Nonviolent resistance in southern Bethlehem undeterred despite harassment and arrest

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Nonviolent resistance in southern Bethlehem undeterred despite harassment and arrest     

06.06.09 - 11:20 

 

Bethlehem / PNN – The occupying Israeli administration released from prison on Friday a leader of the local nonviolent Palestinian resistance.

 

Mohammad Briggia was violently arrested six weeks ago during the weekly demonstration against the Wall and settlements in the southern West Bank villages, namely Al Ma’sara and Umm Salamuna.

 

He was fined 25,000 shekels in order to obtain release but must still go to military court along with four other residents who protest weekly in the area nonviolent demonstrations.

 

The Palestinian Popular Committees issued a statement regarding Briggia’s arrest six weeks ago along with four leaders of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in the southern West Bank villages.

 

Azmi Al Shiokhi was released after paying 20,000 NIS and must return to military court as being on the “wanted” list as a nonviolent organizer. The same goes for Mohammad Hassan, his brother and Briggia. But not all of those arrested that day were released.

 

The Israeli government is doing what it can to squelch the nonviolent resistance throughout the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. On the same day that Briggia was released with a hefty fine and a return date to military court, Israeli soldiers shot dead another organizer in western Ramallah.

 

These Palestinians are part of a movement to stop the Israeli government from overtaking the entirety of their lands, but the price is devastating: harassment, arrest, death.

 

Briggia said upon his release that he would not stop struggling in the collective demand to remove the Wall from his land, in addition to the settlements. The humiliation of Israeli occupation must reach an end, supporters said on Saturday while supporting his release. “The outrageous violations of international and humanitarian law by the Israelis have gone on long enough. The Palestinian resistance will never cease until justice is found.”

 

 

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

 

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs