Sad update on At-Tuwani - villager stabbed by settler

My earlier two posts were about our time in At-Tuwani village. The following is a CPT release which I received by email yesterday... the stabbing occurred two days after we were there.

CPT article:

Palestinian man stabbed by settler in Tuwani days after settler riot
 disrupts replanting of damaged olive trees



March 22, 2011


At-Tuwani, West Bank


On the morning of March 21st shortly after 7 am a Palestinian father 
of two from Tuba village was attacked and stabbed near the the illegal 
outpost of Havat Ma'on in the South Hebron Hills. 

Mahmoud Ibrahim Ali 
Awad, 32, was traveling by donkey from his home in Tuba to a medical
 appointment in the city of Yatta when a masked settler ran out of the 
illegal outpost of Havat Ma'on and attacked him with a knife. The
 assault was witnessed by a resident of Tuwani, who quickly called
 villagers and internationals and interrupted the attack. The
 assailant ran back into the illegal outpost of Havat Ma'on. Villagers 
recognized him as a settler who was involved in a riot in the village
 earlier that week. 

Awad was transported by ambulance to Alia Hospital 
in Hebron and remains there with stab wounds to his chest and right
 arm.



Two days earlier on March 19 settlers from the illegal outpost of
 Havat Ma'on rioted near Tuwani in response to the planting of 25 olive
trees in Palestinian olive groves there. Israeli peace activists and
internationals had joined with villagers to replace mature olive trees 
which were hacked and destroyed in the grove earlier this month.

 Shortly after 9 am on the 19th approximately 25 settlers emerged
 from the illegal outpost of Havat Ma'on and moved among Palestinians
 who were grazing sheep and collecting herbs near the olive groves in
Humra valley and in nearby Khoruba valley and on Khoruba hill. 

The
 settlers, several of whom were masked, shoved and kicked the villagers
 and their sheep and also internationals and Israeli peace activists
 who had come to assist in replanting the damaged olive trees.

 Israeli soldiers and border police declared the area a closed military
 zone and discharged two percussion grenades in an attempt to force
 villagers to leave the area. 

Two Palestinian men were arrested and one
 elderly man, Fadil Ahmed Raba'i collapsed from respiratory distress 
and lost consciousness after soldiers pushed him to the ground and 
forcibly restrained him. Soldiers refused to allow the ambulance
direct access and instead required the driver to take a detour
 resulting in a 45 minute wait. Raba'i was transported to a hospital 
in the city of Yatta and released later that day. Two Palestinian men
 were arrested by border police and remain in custody. Israeli
 soldiers and border police did not arrest or detain settlers.

 

Pictures of the incident are available at:


http://cpt.org/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=22477 and at 
http://snipurl.com/27nyqe

 

Sadly, villagers think these events may have been triggered in part by 
the recent killing of a settler couple and their children in Itamar
 settlement near Nablus. No Palestinians have been charged 
and it now appears possible that the murders may have been committed
 by Thai workers who were angry because they had not been paid for 
their labor. Speaking about the six olive trees found damaged on 
March 16, Fadil Ahmed Raba'i stated, "They did this because of the 
settlers who were murdered near Nablus."

 

Palestinians and internationals working in the West Bank have
 expressed concern over a recent rise in settler violence. The 
situation is further exacerbated by an absence of law enforcement in
the region. According to the Israeli legal rights group Yesh-Din
 Israeli settlers are rarely charged with crimes committed against
 Palestinians, and if they are their cases are heard in civilian court,
 where they are provided with legal safeguards and protections. When 
Palestinians are charged their cases are heard in Israeli military 
courts, and they do not enjoy the same legal protections.
 Additionally it is extremely difficult for Palestinians to gain
redress for crimes committed against them by settlers. According to a
 recent report by Yesh-Din, out of 642 monitored investigations of 
Palestinian complaints against settlers, 91 percent were closed
 without an indictment.



[Note: According to the Geneva Conventions, the International Court of 
Justice in the Hague, and numerous United Nations resolutions, all 
Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are 
illegal.  Most settlement outposts are even considered illegal under 
Israeli law.]


