Protesters are rising up to challenge the Israeli occupation

See full alert: http://bit.ly/ISMtamimi
Non-violent protesters are rising up to challenge the Israeli occupation,
from the chambers of Congress (http://palsolidarity.org/2011/05/18514/) to
the shores of the Mediterranean (http://palsolidarity.org/2011/05/18561/).
And while other action have received global media coverage, a small West
Bank village named Nabi Saleh has been struggling without the attention it
deserves.

Its residents have been organizing a campaign to challenge the illegal theft
of their land by the settlement of Halamish since January 2010. Dozens of
men and women have been gathering every Friday to voice their opposition to
the injustice they face, using creative actions and non-violent
demonstrations. The weekly protests are also joined by international and
Israeli solidarity activists.

In an attempt to silence their dissent, the Israeli army has utilized banned
high-velocity tear-gas projectiles, rubber-coated steel bullets and at
times, even live ammunition at demonstrations. Additionally, the Army is
conducting an ongoing arrest campaign against men, women and children in the
village. Between January 2010 and April 2011, the Army carried out 73
protest-related arrests. One of the arrested is Bassem Tamimi, a main
organizer and member of the local Popular Committee.

Netanyahu retorted to an interruption by a pro-Palestinian protestor in
Congress, that only in democratic nations are such protests allowed. But the
violent attack she faced from nearby AIPAC delegates in the Congressional
Gallery and the jailing of non-violent organizers across the Palestinian
Territories suggests otherwise. Tamimi, a father of four and a respected
member of his community, is sitting in jail for the crime of non-violent
organizing.

In his recent court, Tamimi stated, “I organized these peaceful
demonstrations to defend our land and our people.” Tamimi also challenged
the legitimacy of the very system which tries him, saying that “Despite
claiming to be the only democracy in the Middle East you are trying me under
military laws [...] that are enacted by authorities which I haven’t elected
and do not represent me (See Tamimi’s full
statement: http://popularstruggle.org/content/west-bank-protest-organizer-bassem-tamimi-judge-%E2%80%9Cyour-military-laws-are-non-legit-our-peacef#statement).”

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Ambassador András Dékány stated, “
*The rights of Israeli and Palestinian Human Rights Defenders protesting
peacefully against settlements and the separation barrier are severely
curtailed. While the EU welcomed before this Council in March the release of
Abdallah Abu Rahma, the EU is concerned that other human rights defenders
continue to be detained for their non violent protests. The EU is observing
the trial, which opened on 5 June before an Israeli military court, of
Bassem Tamimi, an activist of the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh affected
by the illegal settlement expansion. The EU is also concerned by reports
that journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are exposed to severe
harassment as this affects negatively the right to freedom of expression
Impunity for such acts is unacceptable* (see EU’s full
statement http://www.popularstruggle.org/sites/default/files/2011-06-14-eu-bassem-tamimi-human-rights-defender.doc).”

Tamimi’s next hearing will take place on the June 27th at the Ofer Military
Court , when testimonies will be heard in this case for the first time.

Will you tell you government to act?*

Join us in calling for release of Bassem Tamimi and Naji Tamimi.*
*USA*
*U*K
*Canada*
*Australia*
*Germany*
*France*
*Spain*
*Poland*
*Italy*
*Portugal*
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