A Month in Photos: Popular struggle, come hell or high water

Editors’ picks of the top photos from Palestine, Israel and beyond for the month of February. This month, Palestinians establish a new protest tent, ultra-Orthodox Jews protest military recruitment, Israeli factory workers protest job cuts, a 14-year-old Palestinian girl is released from prison after 44 days, Negev Bedouin mourn their lost ones, Bil’in marks 10 years of popular struggle, LGBTQ activists speak up against homophobia, and a second wave of snow blankets the holy city.

Photos: Oren Ziv, Ahmad al-Bazz, Keren Manor, Yotam Ronen, Basel Yazouri, Keren Manor, Shiraz Grinbaum, Faiz al-Bazz, Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Activestills.org

Hundreds of Palestinians participate in the funeral of Ahmed Najjar (19 years-old), who was shot to death by the Israeli army on Saturday, nearby his village Burin, Nablus, West Bank, February 1st, 2015. Israeli army reported that Najjar was about to throw a molotov cocktail on passing cars. Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org
Hundreds of Palestinians participate in the funeral of 19-year-old Ahmed Najjar, who was shot to death by the Israeli army near his village Burin, Nablus, West Bank, February 1, 2015. The Israeli army reported that Najjar was about to throw a molotov cocktail at passing cars. (photo: Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org) 
Lawyer Gabi Lasky speaks with Palestinian activist Abdullah Abu Rahmeh, before the beginning of Abdullah hearing in the Ofer military court, near the West Bank town of Baituniya, February 8, 2015. Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Attorney Gaby Lasky speaks with Palestinian activist Abdullah Abu-Rahmah, before the beginning of his hearing at Ofer military court, near the West Bank town of Beitunia, February 8, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)
Palestinian activists sit in the "Gate of Jerusalem" protest camp near the West Bank Abu Dis town, is seen on February 9, 2015. The camp, which was demolished four times by the Israeli army, was set up to protest Israel's plan to confiscate lands in the E1 area, and to force the Jehalin Bedouins to move to the area of a garbage dump. Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Palestinian activists sit in the “Gate of Jerusalem” protest camp in Abu Dis near Jerusalem, February 9, 2015. The camp, which was demolished four times by the Israeli army, was set up to protest Israel’s plan to confiscate lands in the E1 area, and to force the Jahalin Bedouin to move to a garbage dump. (photo: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)
Palestinian Malak Al-Khateb, 14, is welcomed by family members, as she arrives to Beitin village near Ramallah, after being released from an Israeli prison, February 13, 2015. Al-Khateb, from Beitin village near Ramallah, was taken prisoner on December 31, 2014, and was subjected to interrogation and harsh treatment without legal representation. She had been accused of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. On January 22, she was sentenced for two months in prison and a family was fined with 6,000 shekels fine ($1523). By the end of 2014, there were 197 children still imprisoned by Israel. Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Malak Al-Khatib, 14, is welcomed by family members as she arrives at the village of Beitin near Ramallah after being released from an Israeli prison, February 13, 2015. Al-Khatib was arrested on December 31, 2014, and subjected to interrogation and harsh treatment without legal representation. She was accused of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. On January 22, she was sentenced for two months in prison and her family was slapped with a fine of NIS 6,000 ($1523). By the end of 2014, there were 197 children still imprisoned by Israel. (photo: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Thousands participate in the funeral of Zana Abu Trash, Mnua Abu Elkian, Fatma Abu Elkian, Kfaia Alasibi and Name Abusheida near the Bedouin town of Hura, Negev, February 4, 2015. Eight women were killed in a car accident yesterday on their way back from a prayer in Jerusalem. A truck of the Israeli Land Administration, returning from destroying Bedouin crop, crushed into a bus killing eight and injuring dozens. Road 31 serves primarily the bedouin communities of the Negev, and is the only rout to the city of Arad. Over 70 people were killed on it in the last decade due to poor infrastructure.
