PALESTINE: One international arrested, two people injured during solidarity march

The soldiers and borders police scuffled with the marchers
and used force. One of the Palestinians was taken away in an ambulance. As people
tried to prevent soldiers from apprehending another Palestinian, soldiers
pushed two people to the ground and forcefully manhandled one of them. People
again tried to prevent the arrest and one Palestinian and one international
were injured and needed medical attention. Soldiers then dragged the
international man into the military van and took him to the police station. The
man’s lawyer informed CPT that he may now face charges of assaulting a soldier.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE JORDAN VALLEY AND SOUTH HEBRON
HILLS

Under the Oslo II Accord of 1995, the West Bank was divided
into 3 administrative regions know as Area A, B and C. Area C includes 61% of
the West Bank and falls under complete Israeli civil and military control.

International law prohibits land appropriation, resource
exploitation and population transfer by an occupying power. However, since the
1970’s, Israel has confiscated the vast majority of Palestinian land in the
South Hebron Hills (currently located in Area C.) Life for Palestinian
residents of the South Hebron Hills is characterized by home demolitions,
confiscation of livestock, restricted access to farming land and daily
harassment from settlers and the Israeli Forces. Most communities lack basic
services including schools, clinics, electricity, telephone lines,
running-water, or a sewage system and infrastructure built to meet these needs
is frequently demolished under orders issued by the Israeli Civil Administration.
Despite these egregious human rights violations, Palestinian communities in the
South Hebron Hills have exerted their right to exist and survive on traditional
homelands.