Palestinians erect new 'village' as Obama lands in Israel

[Jefferson23]

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinians on Wednesday erected a new "village" encampment in Eizariya to stake their sovereignty and claims to return to their towns and villages.

Activists said they set up 15 tents on a hillside near the original "Bab al-Shams" village that Israeli forces tore down two months earlier.

In a statement, the activists described the initiative as “first, to claim our right as Palestinians to return to our lands and villages, second, to claim our sovereignty over our lands without permission from anyone."

The action coincided with US President Barack Obama's arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport.

The activists said it aimed to highlight their opposition to the Obama administration's policies in the region, saying in the statement that it has been "complicit in Israeli occupation and colonialism."

in full: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=576982

[Scootaloo]

1. Cue the regulars insisting Palestinians have no right to Palestine n/t

[Jefferson23]

2. Maybe, but I tend to think right now they're feeling dandy about Obama's

visit. Unshakeable and all that good stuff...reaffirmed.

[Jefferson23]

3. Israeli forces surround new 'village'

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Wednesday surrounded a new tent village erected by Palestinian activists in Eizariya east of Jerusalem.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said hundreds of Palestinians established "an illegal settlement" and that security forces were in the area "to maintain order."

She said soldiers arrested the driver of a truck loaded with equipment including tents.

Mohammad Khatib, a spokesman for the activists, said soldiers handed protesters a document declaring the area a closed military zone.

"We are staying. We are Palestinians, and we will stay here. They will have to evacuate us. They will have to use their power to do it, but we will not do it by ourselves," Khatib told Ma'an.

"We are staying here because this is Palestinian land. This is our land, and no one has a right to evacuate us."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=577109