Thousands participate in the funeral of Zana Abu Trash, Mnua Abu Elkian, Fatma Abu Elkian, Kfaia Alasibi and Name Abusheida near the Bedouin town of Hura, Negev Desert, February 4, 2015. The eight were killed in a car accident on their way back from prayers in Jerusalem. A truck belonging to the Israeli Land Administration, which had just returned from destroying Bedouin crops, crashed into the bus while on Road 31, killing the women and injuring dozens of others. Road 31 primarily serves the Bedouin communities of the Negev, and is the only route to the nearby city of Arad. Over 70 people were killed on this road over the last decade due to poor infrastructure. (photo: Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org)
Israeli workers protest against the plan to  dismiss hundreds of workers employed in a  factory of the CIL group, in the southern city of Dimona, February 22, 2015. Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Israeli workers protest against a plan to dismiss hundreds of workers employed in a factory of the CIL group, in the southern city of Dimona, February 22, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)
Ultra-Orthodox Jews participate in a protest in solidarity with four ultra-Orthodox youths who were detained last week for refusing to report to a military recruitment, near the city of Beni Brak, February 9, 2015. Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org
Ultra-Orthodox Jews participate in a protest in solidarity with four ultra-Orthodox youths who were detained the week prior for refusing to report to a military recruitment base, near the city of Beni Brak, February 9, 2015. (photo: Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org)
Palestinian public-sector workers stand in que for their salaries in Nablus city, West Bank, February 9, 2015. Yesterday, PA announced it will pay only 60% of January's salaries (Minimum of 2000 NIS). On the middle of January, workers also received 60% of their salaries of December. The future of the rest of the salaries is still unknown. The PA is in a midst of a financial crisis after the Israeli's decision of January 3rd, 2015, to freeze transfers of tax funds in response to Mahmoud Abbas' move to call on the ICC to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel. PA's salaries are estimated in around $200 million per month, $120 million of which is covered from the taxes collected by Israel. Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org
Palestinian public sector workers stand in line for their salaries in Nablus, West Bank, February 9, 2015. The Palestinian Authority announced that it will pay only 60 percent of salaries for the month of January (a minimum of NIS 2000).  The same thing happened the previous month. The PA is in a midst of a financial crisis after the Israeli’s decision on January 3rd to freeze transfers of tax revenues in response to Mahmoud Abbas’  decision to call on the International Criminal Court to pursue war crimes charges against Israel. The PA workers’ salaries equal to approximately $200 million a month, $120 million of which is covered by taxes collected by Israel. (photo: Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org)
Israeli police officers stand guard as the home of Hana al-Nakib and her four children is being demolished, in the city of Lod, February 10, 2015. The house was built with the help of family members and neighbours who donated money to help the single mother. The house was built on a family-owned land, but without permission from the Israeli authorities. Palestinian citizens of Israel can hardly attain building permits due to Israel's discriminative criterions. Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Israeli police officers stand guard as the home of Hana’a al-Nakib and her four children is demolished, Lod, February 10, 2015. The house, which was built with the help of family members and neighbors who donated money to help the single mother, was constructed on family-owned land, but without permission from the Israeli authorities. Palestinian citizens of Israel can hardly obtain building permits due to Israel’s discriminatory policies. (photo: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)
A  group of Palestinian surfers on the coast of Gaza city, February 13, 2015. The sea remains one of the few open space where Palestinians can go and try to relax despite a very dire humanitarian situation and the trauma following the last summer Israeli military offensive. Basel Yazouri / Activestills.org
A Palestinian surfer runs on the coast of Gaza City, February 13, 2015. The sea remains one of the few open spaces where Palestinians can go and try to relax despite the dire humanitarian situation and the trauma following the last summer’s Israeli military offensive. (photo: Basel Yazouri / Activestills.org)
A Palestnian man walks Al Aqsa mosque at Jerusalem's old city following a snow storm, on February 20, 2015. Faiz al-Bazz / Activestills.org
A Palestnian man walks up to the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem, following a snow storm, February 20, 2015. (photo: Faiz al-Bazz / Activestills.org)
The Separation Wall and the Sh'uafat Refugee Camp are seen following a snow storm, on February 20, 2015. Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org
The separation wall and around Shuafat Refugee Camp seen following a snow storm, February 20, 2015. (photo: Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org)
The Palestinian activist Abdullah Abu Rahme joins local villagers at a protest against the closing of the eastern gate to the West Bank village of Azzun, february 14, 2015. The gate, which has been closed since 1990 due to requests by the nearby illegal settlement of Karnei Shonron, previously served as a crossing into the city of Nablus. Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org
Palestinian activist Abdullah Abu-Rahmah joins local villagers at a protest against the closing of the eastern gate to the West Bank village of Azzun, February 14, 2015. The gate, which has been closed since 1990 due to requests by the nearby settlement Karnei Shonron, previously served as a crossing into the city of Nablus. (photo: Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org)
Young Muslim women stand hand-in-hand in front of the Oslo Synagogue during the "Ring of Peace" vigil, February 21, 2015. The vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway's Jewish community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of Europe. Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Activestills.org
Young Muslim women stand hand-in-hand in front of the Oslo Synagogue during the “Ring of Peace” vigil, February 21, 2015. The vigil was organized by Muslim youth in solidarity with Norway’s Jewish community following anti-Jewish attacks in Denmark and other parts of Europe.
(photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Activestills.org)
LGTBQ activists protest outside an elections conference of the Zionist Camp in Tel Aviv, February 24, 2015. Keren Manor / Activestills.org
LGTBQ activists protest outside an elections conference held by Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home party, Tel Aviv, February 24, 2015. (photo: Keren Manor / Activestills.org)
Public housing activists protest at an elections conference of the Zionist Camp Party, Tel Aviv, February 24, 2015. Keren Manor / Activestills.org
Israeli public housing activists protest at an elections conference of the ‘Zionist Camp,’ Tel Aviv, February 24, 2015. (photo: Keren Manor / Activestills.org)
Palestinians protest against the closure of Shuhada Street, Hebron, West Bank, February 27, 2015.  Hundreds of Palestinians and internationals gathered on Friday marking the 21th anniversary of the street's closure. Shuhada street was closed by the Israeli army in 1994 following the Hebron mosque massacre where Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli settler, went on a rampage inside Al Ibrahimi Mosque, killing 29 Palestinians. Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org
Palestinians protest against the closure of Shuhada Street, Hebron, West Bank, February 27, 2015. Hundreds of Palestinians and internationals gathered to mark the 21st anniversary of the street’s closure. Shuhada was closed by the Israeli army in 1994 following the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, when Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli settler, killed 29 Palestinians worshippers. (photo: Ahmad al-Bazz / Activestills.org)
Palestinian activists march during a protest marking ten years for the struggle against the Wall in the West Bank village Bil'in, February 27, 2015. Keren Manor / Activestills.org
Palestinian activists march during a protest marking 10 years of popular struggle against the wall in the West Bank village Bil’in, February 27, 2015. (photo: Keren Manor / Activestills.org)
Israeli border policemen arrest an Israeli protester during a protest marking ten years for the struggle against the Wall in the West Bank village Bil'in, February 27, 2015. Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org
Israeli border policemen arrest an Israeli protester during a protest marking 10 years of the struggle in Bil’in, February 27, 2015. (photo: Yotam Ronen / Activestills.org)
Muhammed Khatib, a Palestinian activist with the Popular Committees in Bil'in, stands near his photo taken in 2005, at an Activestills exhibition during a protest marking ten years for the struggle in against the Wall in the West Bank village Bil'in, February 27, 2015. The exhibition presented photos taken by Activestills photographers during the protests in the last ten years in the village. Shiraz Grinbaum / Activestills.org
Muhammed Khatib, a Palestinian activist with the Popular Committees in Bil’in, stands near his photo taken in 2005, at an Activestills exhibition during a protest marking 10 years of struggle in Bil’in, February 27, 2015. The exhibition presented photos taken by Activestills photographers during the protests over the last 10 years in the village. Shiraz Grinbaum / Activestills.org
Palestinian youth play pool in the West Bank village of Bil'in, February 9, 2015. Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Palestinian youth play pool in the West Bank village of Bil’in, February 9, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)