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A large green shipping crate, which the Israeli settlers alleged was a synagogue.

Today, 24 April, Palestinian and international activists, together with Israeli peace groups, took control of an illegal Israeli checkpoint on a road between the Palestinian city of Ramallah and the village of 'Ain Qenya.  

This road has been closed since Israeli forces laid down cement blocks at the beginning of the current Intifada, preventing Palestinians from using the road. The Israeli Army also set up a military site near the checkpoint and laid down barbed wire.

The military then handed over the area to Israeli settlers, who now maintain a constant presence there while the Palestinians remain unable to use their road for access to the city of Ramallah. All this, despite the fact that these cement blocks and settler caravans are situated in area A (which should mean complete control by the Palestinian Authority according to the Oslo agreement). 

This injustice was the inspiration to organize this non-violent direct action to open the road and make it accessible to Palestinian residents for travel between Ramallah and 'Ain Qenya.

During the direct action, a Palestinian bulldozer removed the Israeli military road block and protesters lowered the Israeli flags, raising Palestinian ones in their place. The demonstrators’ plans were to maintain a presence on the land at night in case Israeli settlers attempt to retake the land.

Palestinian bulldozer removing the Israeli military roadblock during the direct action.

Mohammad Khatib, from the Bil’in Public Committee, expressed that Palestinians have the right to use their land and live in it, and reject the Israeli government’s policy of collective punishment against Palestinians through the use of roadblocks and checkpoints.

Abedallah Abu Rahmeh, also from the Bil’in Public Committee, calls on all Palestinians to work together to open roadblocks and resist the building of walls and settlements, because the Israeli prejudicial policy is meant to create hardship on Palestinians, prevent any economical development and obstruct the establishment of a Palestinian State.

Activists discussing the situation with an Israeli soldier.

In the end, despite the protestors’ plans to remain at the location, Israeli soldiers retook the checkpoint and caravans, declaring the area a closed military. One Israeli and one Palestinian were arrested. At present, there is a confrontation going on between the settlers and the protesters, while the Israeli soldiers are standing aside watching.

For more Information:

0599107069 or 0547258210 or 0545927352
 

Activists taking down an Israeli flag from the checkpoint, and putting up a Palestinian flag.