Activists hold ‘day of rage’ protests against Prawer Plan

+972’s live blog follows November 30 ‘Day of Rage’ protests against the Prawer-Begin Plan, which if  implemented, will forcefully displace tens of thousands of Bedouin living in the Negev desert.

By Activestills, +972 Magazine staff

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Protesters against the Prawer Plan at Day of Rage protests outside the Negev town of Hura, November 30, 2013. (Photo: Activestills.org)

Bedouin, Palestinian and Israeli activists staged a ‘Day of Rage’ against the Prawer Plan Saturday afternoon, holding rallies and protests throughout Israel and Palestine, with international solidarity protests taking place in cities across the world.

The central protest took place outside the Bedouin town of Hura in the Negev desert. Over 1,000 Arab and Jewish protesters arrived from all over Israel, calling to stop the Prawer Plan, which if passed, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin, who are citizens of the state.

Read more about the Prawer-Begin Plan

Protesters were met by dozens of armored and mounted riot police who confined the protest in a barricaded area tens of meters back from the main road.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Both sides brought horses. Mounted riot police wearing body armor and transposed next to Bedouin boys on horses at the protest outside Hura in the Negev, November 30, 2013. (Photo: Activestills.org)
Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Children fly kites at the demonstration against the Prawer Plan during November 30th’s Day of Rage protest outside Hura in the Negev, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Activestills.org)
Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Protesters outside the town of Hura in the Negev, protesting against the Prawer Plan, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Activestills.org)

Younger protesters attempted to breach the police barricades but elder demonstrators, including several Arab members of Knesset, pleaded with them and for a while prevented them from doing so.

Clashes eventually broke out and police used tear gas, foul-smelling water cannons and mounted, undercover and uniformed riot police officers to disperse the crowd. As youth threw stones, riot police charged into the crowd, arresting at least 15 activists, including at least one child (will update as numbers come in). Clashes continued for some time as Bedouin youth blocked the main road with burning tractor tires.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Israeli Police arrest a protester outside the town of Hura in the Negev, where a large demonstration took place against the Prawer Plan, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Activestills.org)
Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Bedouin youth block the main road outside the Negev town of Hura, where a large demonstration took place against the Prawer Plan, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Activestills.org)
Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Bedouin youth burn a police trailer following clashes that ended a protest against the Prawer Plan in the Negev town of Hura, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Activestills.org)

UPDATE (7:40 p.m.): Police were reportedly using rubber-coated steel bullets to push the remaining protesters who were still blocking the main road back into the town of Hura, arresting four. Other protesters made their way to a Negev police station where they were demanding the release of those who were arrested.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Police arrest Bedouin youths as they pushed the remaining protesters back into the town of Hura. Youth had blocked the main road for hours after a protest against the Prawer Plan, November 30, 2013. (Photo: Activestills.org)

In the West Bank, several dozen protesters marched from Ramallah toward the encroaching settlement of Beit El. Settlement security officers fired live ammunition in the air and Israeli soldiers used tear gas to drive the protesters back toward the Jalazoun refugee camp. Three Palestinian protesters were arrested and reportedly beaten by the soldiers.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
An activist is arrested by Israeli forces during a Day Of Rage protest against the Prawer-Begin Plan in front of the Israeli settlement Beit El, Al Jalazun, West Bank, November 30, 2013. (Photo: Activestills.org)

In the Gaza Strip, roughly 100 people gathered in Palestine Square (al-Saha) to protest the plan to displace Bedouin in the adjacent Negev desert.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Isra Almodallal, spokeswoman for the Palestinian government in Gaza, addresses a rally in Palestine Square (al-Saha), Gaza City, November 30, 2013. The event is part of a global “Day of Rage” against the Prawer-Begin Plan. (Photo: Joe Catron)

Elsewhere, solidarity protests took place in Berlin, London, Rome, Istanbul and Belgium.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Activists stage a bicycle protest in the center of Brussels, Belgium, as part of a global Day of Rage against the Prawer Plan, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)

Protests in Haifa and Jerusalem began at around 4:30 p.m. local time. Around 100 people gathered at Herod’s Gate (Bab a-Zahara), where Israeli border police awaited them.

Update (8 p.m.): Police reported that 15 people were arrested in Haifa and that a police officer was stabbed and lightly wounded.

Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Police deploy a water canon against anti-Prawer Plan protesters in Haifa, November 30, 2013. (Photo: Keren Manor/Activestills.org)
Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Activists demonstrate against the Prawer Plan at Herod’s Gate in East Jerusalem, November 30, 2013. The Prawer Plan, if implemented, will displace tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens of Israel. (Photo: Activestills.org)
Activists hold 'day of rage' protests against Prawer Plan
Activists are blocked by Israeli police during a Day Of Rage protest against the Prawer-Begin Plan, Bab A-Zahara (Herod’s Gate), East Jerusalem November 30, 2013.

Update (9:20 p.m.): Dozens gather at Jaffa’s Clock Tower to protest against the arrests of demonstrators across the country. Approximately 30 demonstrators were arrested in the Negev protest, all of whom are still in police custody. The three Palestinians arrested in the Ramallah demonstration have been released.