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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Activism Home page  back Print  Send To friend Large-scale protests expected Fri. , Sat. following violent destruction of Al–Arakib Large-scale protests expected Friday, Saturday, following violent destruction of Al–Arakib Village Press release July 29, 2010 Council of the unrecognized villages On Friday, July 30, 2010. at 13:00, there will take place at Al-Arakib Village a demonstration calling upon the state authorities: Recognize the village! Recognize basic rights! No more violence! No more destruction and uprooting! We will stand together with the villagers and the Arab residents of the Negev, demanding to have a share in the state rather than being treated as an enemy How to get there: go straight from the Lehavim –Rahat Intersection, in the direction of Beersheba. Turn off the highway at the second turn to a dirt road to the right, about 3 km after the Lehavim Junction blades. There will be directin signs. Contact: Yusuf Abu-Zeid, 050-8213082; Dr. Ya`ala Livnat Ra`anan 054-7487005 08-6283043 ================================================== Al-Arakib Popular Committee * Negev Coexistence Forum * Tarabut-Hithabrut –Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity * Recognition Forum }Israeli peace and human rights activists will on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 10:30 am conduct a solidarity visit to the Al-Arakib Village which was completely destroyed by emissaries of the government of Israel. The activists will participate in tours and reconstruction work will take place in the village and its surroundings. The visit will culminate with a major solidarity rally of the residents and their guests. Transportation will leave at 9:00 am from Tel Aviv (Arlozorov Railway Station) and Jerusalem (Liberty Bell Park parking lot) Contact: Yusuf Abu-Zeid, 050-8213082; Haya Noach 052-4269011 Background: Al-Arakib villagers were expelled from their homes and their land in the early `50s. In the late `90s, some families returned to live in their village. Most families make a living from sheep herding or work outside the community. Attempts to cultivate the the land and sow corn were met with the authorities destroying the crops. Despite the land ownership claims still pending in court, the state - as part of plans to ` Judaize` the area and evict its Bedouin inhabitants - leased much of the land to thef the Jewish National Fund in order to `p;ant woodlands`. Last year`s JNF activity in the area was unprecedented in scope, with tens of thousands of non-fruit bearing trees planted. On Tuesday morning no less than 1500 police, many of them from Yasam (Special Riot Police) raided the village, equipped with firearms, grenades, and riot control equipment, forcibly removed residents from their homes so as to allow the demolition crews to raze the village to the ground. A grove of hundreds of olive trees was uprooted, as well. The villagers are strongly supported by all of the Arab and Bedouin communities and by the forces of democracy in Israel. Links to the latest articles in this section Refusing the war! Demonstration today, Thur. Apris 24, at 7.30 pm, Habima Square, Tel Aviv Refusing the war! Demonstration today, Thur. Apris 24, at 7.30 pm, Habima Square, Tel Aviv Saturday night protests: No to Netanyahu`s war!