CISGIORDANIA Lampi di terza Intifada : foto

 

Lampi di terza Intifada 

A Gerusalemme, Ramallah, Hebron, Nabi Saleh e altre località. Cresce nelle dimensioni e nei contenuti la protesta popolare palestinese contro l'occupazione, innescata dagli scioperi della fame osservati dai prigionieri politici nelle carceri israeliane. Manifestazioni e raduni che raccontano la rabbia e la frustrazione che covano sotto quella calma apparente che da tempo regna in Cisgiordania e a Gerusalemme Est. Allo stesso tempo sono anche il segnale più limpido del crescente protagonismo dei comitati popolari palestinesi. Dai villaggi agricoli, lungo il Muro israeliano in Cisgiordania, la lotta non violenta si sta trasferendo a ridosso dei centri urbani e dei campi profughi. Le iniziative si moltiplicano, a cominciare dalla creazione di «avamposti palestinesi» nelle aree che Israele ha destinato all'espansione delle colonie. Sono enormi le potenzialità di questo movimento. Lo hanno capito i comandi militari israeliani, che ieri hanno schierato ingenti forze per contrastare i manifestanti. In mezzo, tra le parti contrapposte, c'è la goffa polizia dell'Autorità nazionale del presidente Abu Mazen che tenta di fare interposizione e di riportare la calma. Ieri sulla spianata delle moschee di Gerusalemme, al termine della preghiera islamica del venerdì, dozzine di giovani palestinesi hanno scandito slogan a sostegno dei detenuti politici. Ad un certo punto qualche giovane ha lanciato sassi contro la polizia che è intervenuta arrestando diversi manifestanti. A Hebron circa mille palestinesi e gruppetti di attivisti internazionali si sono riuniti in Bab Zawye, all'ingresso della zona H2 - controllata da Israele e dove 600 coloni vivono in mezzo a 25mila palestinesi - per chiedere la riapertura di Shuhada Street, la strada commerciale più importante della casbah, chiusa dalle autorità di occupazione nel 2000. Gli attivisti hanno marciato verso l'ingresso di Shuhada Street, dove però sono stati bloccati dall'esercito israeliano che ha lanciato candelotti di gas lacrimogeno e granate assordanti. Un giovane è stato portato in ospedale perché colpito ad una gamba da un proiettile. Una ventina di palestinesi sono rimasti feriti o intossicati dal gas lacrimogeno. Ad Anata, tra Ramallah e Gerusalemme, un palestinese avrebbe forzato un posto di blocco della polizia, ferendo un agente, ed è poi riuscito a fuggire. Ci sono scontri a Nabi Saleh e vicino alla prigione di Ofer (Ramallah) dove centinaia di giovani hanno manifestato per il terzo giorno consecutivo a sostegno dei detenuti in sciopero della fame, in particolare di Samer Issawi, liberato con lo scambio di prigionieri della fine del 2011 in cambio del soldato Ghilad Shalit e condannato a 8 mesi di carcere per essersi recato in Cisgiordania violando le restrizioni ai suoi movimenti. Considerando il periodo già trascorso in prigione, Issawi, che fa lo sciopero della fame da oltre 200 giorni, dovrebbe uscire il 6 marzo. Rischia però di dover scontare condanne ricevute in precedenza e di rimanere in carcere per molti anni ancora. Il detenuto perciò continua la sua protesta. L'altra notte Jafar Ezzedine e Ayman Sharawna, due dei quattro prigionieri in sciopero della fame, sono stati ricoverati in ospedale. Intanto la Federazione di calcio palestinese ha detto che è «troppo presto» per organizzare una partita contro Israele come aveva proposto Sandro Rosell, presidente del Barcellona FC. «Questa idea provocherebbe un terremoto nella regione se venisse attuata, è troppo presto e la palla è nel campo israeliano», ha detto il presidente della Federazione, Jibril Rajoub.

2  Palestinians report nine people wounded in clashes with Jewish settlers in West Bank village

A Palestinian protestor (R) clashes with an Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Qusra near 

 

