Palestinians Hold Large-Scale Protests against Prawer Plan

Large-scale demonstrations were held throughout the occupied territories on Thursday called ‘A Day of Rage’ against the notorious Israeli law named the Prawer plan that will force hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins out of their homes in the Negev-Naqab desert.

Protests against Prawer PlanTwo main rallies were held Thursday, one at the Lehavim Junction in Negev in the southern occupied territories, the other at the Aara Junction in the north.

In Negev, hundreds of Israeli security forces were reportedly deployed, blocking main streets leading to the protest to prevent locals and protesters from reaching the demonstration.

“The people demand the downfall of the [Prawer] Plan,” chanted protesters.

In Aara, Israeli police used teargas to disperse protesters. According to media reports, at least 13 protesters have been arrested.

Masses gathered outside of al Muqata in Ramallah in protest against the Prawer Plan before boarding buses in order to join their protesters in the Negev. However they were immediately barred from entering by the Israeli army at the military checkpoint.

During the protest the Zionist army shot tear gas and rubber bullets towards the protestors, leaving dozens suffocating and injured.

Notably, a number of Arab countries held solidarity protests against the Israeli project, including Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.

The plan, which was brought before the Knesset as a bill last June, aims to expropriate over 800,000 dunams (800,000,000 square metres) of land in the Negev-Naqab desert and expel between 30,000 to 50,000 Palestinian Bedouins.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay slammed the bill last week, urging the Israeli government to reconsider its plans.

“If this bill becomes law, it will accelerate the demolition of entire Bedouin communities, forcing them to give up their homes, denying them their rights to land ownership, and decimating their traditional cultural and social life in the name of development,” Pillay said.