The Demonstration in Kufr Al-Dik Against Land Confiscation 03.02.2012

Translation: Bracha B.A.

The demonstration began at 12:30 after the noon prayers as planned.  We proceeded from the town hall towards the main road where there used to be a checkpoint two years ago.  There are still concrete blocks standing at the site on both sides of the road ready for future orders.  

The marchers walked waving flags to the site where soldiers were standing.  There were cars blocking the road and the soldiers stood next to the demonstrators almost close enough to touch them but did not threaten.  There were no weapons pointed at the crowd, but there were numerous cameras taking pictures.  The soldiers and demonstrators stood facing each other – the demonstrators shouting and the soldiers watching quietly.  No one threw rocks or gas grenades.    
The demonstration ended and we returned to the village.  From the town hall the marchers moved towards the road that leads to the settlement of Bruchin.  We did not continue there, but drove in my car to the entrance to the village where we stopped.  There was one soldier there and we passed on without any problem, but on the main road we saw smoke rising from gas grenades that were thrown at the demonstrators who had evidently thrown rocks.  There were army vehicles parked along the road, and we saw one particularly brave soldier walking down the road with his weapon.
In the evening Hassan told me that he was very angry at the people who had thrown rocks, and would threaten them in any way possible not to do so next week, since he wants a non-violent demonstration.  He also said that they had reinstalled the checkpoint and that the village was closed.  Today I called to see if anything had changed, but I was told that the checkpoint was still in place, the village was still closed, and the only way to enter the village was through Bruqin.