Pruning Accompaniment

On November 18, 19 and 23, MPTers responded to requests for accompaniment for pruning olive trees. Farmers in Quarawat Bani Hassan and Kufr Qaddum felt the need to have internationals present when they went to their groves in case they encountered settlers from the nearby illegal settlements of Kiryat Natafim and Qadumim and/or soldiers of the Israeli Occupation Army.

Olive groves needing pruning and plowing

Both Palestinian villages, Quarawat Bani Hassan and Kufr Qaddum, have similar populations, approximately 3,000. Both villages have suffered from the establishment of the nearby illegal settlements of Qadumin, established in 1975, and Kuryat Natafim, established in 1983, respectively. Both settlements confiscated hundreds of acres of land from the villages and a further large percentage of land is used as a protective barrier area around the settlement and therefore is unusable by the villagers.

The villagers simply are unable to plow their land or graze their animals or harvest their olives in many areas because of the violence and intimidation of the armed settlers should the villagers come too close to what the settlers claim is their land -- even though it’s private Palestinian land. Indeed, many villagers are scared to venture out of their village for fear of settler violence. But the threat of violence also comes from soldiers who patrol the roads, driving in and out of the settlements, and who have a close working relationship with the settlers.

In addition to losing their land, thousands of olive trees were uprooted to make room for the settlements, imposing great economic hardship on the farmers whose income is largely dependent upon olive production. In addition, the villages have had their wells poisoned by settlers as well as their springs polluted by the sewage and industrial run-off from the settlements. Their sheep and goats have been killed or stolen and arson has destroyed their crops and olive trees.

As recently as mid-October, fire set by the settlers destroyed close to 7 acres of land in Bani Hassan. Fire brigades were denied direct access to the burning fields via a settlement road, thus necessitating their approaching from the other side of the village, causing a 3-4 hour delay in extinguishing the fire which, of course, resulted in more extensive scorching of earth and trees.

Burnt olive trees (reddish brown in picture) in Kafr Qaddum

A similar situation occurred about the same time in Kafr Qaddum: about 50 trees burned in a fire that lasted all night because the settlers would not allow any fire truck to enter the area

When MPTers accompanied the farmer in Qarawat Bani Hassan, the farmer asked that they not take photographs. It would be easy to identify the grove from the perspective of the settlements in the pictures and the farmer feared retaliation. For two days, MPTers stayed with the farmer, keeping watch for soldiers and settlers while helping with the simple pruning of his olive trees, while he and a hired man did the more extreme pruning. Both days passed without incident.

On the 23rd, because the MPTers arrived before the farmer at the olive grove they thought was his, they sat on a boulder beneath an olive tree. They had noticed a settler on the hill watching their hike to the area. Soon, three young male settlers approached them, asking who they were, what they were doing, and why they were on “their” land, although the grove was in a valley, next to the road away from the settlement, clearly not settler land. After the MPTers nonchalantly responded that it was a beautiful day for a hike, and surely there was no problem just sitting in the shade for a rest, the settlers left -- to get reinforcements, the MPTers were sure. Not wanting to endanger the possibility of the Palestinian farmer being able to plow his field, the MPTers slowly walked across the road to the grove they realized was their destination. Meanwhile, on the hill a significant number of settlers had gathered.

Settlers gathering on the hill to watch the MPTers

It was evident that this farmer had not pruned many of his trees for a couple of years. The proximity of the settlement makes his olives groves an easy target.

Settlement in close proximity to the olive grove

While some trees had minimal sucker growth, the majority had suckers of more than a year’s growth growing from the base of the trees, indicating perhaps that the farmer’s field work last year had been interrupted. Hatchets had to be wielded to cut the growth.

MPTer wielding a hatchet to cut the suckers from the base of the tree

Moreover, the trees had not been shaped and there were several dead almond trees that had to be cut down.

Palestinian farmer cutting down a dead almond tree

Again, MPTers, while keeping watch for settlers and soldiers, helped the farmer and his brother prune, using clippers and axes to cut the unwanted growth from the bases of the trees and along their trunks. They also helped load the wagon with the wood from the fruit trees the men cut down.

