Update from May 1, 2005

Friends and Family,
 
Leah and I are here in Hebron till Wednesday, then we bus to Cairo and fly down to Uganda on Saturday to work in an orphanage called Amazing Grace in Adjumani, Northern Uganda for two weeks. We are really excited!
 
I just got back from a week spent in a village in the south Hebron hills called At-Tuwani (West Bank-Palestine). Perhaps I can tell a little bit of their story and what CPT is doing there now and in the future. There are two Israeli settlements that are located by Tuwani called Ma'on, and H'vat Ma'on. As some of you may know, there has been a lot of harassment from Israeli settlers and soldiers upon the villagers of At-Tuwani. A couple weeks ago, settlers intentionally placed poisonous pellets on some of the grazing land used by Palestinian shepherds which poisoned and killed just under 30 sheep--a huge blow to the villagers economic livelihood. The Israeli authorities have not done anything about it and the Palestinian Authority and other civil authorities are still struggling to figure out all the effects that the poison could have on the communities affected.
 
Some of the families I met in Tuwani who drank some of the milk from the sheep which were exposed to the poison (of which 3 pellets was likely to kill a sheep) were worried about the health problems the poison may have on their families especially their young children. Many pregnant women that drank the milk from the sheep and goats are worried about the potential hazards it could impart on the pregnancies. The first pellets of poison that were found and tested are a form of lethal rat poison solely made in Israel and totally illegal in all other countries.  
 
Last week settlers attacked a flock of sheep belonging to Palestinians and one sheep died soon after and another sheep a couple hours later gave birth to a still-born lamb. This was big blow to this shepard who had already lost sheep from the poisoning, Anyway it seems clear to me that all these terrorizing tactics are used by the settlers in hopes that they can scare people off their land. Its crazy and completely unjustifiable.
 
It was fairly quiet most days I was in Tuwani, partly due to the Passover celebrations this week which were going on in other communities.  A lot of the settlers in Ma'on probably went to other places during the week.  However on Friday, an attack almost happened.  When Leah and I got up that morning we got a phone call from Hafez, one of the Palestinian shepherds who said that he had almost been attacked by settlers. Five of them had appeared over the hillside where he was grazing his flocks in hooded masks and started running towards him. Hafez was taken off guard until he heard some kids screaming "Mushtataneen!"  translation-"settlers!" He was totally by himself, and he picked up some rocks to throw at the men running after him. As soon as he threw a stone at one closely approaching him they ran away.
 
Its important to state how the Palestinian shepherds have continued to partake in non-violent actions, and mechanisms over the last year in their resistance towards the abuse, confiscation and terrorization brought on by settlers. I may try to send out some CPT updates on some of their direct actions which are very inspiring.  Hafez was a little freaked out after the incident. Seeing five masked men running towards him is still traumatic even with the "normalization" of violent abuse that runs throughout many victimized communities here.
 
What made me even more upset afterwards is that after the masked settlers ran away from Hafez they went and slapped around two kids that had been on the other side of the hill. After they were slapped around, the young boys ran home with their sheep. It just really angers me that people go after children like that!
 
After the incident I actually felt really guilty for not being there. I know something bad could have happened but it just hurts me to think about people facing that kind of potential attack alone. Mainly I am just very thankful that no one was hurt badly. After the incident we came and talked to Hafez and then sat with him the rest of the morning and watched his sheep, I talked to his nephew Salem (whose name means Peace in arabic) about their flocks and he tried to explain all the different kinds and names of his sheep and goats, He knew his sheep very well. I actually spent a fair amount of my time in Tuwani with some palestinian shepherd boys (12 and 10) named Anwar, and Mohammed who went through the little arabic book I had brought. We sat upon the rocks and watched their sheep and goats and practiced arabic and english.The kids even brought out a tea kettle, made a fire and we sat there drinking tea in the hot sun.
 
I wanted to briefly fill you in a bit on some of the attacks that have happened in Tuwani because it is important to know about. There have been four incidents this last year of settler attacks on internationals. One person who was with us and who works with Operation Dove (an Italian Catholic peace organization) had been beaten up by masked Israeli settlers in February. Two CPT'ers were injured last October when they were attacked by 5 masked settlers as they were walking Palestinian kids to school. The CPTers had been escorting kids to school to prevent the terrorizing tactics of the settlers on a specific road that goes by the settlement. After the attack, which exposed some of the brutality induced by the settlers, the authorities decided that the Palestinian children would have an Israeli military escort and CPT and other internationals could only observe the school patrol at a distance.
 
I did school patrol one day--which encompasses observing the children walking to school and making sure that the army escorts the children past the settlement, since they are too scared (and have a right to be so) to walk by the settlements.  That day, the army was two hours late in escorting the children to school-- for no valid reason.We had to call the military offices on the phone and they didn't have any good answers.
 
I have tried to share a lot, mainly because despite all the troubling circumstances, conflict and struggle, I truly fell in love with the place. The people of Tuwani were wonderful, and I enjoyed every minute with them and living in their community. (its been the highlight of the trip thus far) I already miss it. I played lots of soccer games with the kids there, even tried to get some of the little girls to play which worked for awhile. Despite the number of rocks and holes in the yard of the CPT hut, we still had some good futball rallies. As soon as I brought out a soccer ball, the kids came from far and wide, and crowds gathered around our little space. Great fun. I was truly sad about leaving, but know there's a good chance I might go back there again some day. I also met a few Israelis who are working with the Palestinians and doing accompaniment work for the Palestinians in the surrounding areas as well, as they are very much opposed to the settler abuse and the Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.
 
Anyway, some of the most beautiful children I have ever seen and played with reside in Tuwani, and the families that met with us and took us in were lively and fun despite the hardships that they have faced and continue to face. They laugh, they share, they give, they love, they affirm the beauty of life, which is part of resisting the evil and violence that remains present around them.
 
Over the last few days, including today which is Orthodox Easter Sunday, I have been thinking about the signs of life and resistance that I have seen around me. I feel as though I have seen glimpses of new life in other people, inwardly and outwardly. Although the following example may seem like a very small sign, I felt a light emerge the following day of the attack on Hafez when he called to say that one of his goats was having babies. I ran out to the hills where a few were gathered and saw three new little goats which had just been born. I asked Hafez if three was a lot for a goat to have, and he said, none of his goats have ever had 3 babies at once. This was the first time! We both said  "Ilhumdillalah--thanks be to God"!" and he couldn't wipe the smile of his face. At least despite the chronic abuse and trouble from the settlers, a sign of new birth and hope emerged in the very area where he had almost been physically attacked.  It was at least a beautiful moment that brought more laughter to the faces of Hafez's children as they kissed and played with the new baby goats. I watched as their grandmother's eyes flashed with joy upon the sight.
 
so I'll sign off for now, eventually I will get some pics on a website, which may give you a sense of the people we have met, and where we have been!
 
Thanks for all your prayers, and emails, Know that they are always an immense encouragement. please feel free to email me with your thoughts, questions, and comments.
 
peace,
jo french