09/05/2008 > ISRAEL - PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
After the rally, there were about 1,000 of
us left. We left the area and started heading towards the woods. There we came
across Israeli right-wingers shouting anti-Arab insults at us. They were
protected by the Israeli police. "We may die, but Palestine will live!" we shouted back.
Everything turned to chaos. The police started firing at us, and even used
"voice bombs" (nonlethal devices designed to make a loud
explosion to intimidate crowds). People got hurt. All
this, and we weren't even armed!"
The Israeli police were shooting at us, people
were running everywhere. Why do they treat us like this? We've never had a
military fight with the state. I feel that they really want to hurt us,
whatever we do. This was a peaceful protest! It's a déjà vu of October 2000
[when clashes broke out between the Israeli police and pro-Palestine
protesters]. The Israeli government should be ashamed of themselves."
Update: pro-Palestinian march ends in violence
Yesterday one of our Observers, Amal Ziada, told us she was on her way to a peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration by Arab Israelis in northern Israel. The event went along as planned, with speeches and a symbolic release of black balloons. But as they were leaving, Amal says, the Arabs were confronted by a group of right-wing Israelis with banners. Tension escalated and Israeli police intervened - firing tear gas and "voice bombs," according to the demonstrators. Our Observers sent photos and video footage.
The contributors
"We may die, but Palestine will live!"
Makbula Nassar was one of the speakers in the village of Saffuriyya yesterday, where events are being held ahead of the annual May 15 ‘Nakba' Day, on which Arabs commemorate the displacement of Palestinians that followed the creation of Israel in 1948. Demonstrators say the event was authorised by the Israeli government.
After the rally, there were about 1,000 of
us left. We left the area and started heading towards the woods. There we came
across Israeli right-wingers shouting anti-Arab insults at us. They were
protected by the Israeli police. "We may die, but Palestine will live!" we shouted back.
Everything turned to chaos. The police started firing at us, and even used
"voice bombs" (nonlethal devices designed to make a loud
explosion to intimidate crowds). People got hurt. All
this, and we weren't even armed!"
"I feel that the Israeli police really want to hurt us"
When we spoke to Amal yesterday she was on her way to the gathering.
The Israeli police were shooting at us, people
were running everywhere. Why do they treat us like this? We've never had a
military fight with the state. I feel that they really want to hurt us,
whatever we do. This was a peaceful protest! It's a déjà vu of October 2000
[when clashes broke out between the Israeli police and pro-Palestine
protesters]. The Israeli government should be ashamed of themselves."
Video filmed by Muhammad Craim. Posted 9 May 08
Before chaos broke out: the crowd listened to speeches, including one given by Makbula Nassar.
Black balloons were let off to commemorate the Nakba (which means "catastrophe" in Arabic.).
Right-wing protesters came to demonstrate against the rally. The signs read: "You have to know where you come from and where you're going" and "It's not a legend, but a right to live and breathe" (a reference to Theodor Herzl's famous comment "If you really want It, it won't stay a legend" about Israel).
The police arrived, some on horseback.
The shell of one of the detonated "voice bombs," nonlethal weapons designed to make a loud noise but not injure.
A man injured in the turmoil who was later admitted to hospital.
Photos from Makbula
it's easier to be ignorant
I don’t blame the Israelis for being so ignorant and raciest because its easier
They don’t know any thing about the 90 massacres that the Zionist forces committed against Palestinians during the lat 60 years and in 1948 in specific , they don’t know about the 530 village and towns that Israel had ethnically cleansed and destroyed
They don't see the murdered children in Gaza. They are voluntarily blind
Actually they live peacefully continuing to ignore what is going around , and sure it's easier to be ignorant to keep playing the victim
the arabs of israel
israel was created by united nations and therefore is legal and has all the rights a suverain state has.
now ,after the general assembly of the u.n confirmed and determined the right of israel to come into existence, the inborn state has been left alone to confront the unmitigated furry and hate of the arab states neighboring her let alone the indigenous arab population who already unleashed her hatred since 1920 or before.
so ,what is to be expected from israel with regard the basically hatefull local arabs? they have the right to elect their knesset members so in principle they may have 20% of the knesset being a determining factor, why don't they turn this potential into a reality?
israel has been subjected to a continuous agression from the arabs and muslems generally.
think about a real fake state as kossovo, will an eventual conflict with serbia let that fake state alone?
i don't think so, the us and most of the e.u will jump to save her, a thing israel never enjoyed.
It's OK for the arabs in israel to take the jews money
beside that their contribution to Israel is 0!!
They are fifth column and a traitors And should be expelled as soon as possible!
The big show you wrote about
You - the people of Europe are eating the same lies and shows for 60 years. But you will wake up 20 years from now and find that we are in the same boat - trying to survive from the Islam - that its target is the green flag on the Vatican.
60 and a half years ago - the UN resolved to divide Palestine into 2 states - the Jewish sate and Palestinian state. The Jews adopted this resolution although it gave tham a small part of the country, but the Arabs leaders - instead of blessing - rejected it and declared war on the Jewish minority - claiming they intend to throw them to the sea.
The history proved that this was the real NAKBA - the disaster of the poor Palestinian people, who went after their leaders that bring them suffer for 60 years, instead of thinking about real solution.
Instead of sending Arab non objective reporters to cover this event, I would expect for more balance. What that happend in this event has nothing to do with your report. It is one big show.
The "innocent" speaches called to destroy the state of Israel and bring back the land to the Palestinian - the whole country. This was said by people who get money, shelter, democtacy and prosperous from the state of Israel. They can cross the boarder to see what happens to their brothers in the Arab countries - Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
it's a very sad situation
it's a very sad situation for israelis. They took advantage of thir situation. But it's a much sadder situation for the Palestinians. Why do the Israelis act so arrongantly? They must feel very guilty but at the same time they should reassess their human rights. Sad for everyone! But at least the Israelis have a choice and they are still so incredibly insensitive it's incredible. I hope they wake up one day. The whole world hates them right now. They could change that.