MPTer helps load wagon with wood from felled tree

Again, fortunately, the work progressed without incident.

The farmer returns home after a day of hard work and without harassment from either settlers or soldiers. (Note the burnt olive trees on the terraced hillside)

Ni'lin: 87% Land Loss

To protest the loss of 87% of their land, Ni'lin villagers hold weekly demonstrations. In response, the villagers and the earth receive huge amounts of tear gas and live bullets from the Israeli Occupation Forces.

Ni’lin is a village nestled in the hill country near the green line [border], not far from the village of Bil’in in the west of the Ramallah District. Until 1948, Ni’lin village was comprised of 14,500 acres; however 10,000 acres were annexed to Israel after the 1948 War leaving Ni’lin with only 4,500 acres. After the 1967 War, 2000 more acres were confiscated. Five illegal Israeli settlements, now with a total population of over 40,000, and a larger military base have been built on this land. In May of 2008, more than 600 acres were taken from the 2,500 acres left to the village after the 1967 confiscation. These confiscations included prime agricultural land with many productive olive trees. (For more detail see: http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article439)

After the May 2008 land confiscation there were almost daily demonstrations by a large number of villagers, and later there were twice weekly or weekly demonstrations. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) began by reacting to the demonstrations with extreme violence, including firing massive amounts of tear gas using a new weapon mounted on a jeep that could fire 15 -20 tear gas canisters simultaneously. The IOF has continued to respond very violently to the Ni’lin demonstration, even using live ammunition. Five villagers have been killed including one ten –year- old. An American, Tristan Anderson, was hit by a tear gas canister in March 2009 and is now living in a vegetative state.

The Ni’lin villagers have responded creatively to the land confiscation and the apartheid wall to the south of their village. In one demonstration they banged empty pots and pans to demonstrate the hunger and poverty caused by the land confiscation and the wall. In November 9, 2009, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the villagers tore down a section of this illegal concrete wall. http://jfjfp.com/?p=7234

On Friday, November 20, 2009, 4 MPTers joined a demonstration of more than 200 people including Palestinians, Israeli peace activists and internationals who walked to the apartheid wall in Ni’lin. The previous week, a new addition the length of two city blocks had been added to the previous wall. The wall is constructed by connecting 3 story-high cement slabs. Canisters with billowing clouds of tear gas greeted the approaching demonstrators. Gun shots were heard and the conjecture of some people was that 22 caliber rifles were being used against the demonstrators. It is probable that tutu bullets were used. Tutu bullets are said to be a bit larger than BB pellets, which could cause the loss of an eye. Two Palestinians were injured – one had his leg grazed and the other, who was shot between the legs, was taken to the Ramallah hospital, but is now in good condition. (See: http://www.israel-palestinenews.org/2009/11/previously-banned-tutu-bullets-return.html)

MPTers spoke with one villager who told them that he had lost all of his 8 acres of land in the 2008 confiscation. Two of his children need olive oil for a skin condition , so now he must buy olive oil for them. The monthly cost is exorbitant. The MPTers also met a young man who lost his university scholarship after spending time in prison probably for resistance activity. He said his family had lost their land in Israel in the Nakba and now he has lost his UN scholarship, so what is there to do except wait to die.

The following pictures document the Friday, November 20th, demonstration.

Villagers and internationals wait for the demonstration to begin.

[Click pictures to enlarge.]

Village men pray before the demonstration.

Israeli Occupation Forces stand prepared behind the huge cement apartheid wall.


Constant volleys of tear gas send demonstrators running.




A huge volley of tear gas from 15 - 20 canisters shot simultaneously fills the area with tear gas.

The tear gas fills the valley and drifts towards the settlement

just to the south.

MPTers use onions to help ease breathing.

Villagers set tires afire to the west, near a fenced area, being prepared for the cement slabs of the wall. The wind carried this heavy smoke toward the Israeli soldiers.

Young Red Crescent [Red Cross] aides are alert to injuries.

