South Bethlehem villagers appeal for solidarity in resistance to Wall

Source: Palsolidarity, 2-3-2007
South Bethlehem villagers today gathered on the land of Umm Salamuna to appeal for international solidarity in their struggle against the Apartheid Wall being built across their land. Speeches were given by local representatives and head of the Palestinian National Initiative Mustafa Barghouti. International solidarity activists were urged to join the villagers' struggle and to tell their home countries about the theft of land in this region. The villages of Wadi Rahhal, Um Salamuna, Al Ma'sara and Wadi Al Niss stand to lose most from the Wall.
After the speeches the protesters marched to a nearby settler-only road which they blocked. The "Israeli" army arrived at the scene, and pushed people off the road but no injuries were reported. The demonstration then returned back to the village, where it ended.
Today's demo comes at a critical time for the South Bethlehem villagers as work on the Wall has just restarted and is continuing every day. Last Tuesday farmers were beaten and arrested for resisting the razing of their land and on Wednesday international and Israeli activists managed to stop the bulldozers for two hours.