And an update on the update - here's a Los Angeles Times story that mentions the stabbing and looks more broadly at the issue of settler attacks:

Los Angeles Times story - West Bank 21/3/2011

The request by Palestinians for international protection is exactly the type of work that CPT (and other groups such as ISM and EAPPI) do. 

Planting Olive trees as an act of resistance

As mentioned, we were recently in the village of At-Tuwani in the south Hebron hills (see earlier post for the pictures). On Saturday the community invited the delegation I’m with from Christian Peacemaker Teams to join a tree-planting action, along with other internationals and Jewish supporters.

The background is ongoing harassment by a nearby Jewish settlement and it’s ‘outpost’. (The dozens of Jewish settlements across the West Bank are illegal under international law. The outposts are even more zealous settlers who set up temporary residence beyond settlements in defiance not only of international law, but their own Israeli laws. Unfortunately, Israel refuses to do anything other than give support to these provocative and aggressive settlers.) This harassment of Palestinian villages includes beatings, theft and damage to crops and trees.

In response to the cutting down of several mature olive trees, the village – which has a determination both to remain on it’s long held lands and to non-violence – decided to plant more olive trees as an act of resilience and resistance.

So it was that Saturday morning 70 – 100 Palestinian villagers were joined by Jewish supporters and internationals such as us. However, within minutes of reaching the olive grove, nearby settlers arrived and began harassing and chasing village sheep, and the army began to intervene.

In a bizarre situation, as Palestinians are under military occupation, they can be forced to leave an area by the military, and/ or detained or arrested. However because of their citizenship, Israeli Jews cannot be instructed or directed by the army – this is a police role. So, as often happens, the police are nowhere to be seen, but the army shows up in force creating a situation where the settlers can act with impunity, while the Palestinians (and internationals) can be arrested.

And indeed, the army arrived before the action even started, and within minutes there were four army jeeps. While they did try and dissuade the settlers from harassing and chasing the various herds of village sheep and harassing the villagers themselves, they continually split up to dissipate the soldiers and to find a new target for harassment.

Meanwhile a number of us continued to plant new olive saplings, though whether they remain for long is hard to say. With the soldiers unable to move the settlers, they chose a commonly used tool and declared a ‘closed military area’ even though the area was the Palestinian village olive grove and surrounding grazing land. This meant that the settlers could hang around, while the villagers and internationals faced arrest if we continued to plant trees or to remain. The village people resisted to some extent, and much to the delight of the settlers - who had come determined to provoke and derail the peaceful tree planting - three villagers and an international were detained by the army, along with the use of percussion grenades and ridiculous number of vehicles and personnel.

Planting Trees as an act of Resistance

Longer story to follow - some photos in the meantime...

At-Tuwani village, south Hebron hills.
Palestinian locals, Israeli Jews and internationals walk to the At-Tuwani olive groves to plant trees (followed by an army jeep).

To disrupt the tree planting, Jewish settlers (some masked) harass and attack the village sheep while the army looks on, powerless to intervene in the behaviour of Israeli citizens (while the police - who could intervene with the settlers - choose not to come).

Unable to deter the settlers intent on provocation, the army chooses to use their power on those they can - the At-Tuwani people - Palestinians under military occupation.

Now threatened with arrest, the villlagers are told to leave their own olive groves and grazing land.

Arrests are made and tear gas used; an older man is aided after being affected (later taken away by ambulance).

The military brings in large scale reinforcements to move the villagers and their supporters.

We go back to CPT base and learn that settlers have chosen today to attack and harass communities in at least three locations we have visited in the last week - all within 20 km of each other - including burning cars of Palestinians.

Part of an ongoing campaign of harassment, violence and aggression designed to push Palestinians off the little land they have left.

Al Khalil (Hebron)

Now in Al Khalil, and many amazing experiences but little time to write so more soon. 
For now, a photo of a quick coffee break...

