today, Friday, July 30th, the March for Freedom began in Zububa, in the heartland of the northern West
Bank. The march will continue for 21 days from village to village, along the route of the Apartheid Wall and ending in
Jerusalem.
The much anticipated march began at 9:30 am and traveled on foot to Taiba where they spent two hours before continuing
on to Anin. The marchers arrived in Taiba at approximately 11:30am. Although the Israeli army was present, they did not
interfere with the march. Only when entering Taiba there was a short-lived encounter with Israeli border police near the
school which is close to the Israeli fence. Palestinian youth spontaneously began to shake the fence and hang
Palestinian flags. The Israeli border police responded by throwing sound bombs but the situation did not escalate.
Participants in the march include the Committee to Resist the Wall, The National and Islamic Forces, the Union of
Palestine Medical Relief Committees, and popular committees and village councils of the 89 villages, towns and cities
through which the march will pass. The International Solidarity Movement, the IWPS and Israeli Anarchists Against the
Wall are participating in the march and joined the march in Zububa. Additional groups and organizations will join the
march at different points along the route. Gush Shalom will be joining the march August 18 when it reaches Jerusalem.
Photos Day 2:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_31Jul04_12_58_40JeninHuwaida.htm
Photos of Day 3:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_1Aug04_13_11_26JeninHuwaida.htm
Day 4: August 2
Freedom Marchers Join Village of Zeita and Force Gate Open-First Time in More Than a Year;
Hundreds Expected to Join Tuesday Morning
The Freedom March, which began Friday, July 30 in Zububa, is in its fourth day and is expected to grow to hundreds by
Tuesday morning where they will set off from Deir Al-Ghussun.
Today in Zeita, Palestinians were joined by the International Solidarity Movement and Israelis and marched together to
the gate and forced it open. This gate had barred 60 farmers from their land since May of 2003. They were immediately
confronted by the Israeli Army who pushed back the demonstrators and locked the gate again. The demonstrators held their
ground and eventually continued the march.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_2Aug04_13_23_04JeninHuwaida.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_3Aug04_03_36_35TulkaremSimon.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_2Aug04_03_26_05TulkaremSimon.htm
Day 5: August 3
Internationals and Palestinians Attacked by Border Police
Today the Freedom March began from Deir Al Ghassun walking South to Al Jarushiya.
About 80 marchers peacefully approached the gate at Shweikeh they sang and chanted until stopped by the Israeli Border
Police. The Freedom Marchers negotiated with the Border Police and the police told the protesters that they could stand
behind the gate. As the marchers retreated they were attacked by the border police.
The police aimed at least ten tear gas canisters directly at the protesters. Eight required on-site first aid for tear
gas inhalation. A journalist from a European Newspaper, EBA, was hit in the forehead and jaw with a concussion grenade.
The Israeli border police also fired tear gas canisters directly at journalists accompanying the march.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_6Aug04_06_22_06TulkaremNeil.htm
Day 6: August 4
Impact of Wall on Jbarra
The Freedom March was joined by 30-40 Palestinian women from the Tulkarem area who accompanied the march for part of the
route.
Traveling south from Tulkarm, the Freedom March arrived at Jbarra village. Jbarra is a small village that has been
completely surrounded by the Apartheid Wall and cut off from the rest of the West Bank. There are only two gates to
enter and exit the village; one in the North and one in the South. However, only residents of Jbarra can exit or enter
through the gate and only with a permit obtained from the Israeli military. Palestinians in the areas surrounding Jbarra
may not enter the village and can not obtain permits. Children as young as one year-old, who are residents of Jbarra
village, must obtain a permit to exit or re-enter the village. In addition, any vehicle traveling to and from the
village must have a permit to do so.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_3Aug04_13_40_31TulkaremHuwaida.htm
Day 8: August 6
Freedom March Protest Policy of Barring Israelis
[Qalqilya]Friday, late afternoon, the Freedom March was stopped by the Israeli Army as they approached Qalqilya. The
Army demanded that each marcher hand in their identity cards and passports in order to identify any person with Israeli
citizenship. Israelis are prohibited from entering the Areas A of in the West Bank.
