> On February 16 and 17, the Jewish National Fund (JNF), Israeli Land
> Administration (ILA) and Yassam riot police returned to Al Arakib.
> After a brief few days of relative peace in the village, the residents had
> erected approximately 15 temporary wooden structures in between the terraces
> of earth that had been created by the JNF. On Wednesday, these were again
> demolished by the ILA's bulldozers while the residents, including the
> children who had not yet left for school, were detained in the cemetery by
> police. The JNF then continued its work preparing the ground, simply shoving
> the wreckage to the side.
> On Wednesday, even in the face of peaceful resistance, a variety of
> ammunition (including what is suspected to be FN303<http://www.fnherstal.com/index.php?id=368&backPID=255&productID=90&pi...>bullets) was used by the Yassam police force on the residents and activists.
> An 11 year old boy and his grandfather were hospitalized as a result of
> shock and a fall respectively. Others who were injured from bullets refused
> to go to Soroka Hospital out of fear that they would either be arrested or
> not allowed to return to Al Arakib. Sheick Sayach later visited Rahat
> clinic. One man visiting from Rahat was arrested and is still being
> detained.
> The following morning, the JNF began earlier than usual to continue its
> work preparing the ground around the cemetery in Al Arakib under the heavy
> protection of about 40 Yassam police officers. At around 11 am,
> approximately 60 residents from the neighbouring Bedouin township, Rahat,
> attempted to enter Al Arakib to show their solidarity with the residents and
> pray with them, however, were refused entry by the police. While trying to
> negotiate with the police at the turn-off to the village from Route 40 (the
> main road into Be'er Sheva), the police began to shoot at the group (that
> included women and children) with sponge bullets.
> Dr. Awad Abu-Freich, a well-known resident and spokesperson of Al Arakib,
> and five others from Rahat were arrested. A number of charges have been
> laid against Dr Awad including incitement, disturbing the peace, causing a
> police to fail his duty and disturbing a policeman. The other five arrested
> have since been released.
> Two residents, Ibrahim and Ahmad Abu Medigem who were both arrested on
> February 10 are still being detained and have been charged with attacking a
> police officer. The Be'er Sheva District Court decided on Thursday that they
> will be held until the completion of the proceedings which may be as long
> as nine months.
> The three activists who were arrested last week and received restriction
> orders against entering the village appealed on Thursday. The judge said she
> would reach a decision by the end of the day, however, did not.
> The number of arrests and charges being laid against the residents and
> activists are continuing to mount up, suggesting a new tactic by the
> authorities to bring an end to the struggle through the sustained pressure
> of legal action.
> Attached are photos of the ammunition used, resulting injuries, the
> incident at Route 40 and the arrest of one of the supporters from Rahat.
> This morning we organized an inter-faith pray lead by Rabbi Arik Ascherman
> in the village.
> --
> Karen Douglas
> Resource Development Coordinator
> Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality
> www.dukium.org
> 054 747 1914
> RN-A1000 288.jpg
> IMG_0013.jpg
> IMG_9879.jpg
> RN-A1000 287.jpg
> --
> Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality - DuKium
> Email : m...@dukium.org
> Web : http://www.dukium.org
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