Israel Detains 15 in al-Walaja, Including Mayor

Six Palestinians and eight Israeli activists were detained for disrupting the construction of the Separation Wall being built through the Palestinian village of al-Walaja on Wednesday (4 August). The route of the Wall damages ancient agriculture and irrigation systems and seizes private property from the residents of al-Walaja.

Demonstrators at the construction site halted the building efforts for a short time by sitting on and in front of the bulldozers. Despite the very peaceful nature of the protest, Israeli Border Police officers violently attacked the demonstrators in their attempt to clear the area and allow continuation of construction work on the Wall, according to the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC).

Twelve of the demonstrators – four Palestinians and eight Israelis – were dragged away from the construction site and forced into armored Border Police jeeps, according to PSCC. One of the Palestinian detainees was sprayed with pepper-spray while already restrained and pulled towards the jeep. One child was injured after being hit in the head with an officer’s rifle butt.

The police pushed the demonstrators away from the site until construction was able to resume, and then arrested two additional Palestinians, including the mayor of al-Walaja.

A ninth Israeli activist was later arrested while returning to Jerusalem. He was stopped at the checkpoint at the entrance of the village and taken from his vehicle.

The Israeli High Court recently demanded that the State provide an explanation for the taking of al-Walaja’s land. The court has given a 45 day period for the presentation of the information, but did not demand a construction freeze in the mean-time. Since then, the Israeli Defense Ministry has quickened the pace of construction of the Separation Wall.

According to the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee, everyone arrested was taken to court. A Jerusalem Municipality judge has banned the Israelis from approaching the path of the wall in al-Walaja for periods ranging from 60 to 90 days. The Palestinians were forbidden from future participation in "illegal" demonstrations.