Tel Aviv, Israel: The separation fence arrived at Bazel/Bin Nun intersection

As most of the Tel Aviv inhabitants ignore the separation fence that pass in the West of the Palestinian areas - robbing additional lands in the name of "security, we decided to bring them the flavor of it. As the original site was found to be infested by undercover detectives, the original point in the Shenkin street at down town was replaced with Bazel/Bin Nun intersection (not far from the Egyptian embassy). At noon, after aborted action in the original point about 15 activists of the Anarchists Against The Wall initiative regrouped to the new location. At the alternative time and place (not far from the police station), two spools of barbed wire were stretched and chained to poles of road signs on the two sides of the street - blocking the traffic. warning signs confiscated from the separation fence at Bil'in were hanged on the new fence.

Lot of leaflets were put around the new fence reminding people about occupation and harassment of the Palestinians only 23 kilometers to the East (the road blocks and the fence are significant part in it). After few minutes, one of the drivers trapped in the road block cut the barbed wire spool from one of the poles and dragged it to the other pole - enable the travel. It took about 30 minutes till two policeman on a motor bikes to arrive at the site and some time more to remove the barbed wire spools and the warning signs.

Ilan S.
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Tel Aviv's center blocked by the wall 28/12/2006
http://www.awalls.org/tel_avivs_center_blocked_by_the_wall
(Anarchists against the wall web site)
Basel Street, one of Tel Aviv's hippest coffee shop centers, was blocked by 20 anarchists, using razor wire from the wall itself today at around 14:00.

Activist using Razor Wire from the wall to block Basel Street in Downtown Tel AvivActivists using razor wire from the wall to block Basel Street in downtown Tel Aviv

The two rolls of razor wire were stretched across the street parallel to each other, in a formation reminding that of the wall, and red signs reading: “Mortal Danger-Military Zone. Any person who passes or damages the fence endangers his life”, also from the wall itself, were hanged on it. Flyers explaining Israel's policy of restrictions on movement land-grab were passed around.

A Sign from the West Bank wall decorating the Tell Aviv blockadeA Sign from the West Bank wall decorating the Tell Aviv blockade

The action was carried to remind Tel Aviv's caf(c) goers of everyday hardships of Palestinians, resulting from Israel's apartheid policies and conduct in the Occupied Territories, and from the occupation itself. The activists urged Israelis to take responsibility of what is being done in their names, and force an end to Israeli occupation.

The Basel Street blockadeThe Basel Street blockade

Click here for Ynet's coverage of the action
(The web site of the main dayly)

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http://www.awalls.org/tel_aviv_anarchists_protest_security_fence
Tel Aviv: 'Anarchists' protest security fence
Published by Roee Mandel, Ynet
28/12/2006

Twenty left-wing activists block Basel compound in Tel Aviv in protest of West Bank security fence construction and to 'Shake up Tel Aviv public from its obliviousness towards the fence issue'

A group of 20 activists from the organization "Anarchists against the Fence" blocked the Basel compound in Tel Aviv Thursday afternoon in protest of the West Bank security fence. The group arrived at one of the intersections in the area and spread a barbwire fence they took from a security fence construction site

The group hung warning signs on the fence saying, "Life danger! Military zone. Any trespasser is risking his life." Yonatan Pollack, spokesman for the organization said that "The purpose of the activity on Basel Street was to illustrate and remind the residents of Tel Aviv the mobility limitations and land grabbing which is going on every day only a few kilometers from here in our name and our responsibility."

The organization includes dozens of Israeli, Palestinian, and foreign youths who are protesting the construction of the fence which, according to them, harm the rights of the Palestinian population and takes away their lands. Every Friday the organization participates in a demonstration near the village of Bilin. Often these protests turn to be violent.

According to Pollack, the decision to block Basel Street was symbolic since the area is a busy area with many people and coffee shops. He explained that it was done to "shake up the Tel Aviv public from its obliviousness towards the fence issue."

Police reported that a squad car arrived in the area after reports came in that objects are being thrown on the street, but the protestors were gone when police arrived.

Avi Cohen contributed to this report