They face the separation wall and the huge illegal Israeli settlement across the valley.

Some tear gas canisters collected from the area.

Two men are injured. One needs hospitalization.

The Palestinian flag is held aloft throughout the demonstration. Israeli soldiers observe from a jeep up the hill on the road.

A tear gas canister rests among the rocks.

What is the future of this land and its people?

More Burin Settler Violence

Burin, nestled in the valley

Responding to reports of settler violence in the picturesque valley village of Burin, two MPTers once again visited that beleaguered community to offer solidarity and accompaniment. In recent years the villagers have suffered an increase in harassment, intimidation and violence at the hands of the settlers from the illegal Israeli settlements of Yitzar and Bracha and the nearby outposts of those settlements.

Incidents have ranged from cars being set on fire, electrical wires cut and home windows smashed to houses being set on fire, fields burned and livestock killed. Villagers have been abducted and assaulted. Even mortar shells and a rocket have been fired at the village from the Yitzar and Bracha settlements (www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1001565.html), home to ultranationalist Israelis who believe all of the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea was promised to the Jews by God.

Senseless act of violence

In late September (see mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2009/10/burin-tree-massacre.html) settlers from the illegal settlement of Yitzar cut more than 95 trees in one grove of the village. This time, 81 trees had been cut in another grove. Besides causing economic privation to the landowner, such a cruel and senseless act is difficult to comprehend and to view without being reduced to tears. All the spiritual traditions teach respect for Mother Nature and to live in harmony with one’s environment. That the olive tree is the universal symbol of peace makes the violation ever more egregious. The landowner estimates it will take 5 to 10 years for the trees to recover; many may not survive.

Devastation triggered by intolerance

Mother Nature weeps

The MPTers also visited the home of Palestinians who have been subjected to harassment, rock attacks and home invasion by settlers from Yitzar, just up the hill from them. One afternoon, a week ago, 25 settlers threw stones at the house and water tank, cut the plastic water pipe leading to the house, and harassed the family, leaving only when villagers came to the aid of the family. Soldiers of the Israeli Occupation Army and the District Commissioner’s Office arrived three hours later.

Solar panels destroyed by rock-throwing settlers

The family has owned their land since the Ottoman Empire and built the home they now live in 14 years ago. Their problems with settlers have exacerbated since 2000. They have had sheep stolen, their car set on fire, roof-top solar panels destroyed, windows broken, and gasoline poured under one of the doors to the house and set on fire.

The door under which gasoline was poured and set ablaze

Burned floor from the gasoline set on fire

Not long ago settlers ransacked the house, terrorizing the family. Most of the harassment occurs on the Jewish Sabbath, so that every Friday from sundown until Saturday sundown, the family lives in a state of agitation, the children unable to sleep, everyone anticipating settler violence.

One of the many metal window screens in the house damaged by the settlers

Addressing such violence, the Israeli human rights group, Yesh Din, has asserted: "The increase in the incidents in which Israeli citizens harass Palestinians in the area of the village of Burin and the West Bank in general, recently highlights the lack of action on the part of the authorities to contain the basis of Jewish terrorism that has taken hold in those areas. The authorities must act assertively against the violators and bring them to justice." (Ha'aretz, August 15, 2008, Special feature / The land of unchecked settler harassment by Avi Issacharoff).

Cactus Watering Protest at At-Tuwani

A young villager watering a cactus pad

On Saturday, November 7, the Fall MPT Team went to At-Tuwani to participate in a symbolic protest of watering cactus. The cactus is an appropriate plant for a protest, as the Palestinian word for “cactus” derives from the same root as “patience”: sabra. Thus the cactus has come to represent the steadfastness and inner strength of the Palestinians, as resistance to the Israeli Occupation takes time and patience. Cacti are found all over Palestine, along highways, demarcating property boundaries, and marking the location of long-ago destroyed or abandoned villages.

