il corteo di attivisti pacifisti a beit jala che volevano visitare le case occupate dall'esercito israeliano e' stato disperso con colpi di fucile dai carri armati della IDF.

Alle 15.00 ora locale gli attivisti italiani del coordinamento
nazionale in sostegno dell'intifada e di indymedia italia, i francesi
e svizzeri del GIPP, e gli internazionali dell'International
Solidarity Movement si sono riuniti di fronte allo star hotel per dare
vita a un piccolo corteo che arrivasse fino a Beit jala per visitare
le case occupate dall'esercito israeliano e portare solidarieta' al
popolo palestinese.
In circa 100 persone ci siamo mossi verso Beit Jala, in una Betlemme
deserta che niente di buono lasciava presagire.
Anche il fatto che due bus di attivisti di Action 4 peace che insieme
a una parlamentare dovevano raggiungerci fossero stati fermati al
checkpoint, non ci dava grandi speranze nei confronti dell'IDF.
Scanditi dal suono del clarino di A., e dal battimani ci siamo
incamminati sulla salita che porta al villaggio di Beit jala. "Stop
the Occupation" "Sharon you will see palestina will be free" gli
slogan scanditi mentre ci inerpichiamo.
Arriviamo al punto in cui due giorni fa abbiamo incrociato i carri
armati e la strada e' deserta. Continuiamo quindi verso le case in cui
si sono posizionati i cecchini, davanti alle quali sappiamo essere
parcheggiati i carri, per tentare di portare la solidarieta' ai
palestinesi che sono confinati in esse.
A un certo punto si presenta davanti a noi un carro armato. Nella
torretta un soldato sui 20-25 anni ci guarda con indifferenza. Con la
freddezza di chi sa che cosa deve fare e sa che cio' fa parte della
sua vita. Si avvicinano i negoziatori del gruppo per tentare di
trattare un avanzamento.
Subito partono le prime raffiche a qualche metro dai loro piedi. Non
sono proiettili di gomma. Sono proiettili veri. Fanno male. Le persone
non panicano, si raggruppano, e si cerca di mandare nuovamente avanti
i negoziatori. I colpi di fucile mitragliatore non lasciano spazi a
commenti.
Cominciamo a indiettreggiare lentamente per evitare il panico e
situazioni di caos ancora piu' pericolose. I colpi si fanno sempre
piu' frequenti e vicini. Vedo colpire il marciapiede a dieci
centimetri dalla caviglia di un signore di mezza eta'. Vedo colpi sui
muri. Vedo colpi in dierezione di telecamere e di macchine
fotografiche. Il carro avanza. Il grosso delle persone si allontana
con passo sostenuto, mentre un paio di file camminano indietreggiando
lentamente. I soldati continuano a spararci addosso. Alcuni di noi
rimangono bloccati dietro un cancelletto in un pertugio laterale, e
nonostante i nostri richiami siamo costretti a lasciarli rifugiati in
una casa. Poco dopo un colpo arriva sul muro di fianco a me.
Sento un urto in mezzo allo sterno.
Ci penso un attimo. Bestemmio ma non sento dolore e quindi penso che
va tutto bene. Mi giro e vedo una ragazza sbiancare e voltarsi e
svenire nelle braccia di M.. Il sangue sulla sua felpa. Le sirene
dell'ambulanza. Per me sara' sempre la prima persona ferita. Non so
se sia cosi'. So che l'indietreggiamento continua inesorabile per
venti lunghi minuti. Piano piano la tensione si allenta e pensiamo
solo a quando finalmente il carro smettera' di starci a due metri di
distanza. E a tenere la fila sullo stesso passo.
In una vietta laterale un cameraman e una giornalista tentano di
salire in macchina.
I soldati non gradiscono e li riempiono di raffiche sotto i nostri
sguardi impotenti, fino a che questi non si decidono, illesi ma
terrorizzati, a unirsi al corteo che indietreggia.
Finalmente uno slargo. I carri si fermano. Esce una macchina
fotografica dalla botola di ingresso nel tank. Ne esce un braccio che
tiene in mano una macchina fotografica.
Foto ricordo per la mamma, altre 100 persone a cui ho sparato addosso.
Sono talmente attonito che non riesco a scattare una foto alla scena.
Ci giriamo finalmente e torniamo verso Betlemme.
Ci informiamo sui feriti: sono 7, di cui una, la ragazza, in sala
operatoria. Era di fianco a me.
Altri hanno screzi vari causati da schegge e sassolini impazziti sotto
i proiettili.
Ci dirigiamo al centro Ibdaa, per comunicare.
L'occupazione e' una realta' piu' viva adesso per noi. Come per
migliaia di palestinesi tutti i giorni. Come la guerra.
Non si puo' stare a guardare

01 aprile 2002
Betlemme
Palestina

Beit jala: bullets against the demo

The activists and pacifists demonstration who wanted to visit houses occupied by israeli army has been charged with rifle shots from IDF tanks.

