Israel fears Popular struggle. Barghouti:"Israel's campaign against activists will not discourage us from continuing the popular struggle against the apartheid system."

Dozens of people, including diplomats, Palestinian and Israeli activists gathered on Monday at Ofer detention camp an Israeli military prison in the West Bank to show their support and solidarity with Jamal Juma, Coordinator of the Stop the Wall Campaign. The demonstration coincided with an extension of his detention for a further three days, after being already held in a mobile home in the prison compound for 20 days without no charges have being brought against him.

The reasons for his arrest are unknown and Juma’s lawyer have not been allowed to examine the evidence brought against him.  

Attending the demonstration, Dr Mustapha Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, firmly condemned the campaign adopted by Israeli Occupation Forces against popular activists and human rights defenders, declaring that “Israel clearly aims to dismantle the resistance movement against the Wall and settlement constructions, which has become a widely known symbol of civil disobedience.” He also said that “arrests against activists of the Popular Committees, daily violations perpetrated by the Israeli Army and attacks on demonstrators, will not discourage us from continuing the popular struggle against the apartheid system created and carried out by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory”.  

He called upon the international community to support the struggle of the Popular committees against “this ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation against activists” and to pressure Israel for the immediate release of the arrested activists.  

34 Palestinian local activists from the Popular committees have been arrested in the last six months: amongst those captured are Adeeb Abu Rahmah, a peace activist from Bi’lin who is currently still in jail; Mohammed Othman, a Palestinian activist from the Stop the Wall Campaign arrested in September whilst entering West Bank from Jordan following his participation to a BDS conference in Norway and currently kept in administrative detention; Abdullah Abu Rahmah, coordinator of the Popular Committee in Bi’lin, arrested in his house in Ramallah on December 10. 

Furthermore the Israeli Army imposed a fine of 30.000 Nis on Mohammed Mahmoud Brejieh Zawahra Coordinator of of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Al Masara, preventing him to join any demonstration.  

Prior the hearing, Jamal Juma was able to address the crowd, stating, "This case is not only about me. It is an attack on those that are standing up against the wall and the occupation." A further hearing will be held on Thursday January 7. 
 
Yesterday at Ofer the hearings of both Mohammed and Abdallah were scheduled, while Adeeb Abu-Rahme’s hearing will take place on Sunday morning, January 10.