Photo Essay: All That’s Left Activists stand and march with Susiya
Yuval Orr, one of the 12 All That’s Left members who joined Ta’ayush in the South Hebron Hills this weekendEmily Schaeffer Omer Man, Kayla Rothman-Zecher and Karen Isaacs were there alsoAnd, of course, so were a few other folksSoon after arrived, we were escorted by a rowdy bunch of kids towards Wadi AlaraisThere, the usual scene, in the shadow of the settlement of Mizpeh Yair, was as odd as alwaysWe learned more from Ta’ayush’s Amiel Vardi about the nearby ”918 Firing Zone”And then everyone began to leave, Palestinians first, with the soldiers following. There would be no farming today.From there, we made our way to Susiya, where residents had invited supporters to take action, at 12:00 noon, against the recently renewed threat of demolition of their village“Welcome to the village of Susiya.”The first part of the action was renewing the messages on the tents, including a quote from Mahmoud Darwish: “On this land, there is that which deserves life.” And more direct messages, too: ”Save Susiya.”This struggle is not new to Susiya. That does not make it any less heartbreaking.The people of Susiya then began to march, holding Palestinian flags.They were joined by supporters from all over the West Bank (and elsewhere) Among the marchers was Abdallah Abu Rahmeh, a well-knonw leader of the popular struggle in Bil’in (pictured talking with Emily Schaeffer Omer Man)The march then reached the street, upon which someone had sprayed this precise, humane and just demand.There are no street signs in the occupied West Bank for most Palestinian villages. On the rocks near the street, someone sprayed, in Arabic, “Susiya.”The march headed towards the Archeological Site of Susiya’s Ancient Synagogue, from which the current Susiya’s residents had been expelled in 1986, and are now barred from enteringArmy jeeps quickly arrived on the sceneBut they were initially blocked from moving by the group’s nonviolent direct actionMeanwhile, marchers managed to hang Palestinian flags on the gated entrance to the the old Susiya.The army then sent its “skunk water” cannonBut the marchers, having accomplished what they’d set out to do — declare their presence, and their intention to stay in their village — began to disperse, and no one was sprayed.Threats, intimidation, courage, steadfastness, heat: Another day in the village of Susiya.