the book of ACTIVISM 2006, April 26th Evacuation In April of 2006, the Israeli army evacuated a military camp strategically located on the highest hill at the southern entrance to the Palestinian city of Beit Sahour, part of the region of Bethlehem. The evacuation was itself a violent operation, at night dozens of tanks rolled into the town and in the morning the base was found empty. 2006, April 27th The morning after The morning after the military left Palestinians destroyed the space and carried out as many remnants of building materials they could use and carry. This destruction is a spontaneous architectural moment of re-appropriation, and as such we believe that it should not be prevented or controlled. It is only after the indeterminate result of this moment of first encounter, and within the possible rubble of its physical results, that architectural construction may begin. This moment of first access questions the conception of architecture and urban planning. The military history of the hill precedes the occupation. It was initially the site of a police station built by the British Mandatory forces during the Arab revolt of 1936-39. After 1948 it became a military base for the Jordan Legion, and after 1967 it become an Israeli military base. As part of the 1993 Oslo Accords, an agreement was signed between the municipality of Beit Sahour and the central government of Yasser Arafat, guaranteeing that in case of Israeli evacuation, the fortress would no longer be used as a military or police point, but instead handed over to the municipality for public use. 2008, May 15th Revolving Door Occupations On the occasion of Nakba Day, forty settlers proclaim the establishment a new Jewish settlement named ‘Shdema’ at Oush Grab.Israeli soldiers are mobilized to “protect the settlers”. Since its evacuation, the remains of the fortress are at the cen- tre of direct political action. In May 2008 hard-line religious settlers sought to use the emptied buildings as the centre for a new civilian outpost. Outposts – which are nucleuses for suburbs/cities are usually gathered around knots of existing infrastructure. Oush Grab. The site of Oush Grab is important to allow for the Shdema. The settlers seek to establish a settlement named eastwards expansion of Bethlehem and transport links with the Shdema in place of the evacuated military base in Oush Grab. surrounding areas. The Bethlehem region is strangulated from the This is aimed to block the eastwards expansion of Bethlehem. Oushnor Grabth-wes is importantt by the tow allallow, fr omfor thesouth-wes eastwardst expansionby the bypass road N.60. Another stTherategic main r easonreasons fwhyor the settlers establishme want to establishnt of a ansettleme outpost nt ofThe Bethlehem only a andvailable transport dir elinksction with for the the surrounding city to g rareas.ow is eastwards via Oush outpost thetherere is is to to ccompleteomplete a stringa string of settlements of settleme fromn tsGush from Etzion The Bethlehem region is strangulated from the north-west by Gush Etzionto toHar Har Homa/Jerusalem Homa/Jerusalem and to protectand to the pr otenew c‘settlert the only’ theGr wall,ab. Ac fromco rsouth-westding to an by agther eemebypassn roadt between N.60. the local municipality bypass road. Theand only Ar aavailablefat, if e vdirectioner evacu fora tedthe city(as toit wgrowas) ,is the eastwards military base of Oush new ‘settlerThis only is aimed’ bypass to block road. the eastwards expansion of Bethlehem. via Oush Grab. Oush Grab is at present one of the only open publicGrab spaces would in thebe usedBethlehem for civilianarea. purposes rather than as a Palestinian base. Oush Grab is at present one of the only open public spaces in the Bethlehem area. Area A: Area under Palestinian security and civil control Area B: Palestinian civil control, Israeli military control Area C: Full Israeli control 2008, May 23th The settlers believe that the location of the fortress and the earth rampart surrounding it, would lend themselves to constructing an environment that will suits their regimented and securitized way of life. 2008, June 6th Although the military declared the summit as a closed zone, nearly every week settlers came back to occupy the fortress, Bingo held meetings and religious lessons within the buildings, repair them and raise the Israeli flag over the partially collapsed water tower at the heart of the former base. Palestinian and international activists, including members of our office, also occupy the site and confront the settlers. When about ten people arrive for a (the Paidia Educational) Games Day at Oush Grab, forty setlers are already up on the hill. The military watchtower on top of the hill was turned into the till by activists and Palestinians. While participants were playing Bingo three soldiers arrived. The Israeli soldiers seemed highly confused and uncomfortable with reporting a bingo game to their commander. Graffiti Battle Competing graffiti, written by one side and then obliterated by the other, and then again, testifies the “revolving door” occupation. 