The other displaced people - the Bedouin

The Bedouin village of Al Arakib has been destroyed by Israel 21 times in less than 18 months... - since June 2010! -
despite the fact that the Israeli courts have not yet determined who is the rightful occupant (and despite the fact that the Bedouin have clearly been the traditional owners).

Today, Jews, Christians and Muslims gathered to defy the attempts to move this proud people out. This sign was erected on the highway to let all know that these people haven't gone away, and aren't intending to.

More than 50 years since Israel confiscated the land from the Bedouin, Israel has finally announced it is going to plant a forest here. Ironic, given that to do so, they have destroyed the olive groves, fruit trees and homes of this village. Now the people live in shanty huts but refuse to leave.
Today we symbolically planted olive trees again...
and then marched to the compound of the 'forest project'

The Israeli flag in the compound while outside there is Jewish solidarity:
'No more demolitions'

Caterpillar bulldozers, razor wire and armed police... Outside the compound a Jewish grandfather sits with a Bedouin grandmother united in opposition.


More info:


Bedouin Jewish Justice blog


Al Arakib article

THE WALL

'The Security Wall'
Supposedly to protect Jews from Palestinians yet here running through East Jerusalem with Palestinian communities on either side. Some families - previously neighbours - now separated by a wall, and forced to travel miles and through military checkpoints to be together.

The Ambassador, the Bishop and the Would-be Car Bomber

So the official delegation part of my time in Palestine has only been happening for 48 hours but it's been quite an awesome two days. The opportunities to witness and observe incredible efforts for peace amidst such a terrible ongoing conflict and to meet amazing people, Palestinian, Israeli and internationals, has already been powerful.

As an example, yesterday we had lunch with the former Palestinian Ambassador to Paris, (and prior to that Minister in the Palestinian Authority), a former Bishop of Cornwall (now here as a peace worker), a couple of significant authors as well as a mix of Palestinian peace activists doing amazing work and international peace workers/observers.

Then an incredibly profound session where two team members from an agency called ‘Combatants for Peace’ came and spoke with us for a solid couple of hours. This is a group made up of former Palestinian fighters and former Israeli Defence Force members who have come together against the occupation. Their membership is made up of Palestinians who have taken part in the armed struggle (and almost all have spent time in Israeli prisons for this), and Israelis who have served in the military. An amazing concept and incredible to hear of people from both sides previously indoctrinated in their story to hate, fight and kill who have now put down arms and are seeking to work together nonviolently.

Wa’el spoke with eloquence and honesty about his involvement in the Palestinian armed struggle, his incarceration and his reluctance to ever trust an Israeli, let alone someone who had served in the Israeli Defence Force. And yet, he is now a passionate believer in nonviolence and involved in this movement which has over 300 former Palestinian fighters and over 150 former Israeli soldiers; all working together to end the occupation and live in peace.

Tamar was a gracious and moving speaker too who gave her side of growing up in a proudly Jewish military family, but who had gradually shifted to the left, and now virtually runs the organization out of her home.

There are many profound stories here in Palestine, but I hadn’t expected so easily to come across former enemies – literally willing and trained to kill each other – sitting in a room talking about working together in practical ways for peace. Not only that, but that there are hundreds of such people gathering regularly… a sign of hope amidst so much conflict and pain. 

Former combatants united for peace

Wa'el and Tamar from 'Combatants for Peace'

Palestine

So yes, as indicated by my photos below, I’m in Palestine.

I’m still tired, though less so than 48 hours ago, and relieved and happy to be here. It’s not always easy for ‘peacemakers / activists / international observers’ to make it across the Israeli border, but my crossing yesterday from Jordan was smooth enough (though it did take a good few hours; apparently a common enough occurrence).

Having flown into Jordan two days ago, I spent a night there and yesterday made the journey by road here to Jerusalem. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to write a coherent essay right now, but here’s a few thoughts on how I came to be here.

I’m here to join with other internationals in learning about what life is like for Palestinians under occupation, and in some small way to get involved with attempts to reduce the violence they often experience.

