Palestinian Authority Arabs were not happy about a celebration held Thursday afternoon at a former IDF army base in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Judea.

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Rights activists held a gala Sukkot holiday celebration at Shdema, a former IDF army base located five kilometers from Har Homa, overlooking the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion Road.

 

 

The Palestine News Network expressed concern over the gala holiday celebration planned by rights activists for the second intermediate day of the seven-day Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

 

Women in Green and other activist organizations have frequently staked out a presence at the site in the past several months, and the government has since announced it is freezing plans to turn it over to the PA.

 

The PNN told its readers that "religious right-wing movements… issued a call" for Sukkot celebrations at Shdema on Thursday and said the gathering "is part of the ongoing takeover of Palestinian land…" It referred to the site as "the evacuated military base of 'Ush Ghurab' east of Beit Sahour city," adjacent to Bethlehem.

 

Shdema was abandoned by the army two years ago, and the Women in Green organization, along with other activists have been fighting ever since to keep the site in Jewish hands.

 

The PA news site reported that previous protests showed "the intention of Israeli settlers to re-occupy the site and build a Jewish colony there," and stated that "attacks" were carried out by Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria "under the protection of the Israeli military." The report neglected to mention the numerous incidents of brutality perpetrated against activists by IDF and Israel Police forces.

 

The Committee for Jewish Shdema and Women in Green organizers confirmed that Thursday afternoon's festivities were authorized by the IDF, who provided security. Live music, singing, dancing, a lecture, art exhibit and activities for children were all on the agenda for a fun-filled four hours till the sun set on the hills of Judea.

 

"At this crucial time in history... we urge you to focus your participation in activities taking place in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem, showing the world that the People of Israel will never abandon those places," urged the Women in Green organizers in a statement on the group's website.