A 2AM pre-dawn raid was held today in the village of Al-Ma'sara, south of Bethlehem, in an attempt to intimidate demonstrators. Soldiers forced popular committee member Mahamad Brijia out of his home and held him outside as they searched through it, throwing personal belongings on the ground. Soldiers then threatened him and other members of the Popular Committee with arrest in the event that they organize or attend demonstrations in the village.

As with every Friday since November 2006, residents of alMaasara gathered to march to the construction site of the Wall in an attempt to reach land slated for confiscation by the Wall. This week, however, was marked by an escalation of violence in the attempt to intimidate and stop the popular resistance. As dozens of community members attempted to exit the village, the Israeli military blocked the road to ward off demonstrators, and soldiers positioned on roof tops opened fire with tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades. Demonstrators were chased by Israeli soldiers through the streets of Al-Ma'sara as they attempted to avoid the heavily armed soldiers who invaded the village.

Village residents and popular committee members assert their right to access their land under international law. They plan to continue demonstrations until full access to village land is granted and holy sites are respected. This week's demonstration, like demonstrations across the west bank and internationally, was held against Netanyahu's announcement of the inclusion the Cave of the Patriarchs in Occupied Hebron as a Jewish Tradition Site.