The Freedom Marchers decided to protest the policy of not allowing Israelis into Area A of the West Bank and refused to
hand over their passports and identity cards. This policy has several consequences. Israelis are unable to witness the
conditions Palestinians live under military occupation and the suffering imposed as a result of the construction of the
Apartheid Wall. In addition, Palestinians living within the 48 borders are separated from families and friends and
unable to visit loved ones, and goods and services are unable to move between areas.
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_8Aug04_05_39_04QalqiliaSimon.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_7Aug04_02_57_31QalqiliaMahmoud.htm
Day 10: August 8
Protest of Detained Palestinians; Activist Arrested
[Qalqiliya]The Freedom March left Qalqiliya around 10:00am. Palestinians and internationals were joined by approximately
thirty additional internationals after spending Saturday in Qalqiliya and surrounding villages.
At around 6:00pm as the Freedom March arrived at a gate in the fence section of the Apartheid Wall, which also serves as
a checkpoint, between the village of Azzun Atmah and Beit Amin, they witnessed 15- 20 young Palestinian men being
detained by the Israeli Army.
The Freedom Marchers demanded that the men be released and refused to leave until they were set free. They then sat down
in the road and chanted. They were surrounded by eight army jeeps and hummers. After five minutes the Israeli soldiers
attempted to physically drag internationals away. Although the Freedom Marchers tried to protect each other
non-violently, the soldiers managed to detain Karl, a 23 year-old peace activist from New York.
The marchers believe they targeted him for detention because he had led the negotiations with the soldiers, as well as
the chants during their protest of those already detained.
Karl was taken to Ariel Police Station where he is at the time of this report, 10:00PM local time.
All but four of the young Palestinians detained at the checkpoint were released after the Freedom March protested their
being held by the army. The last two Palestinians were released by 9:30pm and told the Freedom Marchers that they had
been detained at the checkpoint for over 24 hours.
Update on Karl, Released August 10, 2004:
Karl was released Monday night on the condition that he not go near the Wall or participate in demonstrations for the
next five days. According to Karl, he was beaten upon his arrest and he was told he should be deported "for holding a
megaphone.
For photos see:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_8Aug04_05_23_11QalqiliaMahmoud.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_9Aug04_03_36_28QalqiliaMahmoud.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_9Aug04_03_33_14QalqiliaMahmoud.htm
Day 11: August 9
March from Mas-Ha to Az Zawiya
Palestinians, Internationals and Israelis and people of Deir Balut, Az Zawiya, Qiri and Rafat, together with the
International Solidarity Movement and The International Women's Peace Service joined the Palestine Freedom March in the
Salfit region today. They march from Mas'Ha to the land around Az Zawiya that has been lost to the construction of the
Apartheid Wall.
Over a month ago the Israeli Army began uprooting trees and bulldozing the land to prepare for the construction of the
Wall. The resistance from the village and surrounding areas managed to result in a stop work order. Resistance to the
construction of the Wall continues.
Today it is estimated that 500 Palestinians, Israelis and internationals participated in the march. The Israeli army and
border police attempted to stop the march by pushing them back physically. They also attempted to arrest several
marchers but were unsuccessful. The number of chanting and singing protesters was too much for the Israeli Army and
border police to stop and the demonstrators managed to hold their ground. After making several statements condemning the
Wall and the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces, the Freedom March returned to Az Zawiya.
For photos see:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_9Aug04_07_49_00QalqiliaSimon.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_9Aug04_07_34_30QalqiliaHuwaida.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_9Aug04_05_50_43QalqiliaMahmoud.htm
http://www.palsolidarity.org/pictures/PHOTOS_10Aug04_07_13_11QalqiliaRaad.htmS
ENDS