Early homes of At-Tuwani

At-Tuwani is a 1,000-year-old village near Hebron in the south of Palestine. Its population of approximately 250 people consists mainly of four families. Its oldest homes are between 300-500 years old, and some of the caves are believed to date from Roman times. At-Tuwani has witnessed a “building boom” in the past year which has transformed the landscape of the village. Modern cement homes are replacing the old stone structures and caves.

New homes replacing the ancient

At-Tuwani is surrounded by the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma'on, established in 1982, and the illegal Israeli outposts of Havat Ma'on and Avi Gai. The settlement of Ma’on continues to expand, having flattened a nearby hillside, putting up 6 caravans (term for a pre-fab type trailer; this first step toward the establishment or expansion of a settlement is called an "outpost") and building new homes. Since its establishment, Ma’on has confiscated close to 400 acres of land from At-Tuwani villagers.

Caravans expanding the illegal settlement of Ma'on

In 2004, after 20 years of enduring violence and harassment from the settlers, At-Tuwani invited Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) and the Italian peace group Operation Dove to serve as a permanent international presence in the village The internationals spend their days monitoring Palestinian children walking near the settlements to and from school, accompanying the village farmers and shepherds in their fields where they are subject to assault by extremist settlers, and being a presence as the villagers improve the infrastructure of their community.

Land to right of fence confiscated by settlement last year

(fence is to the left of the poles)

Last summer the settlers destroyed the village’s wheat crop (crops and farm machinery are regularly destroyed by the settlers) and erected a fence, confiscating one-fifth of the area. Instead of replanting wheat, the villagers planted cactus along the fence to occupy the land. Each week, as a form of protest, internationals join the women and children of the village in watering the cacti “pads,” using soda bottles filled with water carted down to the field in a wheelbarrow. Other internationals stand watch with cameras to document any military or settler interference. It’s a small action, designed for visibility, but bears testimony to the steadfastness of the Palestinians.

Carting the water in soda bottles to the field

The men do not join in the protest for fear of arrest. At a recent village protest against a demolition order for one of the village homes, soldiers randomly arrested one of the men who was fined c. 20,000 shekels, or $5,000, an astronomical amount for the impoverished villager. The man’s family pooled their resources, villagers contributed, and one neighbor even sold his sheep and some furniture to help his friend. In addition to the fine, the man was imprisoned until his court date, which kept being postponed for several months. Because of this villager’s experience, the men are cautious about being upfront in the protests.

A young lad resets the stones around a cactus pad

At-Tuwani has one diesel generator that provides electricity for the village for four hours every night. Earlier this year former British Prime Minister Tony Blair promised the villagers they would have electricity and the villagers started building pylons to string the wires, only to receive demolition orders from the Israeli Army which confiscated materials and tools, including a truck, mechanized lift, and large spool of electrical cable.

Homes in At-Tuwani do not have running water. There is one spring-fed well that provides water for drinking and cooking, but does not provide enough water for washing. Rainwater is collected in cisterns for washing and for the animals. Because of years of drought and settler actions against their water sources (in the recent past, settlers poisoned the well with dead chickens), villagers have to buy much of their water, at prohibitive cost, from tankers that come to the village.

There is a well on a small hill not far from the cactus planting. However, even though it is on Palestinian land, the water is only for use by the illegal settlement and outposts. When villagers ask if they can have some of the water, officials tell them there’s “too little water,” not enough water for the villagers although the settlement has planted large numbers of cherry trees and rose bushes, two water-intensive crops.

Fields of cherry trees consume precious water

In its October 2009 report, Troubled Waters: Palestinians Denied Fair Access to Water (www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/mde150272009en.pdf) Amnesty International accuses Israel of denying Palestinians the right to access adequate water by maintaining total control over the shared water resources and pursuing discriminatory policies. The report states that on average Palestinian daily water consumption (for drinking, bathing, cleaning, farming and for animals) reaches 18 1/2 gallons a day, compared with 79 ¼ gallons for the Israelis, and that some Palestinians barely get 5 ¼ gallons a day - the minimum recommended even in humanitarian emergencies. Numbering about 450,000, the residents of illegal settlements use as much or more water than the Palestinian population of some 2.3 million.