I’ve felt drawn to this sort of active peacemaking for many years (I blame Elisa – but only in a good way – and to be accurate, there have been many other inspirations, both personal friends, and historic figures). I’ve followed closely the work of a number of groups who in different ways put their teams into conflict zones to work in different ways to attempt to de-escalate violence. Variously, this includes ‘protective accompaniment’ of community members under threat; monitoring and documenting human rights breaches; standing in solidarity with the oppressed, or simply ‘getting in the way’ of those who would use force.

I’ve been inspired towards pacifism and non-violence by the examples of Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jnr, the Plowshares movement, and hundreds of others less well known activists and peacemakers through history, and also by plenty of amazing friends and acquaintances around me in contemporary campaigns in Australia.

And it was a question from Elisa way back in Serpentine camp days in the late nineties that led me to get a whole lot clearer on my own response to war and serious conflict, and to the possibilities of direct peaceful intervention. The ‘pointy end’ of this inner journey was the threat of the Iraq war in late 2002 / early 2003 which led me to decide I was indeed willing to put my values to the practical test and to go on a deep personal process of preparation. As it turned out, I did end up in Iraq in 2003 but in a more typical aid worker role, rather than this sort of radical peace intervention (but that’s a whole other story).

Suffice to say, this journey has been a long time in the making, and I’m glad to be here, though somewhat anxious about what the reality will be like.

What I do know is that I’m in for a steep learning experience, and I’m looking forward to meeting and hearing from people on both sides of the conflict, and from a wide spectrum of those involved in trying to make small positive steps toward peace.




Comments:

insurgelicious said...

Go Khristo! Great blog you've got here. Best wishes with all the great work you're doing :-)

21 May 2011 19:15 

insurgelicious said...

Oh, it's Marco in Perth here, by the way :)

21 May 2011 19:15

Jerusalem

The Old (walled) City...

...and new Jerusalem

Back in the Middle East!

My first dinner back in the middle east... downtown Amman with my old friend, the suave and gracious Abu Samir. I first met him in Jordan on my way to Iraq in 2003; great to see him and his brother, and to experience their hospitality again. Awesome food too; simple, delicious and cheap - hummus, falafel, fual beans, fresh pitta bread, and mint chai - just deluxe...

...and the first of many Arabic coffees to come...

Adventures Imminent

For those just joining me, welcome. I'm currently less than 24 hours away from leaving home for the mid-east where life is a very different proposition.

I'm caught in the tension between the minutiae of final errands / packing / cleaning and the knowledge that in just a couple of days I'll be experiencing the often raw existence of people caught up in a conflict zone. One day in comfortable affluent Perth grumbling about the heat, the next in a place where almost every day people are harassed, beaten or even killed for trying to walk to school or tend to their daily business. Sitting here in front of a fan listening to iTunes while I type, that all feels a long way away but tomorrow night that distance will evaporate quickly.

In one way, I feel under-prepared amidst the busy-ness of late, but in another way I feel like I've been preparing for this for a long time, and there is a sense of right-ness and calm that comes with that. I know that this will be an incredible experience, and that engaging with people and cultures in the mid-east has been hugely enriching for me previously. I know that the hospitality and generosity of these cultures and people won't have changed, and I'm looking forward to being surrounded by that again, and to the new experiences that await.

For now, looking forward to sleep and getting on the plane (or the other way around). So, back to packing my socks . . . 

What?

For those just catching up on my news, I'm about to travel to the mid-east to engage in some peacemaking work. For various reasons, I won't name exactly where I'm going and who with at this point but those details will emerge shortly.

Meantime, I can say its with a nonviolence group who enter conflict zones to work for peace, and I'll be going to two different countries with them for a couple of weeks each (and ten days between in Syria).
To get an idea of the type of work I'm talking about though, check out these groups: 

Nonviolent Peaceforce

Peace Brigades International

International Solidarity Movement

I've decided to grow a beard before I travel - hope you like it . . .

'The golden rule is to act fearlessly on what is right'
 - Mahatma Gandhi