Residents of Kufr Thulth March in Non-violent Protest of Illegal Settlements and Military Occupation of Their Lands
Met with Israeli army violence
Israeli Journalist and Two Israeli Activists Beaten, Palestinian land-owner injured
United Kingdom activist arrested
Village plans future actions
Residents met at the Village Council of Kufr Thulth, Salfit region, this morning and attempted to march, peacefully, to
confiscated Palestinian lands and then to the Israeli military base.
The Israeli army responded by firing tear gas and concussion grenades at the demonstrators.
According to eye-witness reports, Israelis soldiers beat an Israeli journalist and broke his camera. They also beat two
Israeli activists. All three sustained moderate injuries.
Hannah, an activist from the United Kingdom, was arrested and taken to Ariel Police Station.
According to eye-witness accounts, Hamid Deed, the owner of the land that is being confiscated, was taken away in an
ambulance after being hit in the face with a tear gas canister. As the ambulance attempted to evacuate the old man, the
Israeli army fired tear gas at the vehicle.
The Mayor of Kufr Thulth spoke with representatives of the Israeli DCO and presented the village demands. They agreed to
meet with the Palestinian DCO to discuss the demands in the near future.
The Mayor informed the Israeli DCO that if they did not meet to discuss their demands, then the next time they march
they will go directly to the structures that have been placed on Palestinian land and dismantle them.
This march is seen as a success. It is the first time the village residents have organized to protest,non-violently, the
confiscation of their lands. Area residents from neighboring villages also felt this to be an important start of a
campaign to protect and reclaim their land.
For information or reports on today's action, please call: Kim: 972-546-236-154 Dave: 972-6760-95
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THE VILLAGE OF KUFR THULTH DEMANDS THE FOLLOWING:
•Close the road that passes through the Palestinian lands, carrying out the Israeli court orders.
•Stop the cutting and uprooting trees by the settlers.
•Stop the stealing of Palestinian lands by settlers
•Secure the right of the Palestinian farmers to work in and grow their lands
•Remove all the settler houses and other buildings from the Palestinian lands
Background information:
Kufr Thulth, a village of 4000, in the Sulfit region north of Mas'Ha, is surrounded by four illegal Israeli settlements.
In 2001, settlers began to establish another outpost on the land owned by villagers from Kufr Thulth, by placing empty
caravans on the land.
In 2003, settlers began to regularly visit the caravans on weekends. Two roads were established for settler use, while
Palestinian roads were blocked or destroyed. The Israeli Army established a watchtower in the area. The village took the
case to the Israeli courts and won an injunction to close the settler roads. In response, the Israeli Army declared the
roads for military use only and have since prevented Palestinians access to the area.
In mid-2004, settlers raided Palestinian lands and uprooted and cut around 150 almond and olive trees. The Israeli
police refused to accept complaints from the village. In October, settlers once again raided the Palestinian fields and
cut more trees with the protection of the Israeli Army and the Israeli District Coordinating Liaison.
Since October 2004, settlers have started to live and establish housing infrastructure on the land, all of which has
been done under the protection of the Israeli Army. Palestinian farmers have been attacked, shot at, prevented from
reaching their land and more trees have been cut, again all under the protection of the Israeli Army.