Update from April 21, 2005

friends and family,
 
well this is the first major update and won't be the last, its been an intense learning experience the last couple weeks here in Israel and the West Bank. i have written plenty in a journal and have taken hundreds of pictures, so its a bit hard to figure out where to begin.  first I'll tell you briefly what I am doing now.
 
We finished our CPT (Christian Peacemaker Team) delegation last Saturday, (the 17th of April), which kept us busy going from place to place and meeting lots of different organizations, people and communities that could tell us about the situation here in Israel and the Occupied territories. We were in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron, including the southern Hebron hills of Tuwani. It was excellent, and I recommend it for those interested in the situation.  it has the potential to deepen understanding immensely, and opens up ones eyes to the reality on the ground here.
 
my friend Leah and I are now staying on with the team here in Hebron for two more weeks. I am really excited about this since during the delegation we did not get to participate extensively in CPT activities here in Hebron. Now the CPT team has adopted us for awhile, and I am grateful for this opportunity to learn from them, support them and work with them.
 
But talk about hard hitting stuff. The first day we went on a tour of the wall, or "separation barrier." Seeing the wall with my own eyes for the first time, sort of gave me the punched gut feeling. Its enormous (9 meters high, concrete barrier) and has caused even more difficulties for Palestinians who are going to school, getting access to their land, orchards and vineyards, and moving about in other types of work, as it makes movement between areas very difficult, and sometimes impossible. We talked to an Arab Israeli man in Jerusalem (Abu Dis area) whose house and part of his hotel were confiscated from him due to the building of the wall. What strikes me is how this wall weaves back and forth in many places--grabbing more land in a slithering fashion. It makes a mockery of any viable international boundary as it is being used to acquire more land for Israel and expand illegal Israeli settlements. (It does not follow the Green line--the internationally recognized border line which is supposed to separate two separate states). In my opinion, there shouldn't even be a wall, and also even without the wall there are so many factors and impediments to peace smashing the potential of any viable Palestinian state (such as settlements which are everywhere in the occupied territories and are illegal under international law). The wall is cutting deeply into Palestinian territory, and has been stifling the economic and social livelihood of many Palestinian communities by increasing their daily difficulties on multiple fronts. Although done in the name of security, it is breeding more resentment and pain.
 
I wanted to share some things about the last couple days, but in future updates I may interject some of the information and reflections made over the last couple weeks. Today some of us went up to Tel Rumeida, an ancient historical site in the old city of Hebron. (Hebron is located in the southern West Bank--Hebron is where the Ibrahimi Mosque is located (Mosque of Abraham) which is adjoined to the tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (tomb of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Leah,and Jacob) a site very holy to Jews and to Muslims.  Hebron is divided into two areas (H1 which is supposed to be under Palestinian control) and H2 which is under Israeli military control. After 1967, Israeli settlers moved into parts of the old city (H2) so that there are now between 400-500 settlers in this area and about 4000 Israeli soldiers who have been sent here to guard the settlers. I believe there are approximately 150,000 Palestinians living in Hebron. As stated before there are some Israeli settlement enclaves here and the settlers are particularly extreme.  We visited a Palestinian family that were once neighbors to the CPT apartment on the same street.  They told us about some of the hassles they have faced.  In October 2003 about 50 settlers came into their garden and attacked two of the family’s boys.  One or two settlers were detained for a time; also, rather surprisingly, the two boys who were attacked were detained for two days.The young woman in the family told us how settlers throw stones at Palestinians walking to and from their homes in that area.  We experienced this in a small way as a young settler (14 or so) passed us and then threw two stones the size of a fist hurtled down, just missing us as we walked to the house we wanted to visit. They were showing us the area of land which is being threatened and taken by Israeli setters when we saw a shocking sign, ‘Gas the Arabs’ which I snapped a picture of. 
 
The people we spoke with were worried about the Israeli plans to build a new road up to the Tel Rumeida settlement which will end up cutting off the Palestinian homes from any access outside, and if military closures or curfews are on, it will be even more difficult to move out. another disturbing element is that the projected plan of the road will also encroach on an ancient Muslim cemetery, built on the hillside.  Some of these graves are hundreds of years old.
 
Yesterday, on the way to Hebron from Jerusalem, a few of us were forced to stop at a  blockade on one of the streets that takes us to the CPT apartment. There had been a shooting the previous night and so they were enforcing a closure on certain areas and roads. As we approached the blockade, the soldiers said that we could not pass. Fortunately there are tunnels (more like old streets) where one can go through to get home, but it makes a longer journey. As we approached the blockade we noticed a young Palestinian man (18-19) was standing there waiting to get his ID back that the soldiers had taken to examine. He was obviously scared and asked us to stay, so one other person and I stayed on, waiting about an hour or so before they gave him back his ID even though they said it would take no longer than a few minutes.  After they gave back the ID to the young man, we walked back to the apartment.
 
one hopeful sign is that I cannot overemphasize is the resilience of some of the Palestinian people that I have met, who go through so much on a daily basis--detainments at checkpoints, detention, land confiscation, harassment--you name it--and still maintain their human integrity and dignity---in many forms of non-violent resistance despite the dehumanizing systematic effects of living under occupation. they are beautiful, strong, courageous and creative in their non-violent alternatives and resistance. I have also been amazed at many Israelis (like rabbis for human rights and those who have lost children in this conflict) who are also working towards peace and working against the degradation of human rights which is so palpable here. i have met people that believe in the power of forgiveness and reconciliation despite those whose ideology seems so far from that possibility. there are some truly inspirational people here from all backgrounds. I hope to share more about that soon.
 
I hope to create some kind of educational resource and reflections on the situation here in the future and will include some more personal experiences and encounters here, but i just wanted to give you an idea of what's been happening and where we are right now.
 
Please pray for this next week as Passover approaches. The celebration will last 6-7 days.  pray that people will be peaceful.  supposedly more visitors will be coming to Hebron to visit, which may or may not make the settlers behave better. anyway, pray for everyone over here, there is so much fear on all sides.
 
blessings on you all,
may you truly experience grace, love and peace today and forevermore
 
jo french