Palestinians erect “tent city” to protest settlement plan
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in conflict with the Israeli High Court over the eviction of a tent camp of 250 Palestinian activists on the site of a proposed West Bank settlement block. The camp, called “Bab Al Shams”, was erected Friday morning, protesting the “E1 development” of 4,000 new settler homes, which opponents say makes the creation of a continuous Palestinian state impossible. In late November, Israel announced that E1 would go ahead the day following the upgrade of Palestine’s status to non-member observer at the United Nations. RFI visited the Bab Al Shams camp yesterday.
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The camp was founded by the Palestinian Popular Struggle Committee, a group co-ordinating non-violent protest in the West Bank. It comprises around 25 tents, including a village council, medical and cooking facilities, and a media centre.
Audio report - Palestinians erect tent camp to oppose Israeli settlements
The activists said they intended to stay at the site despite the extreme cold, as well as the fear of attacks from nearby settlements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement last night that the Israeli military would restrict all access to the site in order to prevent further gatherings.
Camp founder and Palestinian activist Irene Nasser said that Israeli Defence Force soldiers began threatening them with eviction almost immediately:
“they sent helicopters to look over us, but in the end we have an injunction from the courts that does not allow them to evict us within six days. This morning, the military claimed that the injunction is only valid for the tents and not the actual people who are here, and we will be evicted.”
Yesterday evening, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister ordered security forces to evacuate the camp as soon as possible, petitioning the High Court of Justice to rescind the injunction that had delayed the evacuation.
All West Bank settlements are considered illegal under international law.
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