At 3:00 p.m. italian activists from the National Committee in support of Intifada and from Indymedia Italia,
frech and swiss from GIPP, and internationals from International Solidarity Movement gathered in front of the Star Hotel to
start a small demo directed to Beit Jala to visit houses occupied by israeli army and to bring solidarity to the palestinian people.
Around 100 people headed for Beit Jala; the athmosphere in Bethelem was ominous.
Two bus from Action for Peace activists with a MP reaching us were stopped and this was a bad sign from IDF.
Following the sound of a Clarinet and of hands clapping we moved on a steep to Beit Jala village.
"Stop the Occupation", "Sharon you will see palestina will be free" the slogan chanted while climbing up.
We arrived at the point where two days ago we met the tanks and the road was empty.
We continued toward the houses with the snipers, in front of which we know the tanks are parked,
to try to bring solidarity to the palestinians isolated there.
At this point arrived a tank in front of us. In the gun-turret a soldier about 20-25 years old looked at us coldly.
He was cold as someone knowing what he has to do and that it is normal routine in his life.
Group spokepersons got closer to negotiate the possibility to fo further.

Immediately started the first burst one meter from their foot. They weren’t platic bullets.
They were real bullets. They hurt. People didn’t panic, they group and try to send the negotiators forth again.
Machine-gun burst gave no possible further discussion. We started to drew back slowly to avoid panic and
situations of more dangerous chaos. Shots got more and more frequent and near. I saw a shot hitting athe road at
10 cm from a man ankle. I saw shots hitting walls. I sae shots toward videocams and cameras. The tank moves forward.
The most of the people accelerated their pace while two rows drew back slowly.
Soldiers continued to shoot against us. Some of us remained blocked in a lateral alley behind a small gate, and despite
our claims we were obliged to let them escape into a house. A little bit later a shot reached the wall near me.
I felt a push over my sternum.

I think about it for a moment. I swear but I feel any pain, so I think it's alright.
I turn around and I see a girl going pale and turning, and she has fainted into M.'s arms.
Blood on her plush.
The hooter of ambulance.
On my opinion she will always be the first one who's been wounded.
i don't know if it really is.
I know that withdrawal relentless goes on for twenty slow minutes.
Little by little the tension loosens and we think just about when the tank at last will give up following us at a distance of two meters.
they will line the tanks at the same pace.

In a little lateral road a cameraman and a journalist try to go by car.
Soldiers don't agree e cover them with bursts under our powerless eyes, until they decide,
uninjured but terrorized, to go with the drawing back group.
At last a wide stretch. the tank stop.
A camera comes out the trapdoor.
From it a arm comes out, holding a camera.
As a memento photo for my mum, I shot one hundred more of people.
I'm so astonished that i can't take a photo to the scene.
At last we turn around, and go back to Bethelem.
We inquire about wounded: they're seven; one of them, the girl, in operating room.
She was beside me.
The others have little hurts caused by splinters and pebble that have been thrown here and there by the bullets.
We turn towards the centre "Ibdaa" to communicate.

For us now the occupation is a more vivid reality. As for thousands of palestinians every day. As the war.

You can't just stay and look.

April, 01 2002
Bethelem
Palestina

Beit jala: bullets against the demo

The activists and pacifists demonstration who wanted to visit houses occupied by israeli army has been charged with rifle shots from IDF tanks.

At 3:00 p.m. italian activists from the National Committee in support of Intifada and from Indymedia Italia,
frech and swiss from GIPP, and internationals from International Solidarity Movement gathered in front of the Star Hotel to
start a small demo directed to Beit Jala to visit houses occupied by israeli army and to bring solidarity to the palestinian people.
Around 100 people headed for Beit Jala; the athmosphere in Bethelem was ominous.
Two bus from Action for Peace activists with a MP reaching us were stopped and this was a bad sign from IDF.
Following the sound of a Clarinet and of hands clapping we moved on a steep to Beit Jala village.
"Stop the Occupation", "Sharon you will see palestina will be free" the slogan chanted while climbing up.
We arrived at the point where two days ago we met the tanks and the road was empty.
We continued toward the houses with the snipers, in front of which we know the tanks are parked,
to try to bring solidarity to the palestinians isolated there.
At this point arrived a tank in front of us. In the gun-turret a soldier about 20-25 years old looked at us coldly.
He was cold as someone knowing what he has to do and that it is normal routine in his life.
Group spokepersons got closer to negotiate the possibility to fo further.

Immediately started the first burst one meter from their foot. They weren’t platic bullets.
They were real bullets. They hurt. People didn’t panic, they group and try to send the negotiators forth again.
Machine-gun burst gave no possible further discussion. We started to drew back slowly to avoid panic and
situations of more dangerous chaos. Shots got more and more frequent and near. I saw a shot hitting athe road at
10 cm from a man ankle. I saw shots hitting walls. I sae shots toward videocams and cameras. The tank moves forward.
The most of the people accelerated their pace while two rows drew back slowly.
Soldiers continued to shoot against us. Some of us remained blocked in a lateral alley behind a small gate, and despite
our claims we were obliged to let them escape into a house. A little bit later a shot reached the wall near me.
I felt a push over my sternum.

