Irish activist arrested and injured at anti-CRH protest in West Bank village

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Friday April 30, 2010 16:46

by Kev - IPSC

info at ipsc dot ie

Irish activist and documentarian Tommy Donnelan, 63, was this afternoon wounded and detained for two hours by the Israeli Military in the West Bank.

CRH placards lead the demo

While filming a non-violent protest against the role of Irish cement multinational CRH in building Israel's apartheid wall in the village of Bil'in, Mr. Donnellan was rushed by an Israeli snatch-squad of 4 or 5 soldiers. His throat and shirt were grabbed, his gas mask was torn off, and after being wrestled to the ground he was arrested. During the arrest he sustained a 3 inch gash to his right leg and was bleeding hevaily from his left ear, from which a piece was torn off. About two hours later he was released without charge.

Speaking after his release, Mr. Donnellan stated: "Thank the Lord I'm ok now. I've lost a chunk of my ear - but not my dignity. I was plainly in the role of journalist, videoing the proceedings, I should not have been arrested, especially in such a violent manner."

Mr. Donnellan continued: "This is yet another example of the impunity and inhumanity with which the Israli occupation forces operate on a daily basis. It is also shines an unflattering light of the shameful activities of the Irish cement company CRH, who are directly involved in the building of this monstrous wall and thus complicit in what happened to me today, and in the regular human rights abuses - including murder of anti-Wall activists - by the Israeli military in Bil'in and elsewhere."

Every Friday afternoon residents of the West Bank village of bil'in, along with Israeli and International activists stage a non-violent protest against the construction of the Wall on their land.

Today's demonsration focused on the role CRH plays in the building of the Wall - CRH owns 25% of Israel's sole cement company, (Mashav) Nesher Cement. Palestinians led the demonstration - carring placards calling on CRH to divest from its Israeli cement subsidiary - to the spot where 31-year-old Bil'in resident Bassem Abu Rahmah was killed by the Israeli military last year.

At this spot, Mr. Iyad Burnat, coordinator of the Bil'in Popular Committee, addressed CRH dirctely saying "You are complicit in the murder and killing of my friend Bassem, and all the other non-violent activists that have been killed and injured for resisting this horrendous wall. CRH is directly implictict. I, as a Palestinian, am asking the Irish people to join the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and get involved in the divestment campaign against CRH. This complicity must end."

This year the CRH Annual General Meeting starts at 11am Wednesday May 5th, in the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road in Dun Laoghaire. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) is organising a protest outside. We will be assembling at at 10.15am at the Catholic church plaza.

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Comments (10 of 10)

Solidarity with Tommy

by FSB!

Fri Apr 30, 2010 18:23

Tommy, sorry to hear that the Israeli Attack Forces have hurt you. I treasure the memories of working with you covering the defeat of the Solitaire/Shell at Glengad back in Aug/Sept 2008. I didn't doubt your courage or compassion then, and I cannot doubt it now as once again you offer proof of your passion for standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories. You have done great work on this side of the world keeping the sufferings of Palestine and its people in public view, and I admire what you've done in covering the ongoing protests in the West Bank. Keep doing what you're doing out there, don't let the bullies win, send my love and solidarity to your brave beleaguered hosts, and I'll hopefully catch up with you when you get back to Ireland.

Salud Tommy!

CRH to blame

by Sean Clinton

Fri Apr 30, 2010 18:54

Irish company Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH ), the subject of the protest which Tommy was documenting, continues to supply cement to the regime in occupied Palestine for the construction of the separation wall deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice. CRH’s profiteering from apartheid is placing Irish citizens, international observers and Palestinians in jeopardy as they peacefully protest to highlight its complicity with the Zionist regime in the theft of Palestinian land and water resources and creation of walled-off ghettos for the containment of Palestinians .

Trade Unions and others should call on pension and fund managers to divest from CRH immediately. Individuals should contact their pension manager to demand that their pension is not invested in CRH. CRH could yet be forced to pay reparations to those who’s property and livelihoods have been damaged by the construction of the apartheid wall on Palestinian land.

