Introducing: A new regular feature from the Activestills photography collective. Each week, we will bring you a selection of our most compelling images from movements for political and social change throughout Palestine and Israel.
A Palestinian shepherd from the Palestinian village of Um Faqara after he was forced by the Israeli army to leave lands near the illegal settlement of Avigai located in South Hebron Hills, August 11, 2012. Um Faqara is one of 12 Palestinian traditional villages located in “Firing zone 918″ and is slated for demolition. The area designated by the Israeli army as “Firing Zone 918″ is located in the South Hebron Hills near the town of Yatta. Spread over 30,000 dunams, it includes 12 Palestinian villages, or hamlets: Tuba, Mufaqara, Sfai, Majaz, Tabban, Fakheit, Megheir Al-Abeid, Halaweh, Mirkez, Jinba, Kharuba and Sarura. According to OCHA figures, 1,622 people lived in the area in 2010, and according to local residents the number of inhabitants currently stands at about 1,800. (Photo: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Sign reading: “Bibi and Ehud: Leave the explosions and effects to real super heroes, Go home!” Israelis protest in front of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s house in central Tel Aviv against an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear installations, August 12, 2012. (Photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli activists take part in a solidarity protest for the jailed members of the Russian all-female band “Pussy Riot” in central Tel Aviv, August 11, 2012. The band’s trial resumed on August 6 with sentencing expected as early as this week. The three young women face up to seven years in prison for performing a one-minute “punk prayer” before the altar of Moscow’s biggest cathedral, denouncing the Russian Orthodox Church’s backing of Putin and calling on the Virgin Marry to “throw Putin out!” (Photo: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org)
A member of the Samara family showing the demolition order for his trailer home in Beit Hanina, issued three days earlier by the Jerusalem municipality, seen on August 11, 2012. After their house was demolished, the Samara family was given a trailer home to live in by OCHA (the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). Now the municipality has issued a new demolition order, giving the family 30 days to file an appeal, whose failure will make them homeless for a second time by September 30. A second UN trailer home situated a few hundreds meters away, housing another homeless family, faces the same situation. (Photo: JC/Activestills.org)
Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem are seen from the top of Ma’ale Adumim settlement, one of the West Bank’s largest settlements and a central element of the series of Israeli settlements built around East Jerusalem, which cut the city off from the West Bank and any possible future Palestinian state. The wooded area on the right is part of E1, a large area east of Jerusalem, designated for Israeli settlements. Once completed, it will in effect cut the West Bank into two parts. In the foreground is an artificial lake built for Ma’ale Adumim’s settlers to swim in, a costly endeavor in what is essentially a desert area and a striking example of inequality – while most Palestinian residents of Jerusalem have their water supply restricted to a few hours a day, Israeli settlements like Ma’ale Adumim have swimming pools, watered lawns and even an artificial lake. All such Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory are considered illegal under international law. (Photo: JC/Activestills.org)
The wall as it is seen in the residential neighborhood of Ras al-Amud, dividing it from Abu Dis, August 11, 2012. prior to the construction of the wall, this was one of the city’s busiest roads. Behind the minaret is Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem’s best-known and largest institute of higher education. (Photo: JC/Activestills.org)
Palestinians together with Israeli and international activists participate in the weekly demonstration against the occupation and the wall, in the West Bank village of Bil’in, August 10, 2012. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Israeli settlers are seen behind the Separation Wall watching the weekly demonstration against the occupation in Bil’in on August 10, 2012. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
An Israeli border policewoman turns an elderly Palestinian away as thousands of Palestinians try to make their way to Bethlehem checkpoint into Jerusalem to attend the Ramadan Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, August 10, 2012. (Photo: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Palestinians try to make their way to Bethlehem checkpoint into Jerusalem to attend the Ramadan Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, August 10, 2012. Thousands of men and women arrive at the Bethlehem checkpoint at around 5am, hoping to cross through. They are subjected to humiliating and scrutinizing checks and questioning before permission may be given, some waiting for hours under the scorching sun. (Photo by: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Palestinians demonstrate in the old city of the West Bank city of Nablus in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners still on hunger strike; Samer Barq, Hassan Safadi, Ayman Sharawna and Raed Jamal. August 09, 2012. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Activestills is a collective of Israeli, international and Palestinian photographers, united by a conviction that photography is a vehicle for political and social change. To stay updated on our latest images, like Activestills on Facebook or follow @activestills on Twitter. You can also visit our flickr photostream.
For additional original analysis and breaking news, visit +972 Magazine's Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Our newsletter features a comprehensive round-up of the week's events. Sign up here.
XYZ
Regarding the first picture…..I have a friend who was born in Iraq, and he has told me about the constant insecurity and outright fear Jews lived with there. I find this first picture to be a refreshing change….now we Jews have the guns and can defend ourselves against hostile non-Jewish elements.