2008, June 11th Settlers take the hilltop while Palestinians and Internationals are prohibited from moving up. 2008, June 13th The Oush Grab Grand Tour Four NGO’s and the local Palestinian Municipality organized the Oush Grab Grand Tour in order to inform people about the area, its history, importance and purpose. After serveral introductory talks the group moved on to tour the area, see the old military structures and meanwhile make an alternative tour path with materials from the environment. 2008, July 14th Festival A ‘loud’ party is organized in order to disturb the settlers occupying the site. 2008, July 20-22nd Small groups of settlers scout the hilltop. 2008, July 25th Settlers move up the hill, Internationals are removed and press is not allowed. 2008, July 30th While some Palestinians are painting the new ‘Oush Grab Mall’, a group of settlers move up the hill. 2008, July 31th Two busloads of settlers arrive at Oush Grab. 2008, August 5th A lecture about the water issue in Palestine is given to the AIC’s Women’s Group. 2008, August 6th Prayer A prayer session of different Confessions is held by Palestinians and Internationals. 2008, August 6th During the praying a hundred settlers had arrived, the Israeli flag was histed on the cistern,and they set out to start their lectures, while children were spraying graffiti and waiving the Israeli and settler flags. Settlers and Soldiers physically pushed the participants out, a number of us were hit by stones, were spit in the face and the priest was actually dragged over the ground by a settler while he was still praying. 2008, August 15-16th Summer Carnaval Paidia Summer Carnaval is celebrated at the Public Park. 2008, August 22nd Settlers arrive at Oush Grab and are forcefully evacuated from the site by the army. 2008, August 27th Members of the Knesset visit Oush Grab. 2008, September 9th Inauguration Oush Grab Public Park by Palestenian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. 2008, October 16th Settlers storm Oush Grab Dozens of Israeli colonists, some of which armed, storm the Oush Grab, while Palestinians and Internationals are organizing a hike with bird-watching (Palestine Wildlife Society), music festivities and athletics. Israeli police detain six people including four international human rights activists and two Palestinian. Prime Minister inaugurated the Oush Grab Public Park. On tuesday 9th november 2008 the Prime Minister Salam Fayyad came down to the site of the newly built Public Park at Oush Grab to inaugurate it. Please follow this link to read the Maan News Agency coverage of the inauguration. [from Oush Grab Diary] A new public park. The area of the tank ramparts has been converted into a public park. Upon gaining control of the site, the municipality developed a master plan that marked the hill with a set of public functions: a hospital, a park, a restaurant, and a garden. A small park has already been constructed on one of the hill slopes. In recent months, however, Oush Ghrab has been quieter. The Will the settlers be emboldened by a rightwing Israeli government winter slowed things down, and local activists also decided to offering tacit support? Or will Netanyahu’s cabinet prefer to give the municipality some time to pursue a more “official” focus on home demolitions in Jerusalem and developing E1? track with the Israeli authorities. One thing is for sure: on the ground resistance can only work in tandem with the kind of international pressure on Israel The hard reality for the Palestinians of Beit Sahour is that, that is still a distant prospect. alone, they are unable to resist the theft of their land, should the Israeli government support the settlers’ initiative. Ultimately, no one in Beit Sahour can tell what the future will hold for Oush Ghrab. ACTIVISM Sandi Hilal, Alessandro Petti, Eyal Weizman Editor: Tashy Endres Book Design: Diego Segatto (OpenQuadra) Images: Active Stills, International Middle East Media Center, Francesco Mattuzzi Architecture: Mario Abruzzese, Jiries Boullata, Sara Pellegrini, Francesca Vargiu www.decolonizing.ps printed and manufactured by Grafiche dell'Artiere, Bologna - Italy - www.graficartiere.com.