During this week's Friday demonstrations dozens have suffered tear-gas inhalation. In Bil'in, Iyad Burnat, the head of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, was directly hit in his hand by a tear-gas canister, which caused major burns. In An Nabi Salih, the border police deliberately targeted a house close to the road and shot at least one tear gas canister into the house causing about 20 people to be trapped inside without the ability to escape the gas.

Four weekly demonstrations were held this Friday, January 22, 2010 – in the face of an orchestrated campaign by the Israeli Police, Military & Prosecution. Dozens of Palestinians were arrested in night raids during the last week, while in Eastern Jerusalem the Police retains its policy of arresting around 20 demonstrators each week.

Demonstration in Nabi-Saleh, January 22, 2010

After a week of night-time raids into villages and activists' houses throughout the West Bank, with many leaders of the popular struggle arrested and others threatened, Friday demonstrations took place in Bil'in, Ma'asara, Ni'ilin, Sheikh Jarrah and An Nabi Saleh. Army and police brutality continues to rise, and demonstrators have been beaten, shot and arrested. The struggle continues.

While in the village of Maasara soldiers stormed into the main street with loaded guns, throwing stun grenades all over the place and into people's yards, around 120 residents of An Nabi Saleh joined Israeli  and international activcists in a non-violent demonstration during which the Israeli military fired dozens canisters of teargas, as well as rubber steel coated bullets and live ammunition at the un-armed demonstrators. More than 20 residents of the village were injured as a result, including three who were hospitalized.

Palestine welcomed the first day of the new decade with four weekly demonstrations - in Bil'in, Maasara, Ni'ilin & Sheikh Jarah.

Bil'in Weekly Demonstration, January 1 2010

Launching a one week long international campaign against the siege on Gaza, on the occasion of the first anniversary to Israel's war on Gaza, 500 Palestinian and Jewish demonstrators marched the streets of Jaffa Saturday night. On the very next morning, Sunday, 25 Israeli activists tried to directly breech the siege by marching south towards the Gaza Strip on the Israeli beach of Zikim. 16 were arrested.

Later in the week, a small demonstration of Be'er Sheva University students was opressed by the police, while Jerusalem and Haifa universities cenceledthe memroial events planned on their grounds. On Thursday, more than a thousand demonstrated at Erez checkpoint, parallel to demonstrations in Gaza and all over the world.

The week culminated in a march and rally in Tel Aviv, on Saturday, the 2nd of January. Our struggle continues.