Regarding the picture about the Arabs waiting at the Beit Lehem checkpoint to go to Jerusalem to pray…no doubt it is not pleasant. Those waiting there should direct their complaints to two different sources…one, to the Palestinian leadership which decided under Arafat’s orders to embark on the suicide bomber offensive, and secondly, they should look in the mirror to find the other guilty party….they, themselves, for supporting that suicide bomber war.
Secondly, the Israeli government has a blanket prohibition on Jews praying on the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holies place. So the Muslims are better off than the Jews in that regard.
Larry Derfner
Amen, XYZ. Finally, the Jews can hold unarmed shepherds at gunpoint. Finally we’re strong and they’re weak, and we can steal their land and grind their dignity into the dirt and kill them if they get mad and try to stop us. Yes, it is a great time and a great place to be a Jew.
Prometheus
@Larry – I think that at least 6 000 000 + about 1 000 000 Jews would not agree with you.
Really, I don’t think that you’d have guts to say this to some Holocaust survivor.
Kolumn9
Larry, that’s right, the Jews can hold unarmed shepherds at gunpoint instead of being slaughtered in their own houses by gangs of cossacks or Arabs. Certainly better than the alternative and compared to almost every single moment in Jewish history it is a great time and a great place to be a Jew. Would you really disagree?
Greg Pollock
XYZ and Prometheus: “I find this first picture to be a refreshing change….now we Jews have the guns and can defend ourselves against hostile non-Jewish elements.” (XYZ)
.
“Choose your enemies wisely–for you shall become them.” Cicero
.
On the bright side, maybe the IDF will become shepherds. (Of course it is not that simple; but claiming a shepherd is a “hostile non-Jewish element” is rather simple. Maybe what is meant is that all “non-Jewish elements” are hostile.)
Prometheus
It is worth noticing, by the way, that these shepherds are not unarmed but disarmed.
Prometheus
Greg,
Arabs mass-murdered Jews quite a while before the mere plan of setting up the Jewish state was born, so why don’t you address that proverb by Cicero to them?
.
You really should try – their response might amaze you.
Danny
XYZ – you are an UGLY Israeli. Nothing more to be said.
Jack
I guess only muslim arabs are ok to treat this way, according to bystanding west.
nilgun
I agree with Larry as he is the only One of you saying that we all know for sure fuere will be a chance only if both sides get. Space and place yo live with dignity and free.they do Need each other .and cicero counts for all of us.
Danny
I spent an unhappy month and a half doing reserve duty in Ma’ale Adumim. It is a huge settlement which constantly spreads in every direction, gobbling up more and more land and literally tossing the Palestinians and Beduins who live nearby away like garbage. I met a 49 year old man who I thought was in his 70′s. Upon looking at his orange I.D. card, sure enough, he was 49. I saw with my own eyes how these people are treated, their substandard living conditions just meters away from modern, beautiful, Jew-only condos. And the oddest thing about this situation is that it is the Palestinians themselves who are building all these illegal homes (and counting themselves lucky that they have these jobs). Makes you wonder how desperate these people are to agree to build the settlement that is literally making them homeless.
Prometheus
“I saw with my own eyes how these people are treated, their substandard living conditions just meters away from modern, beautiful, Jew-only condos.”
.
So now it’s Jews fault that until today Palestinians still have no country of their own.
.
Just take another step further, Danny, and blame Jews for the holocaust as well.
Philos
XYZ – I wonder if you’re also taken by the new fad to blame Arabs for the forest fires that have occurred recently. I read a wonderful piece of scapegoating on Ynetnews that was worthy of Der Stummer. I recommend you read it.
Prometheus
Philos,
Of course it’s the Jews who must be blamed for forest fires inside Israel – don’t you ever heard of a tradition that every Israeli must burn one tree once a year?
sara
it seems to me the only ppl here with whom Israel might have a chance for peace are Danny and Larry. Refreshing to read you two between the hasbara and the anti arab comments! Thank you for showing me not all Israeli’s are the same. (I know they are not but the haters make it hard to remember sometimes.)
XYZ
Here is a piece that appears on the so-called “Jewish Voice For Peace” (an anti-Zionist organization) site. It describes Tel Aviv in exactly the same terms that Danny describes Ma’alei Adumim….as a illegal settlement that spread and spread and spread and took over more and more land. Of course, there is the Ze’ev Sternhell approach to the morality of all this…..”we had the right to steal Palestine up to the Green Line, but it wrong to go one inch beyond that!” but the Arabs don’t see it that way.
They say there is no difference between Ma’alei Adumim and Tel Aviv. I agree.
http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/content/setting-record-straight-response-historical-distortions-tiff
Larry Derfner
XYZ, K9, Prometheus, the main thing you’ve learned from Jewish history is that Jews don’t need to have a conscience.
Prometheus
Sara,
With people like Danny and Larry the Israel has only one chance – to be wiped off the face of the Earth.
Prometheus
Larry, the main thing you have not learned from the Jewish history is that not only Jews don’t need to have a conscience.
