This week marks the seven days of Sukkot, סוכות, a Jewish festival that is one of the three major holidays that celebrates the journey of the Jewish populace to the Temple in Jerusalem.

During this holiday, Jews are instructed to build a temporary structure in which to eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep.

However, this year Israeli settlers are updating the celebration and using the festival as a means to encroach further on Palestinian territory.

Earlier today settlers took up residence in an abandoned Israeli military base near Bethlehem, and in the process two Palestinians – including journalist Sami Awad, the editor in chief of a Palestinian news agency, and 26-year-old Salim Anfous – and four internationals from Germany, Britain, and the United States were seized.

The six have since been removed to an undisclosed location.

According to the Maan News Agency, Israeli soldiers swiftly reached the location of the rally at the Osh Ghurab base in Beit Sahour, and erected a checkpoint blocking access to the surrounding roads.

Troops then scaled a local Palestinian family’s house overlooking the area, while others stood guard from the roof of the house, which reportedly belongs to the Hijazi family.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Israeli forces did not prevent settlers from marching throughout the base, celebrating Sukkot.

No arrests of settlers were immediately reported.

Interestingly, while searching for the above image I discovered that the settlers commenced their residence at Osh Ghurab not today, but rather back in July:

More than 100 settlers invaded Oush Grab in Beit Sahour on 14/07/2008. The Palestinians and internationals organised a show peaceful event in the park adjacent to the site in order to show presence.

Oush Grab is an abandoned IDF military base in Beit Sahour.Over the last two months, the settlers came at the site. Palestinians and internationals have started some peaceful activities on the site to show that the place is not vacant. Some Palestinians and internationals decided to stay overnight, waiting for the evacuation of the settlers. [Source]

And so the occupation continues to expand and encroach, while the Israeli government and security look on with insouciance.