I think about it for a moment. I swear but I feel any pain, so I think it's alright.
I turn around and I see a girl going pale and turning, and she has fainted into M.'s arms.
Blood on her plush.
The hooter of ambulance.
On my opinion she will always be the first one who's been wounded.
i don't know if it really is.
I know that withdrawal relentless goes on for twenty slow minutes.
Little by little the tension loosens and we think just about when the tank at last will give up following us at a distance of two meters.
they will line the tanks at the same pace.

In a little lateral road a cameraman and a journalist try to go by car.
Soldiers don't agree e cover them with bursts under our powerless eyes, until they decide,
uninjured but terrorized, to go with the drawing back group.
At last a wide stretch. the tank stop.
A camera comes out the trapdoor.
From it a arm comes out, holding a camera.
As a memento photo for my mum, I shot one hundred more of people.
I'm so astonished that i can't take a photo to the scene.
At last we turn around, and go back to Bethelem.
We inquire about wounded: they're seven; one of them, the girl, in operating room.
She was beside me.
The others have little hurts caused by splinters and pebble that have been thrown here and there by the bullets.
We turn towards the centre "Ibdaa" to communicate.

For us now the occupation is a more vivid reality. As for thousands of palestinians every day. As the war.

You can't just stay and look.

April, 01 2002
Bethelem
Palestina

Beit jala: bullets against the demo

The activists and pacifists demonstration who wanted to visit houses
occupied by israeli army has been charged with rifle shots from IDF tanks.

At 3:00 p.m. italian activists from the National Committee in support of
Intifada and from Indymedia Italia,
frech and swiss from GIPP, and internationals from International Solidarity
Movement gathered in front of the Star Hotel to
start a small demo directed to Beit Jala to visit houses occupied by
israeli army and to bring solidarity to the palestinian people.
Around 100 people headed for Beit Jala; the athmosphere in Bethelem was
ominous.
Two bus from Action for Peace activists with a MP reaching us were stopped
and this was a bad sign from IDF.
Following the sound of a Clarinet and of hands clapping we moved on a steep
to Beit Jala village.
"Stop the Occupation", "Sharon you will see palestina will be free" the
slogan chanted while climbing up.
We arrived at the point where two days ago we met the tanks and the road
was empty.
We continued toward the houses with the snipers, in front of which we
know the tanks are parked,
to try to bring solidarity to the palestinians isolated there.
At this point arrived a tank in front of us. In the gun-turret a soldier
about 20-25 years old looked at us coldly.
He was cold as someone knowing what he has to do and that it is normal
routine in his life.
Group spokepersons got closer to negotiate the possibility to fo further.

Immediately started the first burst one meter from their foot. They weren't
platic bullets.
They were real bullets. They hurt. People didn't panic, they group and try
to send the negotiators forth again.
Machine-gun burst gave no possible further discussion. We started to drew
back slowly to avoid panic and
situations of more dangerous chaos. Shots got more and more frequent and
near. I saw a shot hitting athe road at
10 cm from a man ankle. I saw shots hitting walls. I sae shots toward
videocams and cameras. The tank moves forward.
The most of the people accelerated their pace while two rows drew back slowly.
Soldiers continued to shoot against us. Some of us remained blocked in a
lateral alley behind a small gate, and despite
our claims we were obliged to let them escape into a house. A little bit
later a shot reached the wall near me.
I felt a push over my sternum.

I think about it for a moment. I swear but I feel any pain, so I think it's
alright.
I turn around and I see a girl going pale and turning, and she has fainted
into M.'s arms.
Blood on her plush.
The hooter of ambulance.
On my opinion she will always be the first one who's been wounded.
i don't know if it really is.
I know that withdrawal relentless goes on for twenty slow minutes.
Little by little the tension loosens and we think just about when the tank
at last will give up following us at a distance of two meters.
they will line the tanks at the same pace.

In a little lateral road a cameraman and a journalist try to go by car.
Soldiers don't agree e cover them with bursts under our powerless eyes,
until they decide,
uninjured but terrorized, to go with the drawing back group.
At last a wide stretch. the tank stop.
A camera comes out the trapdoor.
From it a arm comes out, holding a camera.
As a memento photo for my mum, I shot one hundred more of people.
I'm so astonished that i can't take a photo to the scene.
At last we turn around, and go back to Bethelem.
We inquire about wounded: they're seven; one of them, the girl, in
operating room.
She was beside me.
The others have little hurts caused by splinters and pebble that have been
thrown here and there by the bullets.
We turn towards the centre "Ibdaa" to communicate.

For us now the occupation is a more vivid reality. As for thousands of
palestinians every day. As the war.

You can't just stay and look.

April, 01 2002
Bethelem
Palestina