Israelis Release Bethlehem Professor After Arrest

Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh is safe after another arrest by heavy-handed Israeli forces.

Top: Mustaffa arrested by soldiers, bottom: Mazin being arrested by several members of the IOF.

(BETHLEHEM) - We reported earlier that Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh had been arrested for running a video camera at Al-Walaja, again, where Israeli forces were using explosives near family homes in order to further the construction of Israel's apartheid wall.

Remember as you consider this story, that Israel bills itself as a 'democracy' when in fact, it may be the farthest thing from one. The same holds true for any government that inflicts injury and brutally arrests people simply for speaking out, or using a camera to document state terrorism inflicted on unarmed, peaceful crowds.

Bear in mind that Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh is a professor currently in Bethlehem, who has spent many years living in the U.S. where he taught at both Duke and Yale Universities. The respect he should always be afforded is not maintained by Israeli occupational forces who are indeed familiar with this gentleman.

The following is from Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh:

“

I was finally released. Israeli soldiers abducted me while filming an attack on villagers of Al-Walaja. The attack started with dynamiting their village lands near their houses, a process that already shook and cracked houses and injured some residents before. (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCDNg_ScDtU). The villagers were speaking with soldiers demanding paperwork and telling them that court cases are pending and to stop blowing up their lands. Instead the soldiers arrogantly pushed and shoved and as they tried to arrest one young man, a group of Israeli soldiers and native Palestinians fell off the side of the bulldozed area of the route of the apartheid wall. Outside of camera views, Mustafa was beaten repeatedly in the car (I was hit twice) by a mean young Israeli soldier who said he hated Arabs. The video we have of our abduction is at and still pictures can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/activestills and here: http://chroniquespalestine.blogspot.com/

”

After the US government (under the Yolk of the Israel lobby) cut funding for UNESCO, people of the world and other governments should step up to the plate and donate to this institution. You can do so here: http://www.unesco.org/donate/. Or mail your donation in US dollars or Euro checks to: UNESCO, Treasurer - BOC/TRS - 7 place de Fontenoy - 75352 PARIS 07 SP - France

Letter to Mr. Carl Bildt, Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister by Majed Abusalama (23 y.o. young man from Jabalia Refugee Camp) http://www.facebook.com/notes/majed-abusalama/letter-to-mr-carl-bildt-swedish-foreign-affairs-minister/10150383295939435

The Lesser of Two Evils - The Catholic Monastery of Cremisan Chooses Not to Support Villagers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YV3s0_I3Tk

This is not the first time Mazin has been arrested for participating in peace protests in occupied Palestine, or in this case, for documenting what is taking place. We have in fact reported a number of prior arrests:

Nov-13-2011: Israeli Soldiers Arrest Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh for Recording Video - Salem-News.com

May-17-2011: Is Israel Waging a Military Assault on Intellectuals? - Tim King Salem-News.com

May-15-2011: Demand the Release of Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh and Others - Salem-News.com

Dec-22-2010: Israelis Arrest Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh and Others Again During Peaceful Protest - J. Qumsiyeh for Salem-News.com

Jun-11-2010: Israeli Forces Release Distinguished Educator Under Threat of Future Harm - Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh Salem-News.com

Jun-09-2010 Salem-News.com Writer Arrested After Protest Near Bethlehem - Tim King Salem-News.com

May-09-2010: Israeli Occupation Forces Arrest Former Yale Professor - Mazin Qumsiyeh for Salem-News.com

Mar-02-2010: Israel Does Not Give Peace a Chance - Tim King Salem-News.com

End Israel's Unwarranted Murder of Kids