Industrial Workers of the World

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PALESTINE: Joint struggles the AAtW participated in Friday and Saturday

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This week the focus was on the Friday demonstrations against the separation fence in Bil'in (the 201st), in Ni'ilin (the eighth month) and in Umm Salamuna (nearing the two years' anniversary). Some of the comrades that could not come to the demonstrations in the Palestinian areas participated in the one of the radical left coalition in Tel Aviv against the approaching Israeli onslaught on Gaza, that materialized Saturday noon.

Friday noon near the road block on the outskirts of Ni'ilin, there was also another demonstration - that of the youth of the Likud party (probably the ruling one after the coming February election) which was widely promoted in the media during the week. They demonstrated against the Anarchists Against the Wall initiative (AAtW) and the Palestinians who make trouble for the Israeli State forces in the demonstrations against the separation fence.

BIL'IN At the Bil'in demo there were four main themes - one was the new year represented with a nice Santa Claus. Another was a big placard saying: "Salute the Israeli Shministim" meaning a salute to the initiative of high school graduate total refuseniks of this year - nearly all of whom also participated in the struggle against the separation fence and occupation in Bi'lin.

The other themes were expressed mainly in chants. Following is an excerpt from the report of Eyad Burnat of the Bil'in popular committee:

"Santa Clause Against The Wall in Bil'in Friday 26\12\2008 -

Bil'in residents left after the Friday prayer in a march joined by international and Israeli peace activists. Waving Palestinian flags, and banners against the Israeli occupation. The protest today was solidarity with Palestinian families inside Israeli jails especially Juma'a Muosa's family and Ahmad Sa’dat and Ofers' detainees. T

he Popular committee condemned the violence against the detainees inside Israeli prisons. The protesters marched, chanting slogans of the same substance, and another calling the Israeli activists to refuse serving in the military. The protest also condemned the arrest of Israeli refuseniks and demanded their release."

UMM SALAMUNA In Umm Salamuna the demonstration this week excelled these of previous weeks as about 200 people from the wider region of the south of Palestine joined the usual ones.

Following is a call after the Israeli attack at noon on Gaza:

TEL AVIV TODAY WE STOP THE WAR CINEMATEQUE SQUARE, TEL AVIV

18:00 - PUBLIC EMERGENCY MEETING, OPEN TO ALL ACTIVISTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

19:30 - PROTEST MARCH AND DEMONSTRATION

About a thousand activists from the coalition against the occupation converged at the Cinemateque square. As hundreds of State force elements prevented us from going to the center of town, we marched towards the compound of the War Ministry. There we chanted for about three hours and a few AAtW activists who tried to block the road were arrested. MORE:

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