Introducing: A new regular feature from the Activestills photography collective. Each week, we will bring you a selection of our most compelling images from movements for political and social change throughout Palestine and Israel.
A Palestinian shepherd from the Palestinian village of Um Faqara after he was forced by the Israeli army to leave lands near the illegal settlement of Avigai located in South Hebron Hills, August 11, 2012. Um Faqara is one of 12 Palestinian traditional villages located in “Firing zone 918” and is slated for demolition. The area designated by the Israeli army as “Firing Zone 918” is located in the South Hebron Hills near the town of Yatta. Spread over 30,000 dunams, it includes 12 Palestinian villages, or hamlets: Tuba, Mufaqara, Sfai, Majaz, Tabban, Fakheit, Megheir Al-Abeid, Halaweh, Mirkez, Jinba, Kharuba and Sarura. According to OCHA figures, 1,622 people lived in the area in 2010, and according to local residents the number of inhabitants currently stands at about 1,800. (Photo: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Sign reading: “Bibi and Ehud: Leave the explosions and effects to real super heroes, Go home!” Israelis protest in front of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s house in central Tel Aviv against an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear installations, August 12, 2012. (Photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli activists take part in a solidarity protest for the jailed members of the Russian all-female band “Pussy Riot” in central Tel Aviv, August 11, 2012. The band’s trial resumed on August 6 with sentencing expected as early as this week. The three young women face up to seven years in prison for performing a one-minute “punk prayer” before the altar of Moscow’s biggest cathedral, denouncing the Russian Orthodox Church’s backing of Putin and calling on the Virgin Marry to “throw Putin out!” (Photo: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org)
A member of the Samara family showing the demolition order for his trailer home in Beit Hanina, issued three days earlier by the Jerusalem municipality, seen on August 11, 2012. After their house was demolished, the Samara family was given a trailer home to live in by OCHA (the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). Now the municipality has issued a new demolition order, giving the family 30 days to file an appeal, whose failure will make them homeless for a second time by September 30. A second UN trailer home situated a few hundreds meters away, housing another homeless family, faces the same situation. (Photo: JC/Activestills.org)
Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem are seen from the top of Ma’ale Adumim settlement, one of the West Bank’s largest settlements and a central element of the series of Israeli settlements built around East Jerusalem, which cut the city off from the West Bank and any possible future Palestinian state. The wooded area on the right is part of E1, a large area east of Jerusalem, designated for Israeli settlements. Once completed, it will in effect cut the West Bank into two parts. In the foreground is an artificial lake built for Ma’ale Adumim’s settlers to swim in, a costly endeavor in what is essentially a desert area and a striking example of inequality – while most Palestinian residents of Jerusalem have their water supply restricted to a few hours a day, Israeli settlements like Ma’ale Adumim have swimming pools, watered lawns and even an artificial lake. All such Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory are considered illegal under international law. (Photo: JC/Activestills.org)
The wall as it is seen in the residential neighborhood of Ras al-Amud, dividing it from Abu Dis, August 11, 2012. prior to the construction of the wall, this was one of the city’s busiest roads. Behind the minaret is Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem’s best-known and largest institute of higher education. (Photo: JC/Activestills.org)
Palestinians together with Israeli and international activists participate in the weekly demonstration against the occupation and the wall, in the West Bank village of Bil’in, August 10, 2012. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Israeli settlers are seen behind the Separation Wall watching the weekly demonstration against the occupation in Bil’in on August 10, 2012. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
An Israeli border policewoman turns an elderly Palestinian away as thousands of Palestinians try to make their way to Bethlehem checkpoint into Jerusalem to attend the Ramadan Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, August 10, 2012. (Photo: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Palestinians try to make their way to Bethlehem checkpoint into Jerusalem to attend the Ramadan Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, August 10, 2012. Thousands of men and women arrive at the Bethlehem checkpoint at around 5am, hoping to cross through. They are subjected to humiliating and scrutinizing checks and questioning before permission may be given, some waiting for hours under the scorching sun. (Photo by: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Palestinians demonstrate in the old city of the West Bank city of Nablus in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners still on hunger strike; Samer Barq, Hassan Safadi, Ayman Sharawna and Raed Jamal. August 09, 2012. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Activestills is a collective of Israeli, international and Palestinian photographers, united by a conviction that photography is a vehicle for political and social change. To stay updated on our latest images, like Activestills on Facebook or follow @activestills on Twitter. You can also visit our flickr photostream.