Violent clashes erupted on Saturday near the West Bank village of Qusra, south of Nablus, between villagers and Jewish settlers from nearby Jewish outpost. IDF forces arrived on the scene and employed crowd-control measures.
The Palestinians reported nine people wounded, among them seven from rubber bullets. According to testimonies, two people were wounded by live fire – one in the abdomen and one in the leg. IDF sources said that an initial investigation found that one of the Jewish settlers involved in the incident may have opened live fire. The IDF added that it was still investigating the matter.
According to the IDF, about 200 Palestinians and 25 settlers took part in the clashes, with both sides hurling rocks at the other. Palestinian sources claim the clashes erupted after settlers from the nearby Esh Kodesh outpost uprooted olive trees and threw rocks at houses in the village.
Earlier on Saturday, Palestinian sources reported a 24-year-old man was shot in the stomach. A Palestinian hospital official and two villagers said the man, Helmi Abdul-Aziz, was in serious condition after being shot in the stomach. The medic requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The Associated Press reported that two residents watching the clashes, Basem Nazal and Abdul-Azim Wadi, said Israeli forces dispersing the Palestinians used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets - but not live fire.
Settler officials were not immediately available for comment on the Jewish Sabbath, but villagers said the most likely perpetrator was a Jewish settler. They said a group of Israeli civilians had encroached onto their village lands armed with guns that they initially fired during the melee.
Ealier on Saturday, Arafat Jaradat, a 30-year-old Palestinian prisoner, died of a heart attack Saturday afternoon while incarcerated in Megiddo jail. His fellow prisoners said that he was in good physical condition, and that the reason for his death was the pressure he was put under while being interrogated, which allegedly included torture.
Israel Prison Service authorities stated that Jaradat was feeling ill prior to his death, and after complaining of pains was seen by a prison doctor a number of times on Thursday. In response to his death, riots erupted in the area of Samir village near Hebron, where he had resided.
Jaradat was arrested five days ago, after fellow residents of his village said he was involved in stone-throwing incidents near the Kiryat Arba settlement at the time of operation 'Pillar of Defense' in November 2012, from which an Israeli citizen was hurt.
He was taken for interrogation by the Shin Bet security service, who said that Jaradat admitted to participating in rock-throwing at road number 60 during the operation.
They also stated that prior to his arrest, and during his interogation, his back pains were known to the authorities, and that it is known that in the past he was hurt by a rubber bullet to his left foot, and by a gas grenade to his stomach.
The shin bet issued a statement saying Jaradat complained of pain and was checked by medical personnel. On last Thursday he was checked by medical staff on a number of occasions, but according to them, no problems were detected and his interrogation was continued. 

3  Photo essay: Hundeds of Palestinians, joined by Israelis and internationals, attempted to reach Hebron's Shuhada Street, which has been closed to Palestinians since Jewish settler Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Palestinians worshippers 19 years ago.

PHOTOS: In Hebron, demonstrators demand reopening of Shuhada Street

During a protest against the closure of the Shuhada Street, Palestinians 
march under wire screens placed above the street to protect Palestinians
 from stones and trash thrown by Israeli settlers occupying buildings 
above, in the West Bank city of Hebron, February 22, 2013. 
(Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators, including foreign and Israeli activists, gathered in Hebron on Friday to mark the 19th anniversary since the IDF imposed a closure on the city’s Shuhada Street. The closure followed the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre, perpetrated by Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein, who went on a rampage inside the mosque and killed 29 Palestinian worshipers.
The marchers first gathered at Bab Izzawiya near “Checkpoint 56,” proceeding to Hebron’s old city. They first stopped at a steel and concrete barrier blocking off Shuhada Street, which was scaled by several youths who planted several Palestinian national and political flags on top. The march was then blocked by the Israeli military, which placed barbed wire barricades across the street and used sound bombs and tear gas to disperse marchers. Demonstrators who later regrouped and returned were met with the “skunk truck,” a water cannon loaded with a foul-smelling liquid. The skunk water was also directed against members of the media (including an Activestills photographer).
For much of the afternoon, Israeli forces traded tear gas and sound bombs with stone-throwing Palestinian youth in running street clashes. There was at least one report of a Palestinian youth injured by live ammunition, and many others treated for tear gas inhalation and other injuries, including one Palestinian journalist.
Eventually, Palestinian Authority police were deployed as Israeli forces withdrew in an apparently coordinated effort to draw the demonstration to a close.

1Demonstrators climb on a fence, built by the Israeli army 
to close Shuhada Street to Palestinians,
 in the West Bank city of Hebron February 22, 2013.
 (Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

2A demonstrator carries bolt cutters during a march against 
the continued closure of Shuhada Street to Palestinians
, in the West Bank city of Hebron February 22, 2013.
 (Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

3 Demonstrators bare their chests 
at an Israeli military barricade during a protest against 
the continued closure of Shuhada street to Palestinians,
in the West Bank city of Hebron February 22, 2013. (Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

An Israeli soldier aims a tear gas launcher at demonstrators during a protest 
against the closure of the Shuhada Street to Palestinians, 
in the West Bank city of Hebron, February 22, 2013. 
(Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Demonstrators flee tear gas launched by Israeli forces during a protest 
against the closure of the street to Palestinians,
 in the West Bank city of Hebron, February 22, 2013.
 (Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Israeli forces target members of the media with the “skunk truck”,
 a water canon loaded with a foul-smelling liquid, 
during a protest against the continuing 
closure of Shuhada Street to Palestinians 
in the West Bank city of Hebron, February 22, 2013.
 (Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Demonstrators clash with the Israeli army during a protest
 against the continued closure of Shuhada street to Palestinians, 
in the West Bank city of Hebron February 22, 2013.
 (Photo by: Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

An Israeli soldier throws a sound bomb at fleeing demonstrators
 during a protest against the closure of Shuhada Street to Palestinians,
 Hebron, West Bank, , February 22, 2013. 
(Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Demonstrators clash with the Israeli army during a protest 
against the continued closure of Shuhada street 
to Palestinians, in the West Bank city of Hebron February 22, 2013.
 (Photo by: Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

Demonstrators clash 
with the Israeli army during a protest against the continued closure
 of Shuhada street to Palestinians,
in the West Bank city of Hebron February 22, 2013. 
(Photo by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: Protest demands reopening of Hebron's Shuhada St.