“Being a Palestinian woman means to live with fear day by day, it means to give up hopes and dreams, being a Palestinian mother means you have to live the pain of losing your son or husband, a brother or a father every minute of your life, all this suffering you must live is just because you are a Palestinian in the first place, a women in the second and a threatening to the Israeli security at the third place.”
27th November 2013: Occupation is an equivalent for killing hopes
Manal Tamimi
Manal Tamimi, prominent Palestinian activist, will be released in the coming hours after being arrested by Israeli forces early on International Women’s Day, on March 8.
Manal and her family are very active for the palestinian nonviolent resistance from his village Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah. Since 2009, in Nabi Saleh are held peaceful demonstrations every Friday against the wall and settlements (that go against numerous UN resolutions and the International Law), after residents of the nearby settlement of Halamish took control over the spring water of Ein al-Qaws, owned by a resident of Nabi Saleh, preventing him the access of his land.
After the court, which took place the following day of the arrest, the Israeli military court decided to detein the activist until Friday 11 of March but due to the appeal of the prosecution, the trial has been anticipated for today, Thursday 10. Finally, the Israeli military court has agreed to release Tamimi on a fine of 4,000 NIS (about 1,000 Euros) and others restrictions related to the charges against her: threatening an Israeli policeman on Facebook and attacked another the last October. Between the restrictions there is the ban on publishing post or pictures on Facebook of an Israeli agent who had complained about the video posted by Manal Tamimi (and not only) where it is shown an agent assaulting journalists and medical personnel during the clashes near the checkpoint of Bet El (Ramallah).
In Nabi Saleh women are considered the driving force of the non-violent movement and in recent years Manal has been in the front line against the Israeli Army, she also was shot in the leg twice in 2013 and 2015. She is also part of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC) which presents community-based resistance rooted in a belief in the power of nonviolent struggle, taking various forms, such as strikes, protests, and legal campaigns, as well as supporting the call to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. The coordinator of the PSCC, Munther Amira, strongly condemns the arrest, calling it “a new Israeli crime against women, especially taking place in the Women’s Day“.
In this context, the role of Human Rights Defender as Manal Tamimi is more important than ever and it is precisely when they are most at risk. It is important to remember that the obligation to defend and promote human rights is not only a moral obligation of the States but a responsibility. More information about the situation of Human Rights Defenders in Israel and Palestine can be found on the paper attached “Human Rights Defenders in Palestine: a group in risk” produced by Novact.
This is just the latest case of a wave of violence that since the last October has seen more than 180 Palestinians dead (killed) by the Israeli army and the settlers, more than 400 injured and more than 450 who have seen their lands confiscated or their homes demolished (source: Palestine Liberation Organization).
Click here to get more information about the situation in Palestine on February 2016.
(Credits by: Haim Schwarczenberg)
