As the World Cup began in South Africa on Friday, Palestinians from the town of Bil’in formed a “national football team” and marched, along with dozens of Israeli and international activists, to the separation wall.
Sporting Palestinian uniforms, the players erected a goal next to the wall and began playing. After kicking several soccer balls over the fence to land that was once owned by the village, Israeli soldiers responded as they have in the past, by fired tear gas at the participants. According to the Friends of Freedom and Justice – Bil’in:
They then came through the fence, and arrested 6 journalists, four of whom were soon released… The tear gas canisters fired also caused large fires on the dry ground around the olive trees. Soldiers fired more canisters, aiming for the groups of villagers attempting to put out the flames.
While Ahlul Bayt News Agency said that the nonviolent protesters “did nothing but kick footballs,” the video above clearly shows that several of the youth involved did unfortunately throw rocks as well.
did “unfortunately throw rocks”? apartheid bordering on genocide, and we are to spend energy attacking youths whose anger is more righteous and justified than ours will ever be? nonsense. we need all our weapons and tactics, nonviolent and otherwise, to take down the wall.
I agree with you about the severity of the occupation and that their anger is righteous, but throwing rocks is only going to backfire. Even if you aren’t committed to nonviolence, I would love to know how you think throwing rocks is a wise strategic move. In the minds of the soldiers, it will only serve to justify further repression and their negative stereotypes of Palestinians.
If the goal is to have two states side by side, or a one state solution for that matter, trust must be built between both sides. Responding to the Israeli military, even though they are clearly the oppressor and in the wrong, with any kind of violence is only going to slow that progress towards a peaceful resolution of this conflict.
haloka, “apartheid bordering on genocide”? Laughable. The Israelis KNOW what genocide is.
“While Ahlul Bayt News Agency said that the nonviolent protesters “did nothing but kick footballs,” the video above clearly shows that several of the youth involved did unfortunately throw rocks as well.” Ahhh…now it’s quite understandable that Israelis would use tear gas to break up that mob.