Israel worries over impact of international activists on occupation's ability to repress protests

(Bassem Abu Rahme, killed at Bi'lin protest against the Apartheid Wall)

From Israel's Ynet News

Naksa Day, 11 am. Tensions are already palpable near the Qalandiya checkpoint. IDF soldiers equipped with crowd dispersal means are confronted by dozens of Palestinians including a small group of youngsters with gas masks and Palestinian flags.

Two tall European-loking girls suddenly emerge from the crowd and approach the photographers standing in between the parties. Behind them, and unknown to the two, two Palestinians emerge and hurl bottles full of foul-smelling material at the soldiers and escape. The soldiers respond by firing shock grenades. The conflict begins.

This is just one example of the presence of new players in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years. Foreign solidarity activists can be found in Qalandiya, Bilin, Nabi Saleh and virtually any other site where Palestinians and security forces clash.

"Our organization, which started as small group about a decade ago, has become an all-out phenomenon in which solidarity movements from around the world take part," Netta Golan, one of the founders of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) says.

"Before we started, the IDF would use live ammunition to disperse demonstrations. Our presence has brought on the use of non-lethal means since they know that we, as well as Israeli activists, are among the protestors."

Golan, an Israeli woman residing in Ramallah, claims this is an ISM victory which "allows protestors to resist without killing or being killed."

Israel, on its part, tries to trace the activists before they arrive in Israel and prevents them entering the country by arresting and deporting them. The activists plan on fighting this policy by staging an event at the Ben Gurion Airport next month. Many solidarity activists, hoping to embarrass the Israeli government, plan on arriving in Israel. more

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