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Hebron: Open Shuhada Street!

Palestine Monitor

27 February 2010

On Thursday morning over 250 Palestinian protesters, joined by dozens of Israeli and international activists, braved foul weather conditions to demonstrate in Hebron against the closure of Ash’Shuhada, the street which, since Baruch Goldstein’s massacre of 29 worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque in 1994 has been progressively “sterilised” by closing it off to all forms of Palestinian movement.

Protest in Hebron February 25, 2010 from Open Shuhada Street on Vimeo.

The rally also marked the fourth day of confrontations between Palestinians and the Israeli Army, erupted following Netanyahu’s decision to add Ibrahimi Mosque to a list of national heritage sites. Since Monday, Israeli forces have increased deployment in Hebron’s old City and around the Mosque. On Thursday early morning some internationals were denied to enter the city from the main check-point, and all the area was declared “closed military zone”.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, participated in Thursday prayers at Ibrahimi mosque, as an act of solidarity with the city and its residents, on the day of the anniversary of Goldstein’s massacre. Deploring the act as provocative and aggressive, Barghouti stated "the Israeli decision to consider Ibrahimi Mosque (in Hebron) and Rachel’s Tomb (in Bethlehem) as Israeli heritage sites is unacceptable."

: Photo: Brady Ng

Protesters marched from Hebron’s municipality to Ash’ Shuhada, holding flags and posters, chanting slogans for the re-opening of the street, which before 1994 was the former sight of the fruit market.

: Photo: Brady Ng

As the protestors arrived at the southern entrance of Al Shuhada Street, Israeli Army fired sound grenades and tear gas canisters, dispersing the crowd. A few elderly protesters fainted and were evacuated by ambulance. Dozens were treated for teargas inhalation. Organisers reported 5 Palestinians were hospitalised.

: Photo: Brady Ng

For a Shuhada Street Timeline, visit http://openshuhadastreet.org/


Shuhada Street in the 1990s.: Photo by B’Tselem


Shuhada Street now. Note the settler graffiti on the closed Palestinian shops.: Photo by B’Tselem

Street in Tel Aviv blocked and Transformed into Shuhada

The residents of Tel Aviv have nothing to fear, armed soldiers will not prevent their movement, and their "Shuhada Street" will not be closed for years. This is not so for the Palestinian residents of Hebron.


Open Shuhada demonstration in Tel Aviv: Photo by Marc Edelman

On Thursday 25, some Israeli peace activists organised a protest in Tel Aviv, supporting the campaign for the reopening of Shuhada Street to Palestinians.

This was one of 25 protests around the world, from Cape Town to Berlin to Sydney to New York, on this international day of action to call for re-opening Shuhada Street.