Kolumn9
Larry, no, the main thing we’ve learned from Jewish history is that a conscience is not sufficient to keep oneself alive.
niz
Hubris “indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power”… In deed, the Israelis society is pushing the limits of hubris… it’s okay for nemesis is waiting to take its vengeance. I do not think we can stop the wheel, the train is moving fast and is out of control. Let’s just contemplate the crash!
Greg Pollock
Larry,
.
I have never seen such hatred of thought in some of those commenting here. They seem to want all alternative quashed. Perhaps it is a good sign, indicating that alternatives may have power.
.
Nilgun, above, is right: Cicero counts for all of us. And thank you Danny for relating what you saw. The key to hatred is never seeing what you hate as like yourself. Unless you are afraid of yourself.
.
K9,
.
Do you really want to relive history without end?
Prometheus
Greg,
You have seen very very very little in your life.
Just google “الموت لليهود”
Philos
@ PROMETHEUS, As a US judge recently said to an Apple lawyer, “are you smoking crack?”
.
Did I blame the Jews for the fires? Why does anyone need to be blamed for crying out loud you lunatic? Forest fires tend to be a naturally occurring phenomenon especially in very arid climates. A cigarette carelessly tossed could start a fire. Dried eucalyptus tree leaves could have ignited the fire given their incendiary qualities. But whatever – as far as you’re concerned it’s “about time” that “Jews” throw Molotov cocktails at Palestinians taxi cabs and beat innocent Palestinians to death in Zion Square in Jerusalem while chanting – “A Jew is a soul; an Arab is a son of a whore” (which rhymes in Hebrew)
.
“Yehudi who neshema; Aravi who ben zona”
.
Go soak your head in some cold water you awful bigot
Lisa Goldman
XYZ – Nowhere in the JVP link you provided does it say that Tel Aviv is an illegal settlement. This is not the first time you have made false claims in your comments on +972. When you are caught / challenged, you refuse to engage and just switch to another talking point. That is called trolling. The purpose of a comment thread is to engage in a factual, logical conversation. If you cannot do that, go elsewhere. You will be banned from my channel if I catch you again. Ultimately that means you will likely be banned from commenting anywhere on this site.
XYZ
Lisa-
Technically, what you said is true. After the article gives a whole litany of crimes and abuse of the Arabs that were committed in first setting up Tel Aviv and then building it up, they do say that they are not claiming that it is ‘illegal’. But, of course, they are simply posturing in order to sound “reasonable”. They ARE attempting to delegitimize Tel Aviv and all of Israel, just like many of those who post here at 972…to show that Israel is not fit to be part of the civilized world. However, I do promise not to comment on your pieces any more.
Carl
Am I right in thinking that there’s a strong correlation between stupidity of username and stupidity of views on +972 boards at the minute?
Lynette
Laary, you make me absolutely embarassed to be Jewish. Despicable comments. You should be ashamed of yourself.
un2here
Regarding the first picture – As far as history is concerned, the Palestinians have been unarmed since before the Jewish State was even established, whereas the Jews were not. It could not have happened otherwise. So, in Palestine, holding shepherds at gunpoint is a strictly Jewish thing to do.
Prometheus
UN2Here – you are factually wrong.
Larry Derfner
XYZ, K9, Prometheus, you think the choice is between being a victim and a victimizer, and you choose victimizer. That’s not Jewish morality, it’s a morality that degrades Jews.
Prometheus
Larry,
So what is Jewish morality when one have to choose being victimized or victimizer?
Danny
Prometheus: “So now it’s Jews fault that until today Palestinians still have no country of their own.”
.
I give Israel 90% of the blame. Had Rabin been a courageous man, he would have made a big bold move rather than the small, cautious moves that allowed dirt bags like Netanyahu an opportunity to sabotage the peace process. Hamas suicide bombings get some of the blame, but Israel takes the lion’s share.
Greg Pollock
Prometheus,
.
That some Arabs hate does not mean all Arabs hate or must hate.
.
That some Jews hate does not mean all Jews hate or must hate.
.
That hatred exists does not mean I must hate. I have. But, maybe, not now. This is the challenge of Gandhi, King, Romero.
.
Burber
.
It will never be a globally shared view. But it will always be in the world.
Prometheus
Danny,
That’s 100% pure crystal clear nonsense.
Israel has nothing whatsoever to do with the Palestinian state. Israel could not declare it, neither could it stop Palestinians from declaring it.
.
Hamas suicide bombings, btw, has as little to do with the lack of the Palestinian State as Israel does – these issues are simply not related.
.
Greg,
I could not figure what your comment, which contains nothing but obvious well-known facts, has to do with the topic.
Ismail KM
Thank You for updating us with these tell tale pictures. There should be an option to share each photos.
Larry Derfner
Prometheus, give me an example of when one has to choose between being a victim or a victimizer.
Prometheus
Larry,
Israel/Palestine