Well done Tommy, your still standing tall despite thier efforts to silence you.

Beir bua Tommy

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League

Fri Apr 30, 2010 19:56

This news is despicable and is oh so typical of global corporate behaviour - to which greedy gombeens in Ireland tripped over each other to subscribe - where they'd take a lump out of their Granny's ear to add the ha'pence to the greasy pence.

Will be on to Israeli embassy and CRH corporate HQ on Tuesday (Mon. Bank Holiday).

Marbhfáisc orthu agus bail ó Dhia go deo ort Tommy.

We salute you comrade - Naoise, Maura et al. X

by Conor. M

Sat May 01, 2010 02:04

I'm sorry to hear about this, but I suppose its just a daily dose of reality for the Palestinians.

I hope the CRH divestment demo went well in Dublin today, I really wish I could have made it. Solidarity to all those in the occupied land doing the undoubtedly important job of observation and documentation. Your all an inspiration to me and fill me with a passion of rage and love. I look forward to eventually making my way to Palestine.

Justice for Palestine

Long live your non-violent struggle

by Justin Morahan

Sat May 01, 2010 13:44

Tommy your total commitment to human rights for Palestinians and others is like a light shining in a very, very dark world. Your courage and non-violence have inspired fear in the hypocritical Netanyahu government and among its lackeys. Outrage is not strong enough a word to express the feelings of those who know you and who admire your unselfish honourable stand in protesting the horrific wrongdoings which the State of Israel perpetrates day in, day out, while they lie to the world about their "wish for peace with the Palestinians". Your courage is remarkable. Knowing as you do of the weekly barbarism that is visited by the same State on non-violent demonstrators and journalists like you at the Bil'in wall, you have still gone there regularly, telling the world through your camera of the evil that is happening in Bil'in and throughout Palestine.

The wall where you were assaulted and injured is the same where you friend, non-violent activist Bassem Abu Rahma was murdered two years ago. It is the Wall at which they downed Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire with a rubber bullet in April 2007, where many hundreds of non-violent Palestinians, Israelis and international human rights activists have been shot, gassed, wounded, covered with foul smelling fluid by soldiers who are under the command of one of the most immoral armies in the world. It is where, only last week, Imad Rizka was shot in the forehead, his forehead was shattered and needed replacement surgery (You did did an interview with him and Anat Sagy near the end of the week). On the day you yourself were assaulted wih violence by Israel, and during the same protest, a female journalist was arrested, two Al-Jazeera cameramen were taken from their car and arrested, a girl was struck from behind by a tear-gas canister, a photographer, Haitham al-Khatib, was hit in his stomach by another canister,

The actions of Israel do not stand up to international reportage and scrutiny. They know that and are afraid.

The Israeli propaganda machine is busy around the world. Their Ambassador here never misses a chance to lie and cover up the real face of Israel. The pictures and reports from the West Bank are a powerful antidote to the lies and cover up. If the USA stop the immoral funding for Israeli arms, Israel will have to make peace with all of the Palestinians. George Mitchell, Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama will have to visit Gaza, talk to Hamas and Fatah, restore to Palestine the democracy that was stolen from that land when they elected the Hamas party to power after which Israel vetoed the election within the hour and the US, EU and all the other lap-dog "powers" wagged their tails and shamefully fell into line. Then came the holocaust of Gaza.

Irish people can hang their heads in shame because of the complicity of an Irish Company, Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) in the Israeli destruction of Palestine and Palestinians. You and your companions should hold your heads high because of your non-violent protests. These non-violent protests will eventually succeed where so-called Peace Summits have always failed. Gandhi did it and so will you.

Tommy, we all wish you quick healing, and tender loving care as we do to all who have have suffered on because of their stand for human rights and dignity for the Palestinians, be they Palestinian, Israeli or international. Thanks for all your heroic work in Palestine.

http://info-wars.org/2010/05/01/irish-activist-arrested...lage/