Palestinians and Israelis protest at village demolition

Four-hundred Palestinian and Israeli activists joined together Friday to march against the demolition of a Palestinian village in the West Bank. Susiya, in the south Hebron hills, has been demolished and rebuilt five times since the first Israeli settlement construction began in 1983.

Reuters/Baz Ratner

On the 20 June, 52 demolition orders were issued for the village of Susiya, where villagers live in a similar way to the Bedouin. That would mean the village being demolished entirely.

“I’m here because the state of Israel is trying to wipe this village off the map in my name," said Israeli activist Noa Shaindlinge. "This is one of these places where occupation and Apartheid are just so … obvious.”

The march through the village led activists into confrontation with Israeli Defence Force soldiers and border police.

The presence of Israeli and international activists meant that the use of dispersal methods such as tear gas was limited.

Palestinian activist Mahmoud Zwahre spoke of the significance of having joined together with Israeli activists for the demonstration:

“This is to show that this is not a religious conflict, not between white and black, not between different nationalities, this is a justice versus injustice situation,” he told RFI.

All settlement activity in the West Bank is considered illegal under international law.