Amnesty International’s report also states that Israel denies Palestinians the right to dig wells, and has even destroyed cisterns and confiscated water tankers. In contrast, Israeli settlers who live in the West Bank in violation of international law have intensive-irrigation farms, swimming pools, and lush gardens and lawns. Amnesty International also charges that Israel uses more than 80% of the water from the Mountain Aquifer - the main source of underground water in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Each precious drop of water carries life ...

for the cactus and the Palestinian.

Thus the cactus planting and watering represent a fitting metaphor for the patience and forbearance required to live under Occupation.

Standing Watch in Iraq Burin

Two MPTers went the nearby village of Iraq Burin on late-morning Saturday, November 14, 2009. This village has had many demonstrations against the confiscation of their land by an illegal Israeli settlement and Israeli Occupation Forces harassment. As the crow flies, one could be there in no time from Huwwara. Walking, though possible, would be long, over high hills, rough and through areas of potential risk. The most direct road has been blocked. So the trip involved two rides in vans (“services”) and significant time loss negotiating the city streets of Nablus. Such is life in the OPT – Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Iraq Burin appears to be typical small village. Sheep are herded through the streets.

This is quiet rural village is frequently harassed by the illegal Israeli settlement on hilltop in the distance. [Click picture to enlarge.]

This settlement is about one mile from Iraq Burin.

Settlers for this settlement attacked Iraq Burin on both of the last two Saturdays. On Friday, November 13, Israeli Occupation Forces entered the village during prayer time at the mosque. Boys responded with stones; Israeli soldiers responded with tear gas. Internationals arrived on Saturday to provide a protective presence and a possible deterrent.

Soldiers [10 men] on about midway up the hill, slightly to the left. The white object at the bottom is the village well.

Soldiers appeared on the hillside across a valley from the village at 11:30 and remained until after 4:00 p.m. Village youth, preteen and teen-age boys, and a few village men stayed in the village watching across the valley from the soldiers.

At first the settlers appeared like sticks on the horizon, but young men in white shirts (common settler dress) could be clearly seen with binoculars.

Settlers arrived later and seemed to disappear from the hilltop horizon about 3:30. Binoculars were needed to see clearly who was present in the distance.

At one point the soldiers approached the village well which is part way down the distant hill side. That movement was met with loud calls and shouts from the villagers. Villagers reported that settlers had bathed in the water at previous times. The soldiers backed off a bit. The villagers, internationals, soldiers, and settlers watched each other from across the valley for the entire afternoon. MPTers and the other internationals left at about 4 PM. Concern was expressed that the settlers might return after internationals left. It may have been that the presence of internationals was a deterrent for this Saturday, since there was no settler or soldier attacks that day.

Bil'in: Fifth Anniversary Demonstration against the Illegal Wall

The demonstration against the wall begins

near the mosque in Bil'in.

On the fifth anniversary of the weekly Friday demonstrations in Bil'in against the encroaching illegal apartheid wall, the Fall MPT Team joined a large crowd of Palestinians, Israelis and internationals in another non-violent demonstration against this wall.

During his visit to Bil’in on Aug 27, 2009, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Just as a simple man named Gandhi led the successful non-violent struggle in India ... simple people here in Bil’in are leading a non-violent struggle that will bring them their freedom. The South Africa experience proves that injustice can be dismantled."

On 23 June 2009, the Canadian court heard the preliminary arguments for a suit brought by Bil’in against two companies registered in Canada (Green Park International & Green Mount International). The village is seeking justice against the construction of settlements on its lands under the 2000 Canadian Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Statute.

Out of the 75 residents who were arrested in connection to demonstrations against the Wall, 27 have been were arrested after the beginning of a night raid campaign on 23 June 2009. (Notice that the court date and the night raid were on the same day.) Of those 27 arrested, 11 are under 18. Sixteen Bil’iners remain in Israeli detention, nine of whom are minors. Some of the arrestees have reported being questioned about Bil’in’s lawsuit in Canada during their interrogation.

MPTers were present on Sept. 15, 2009, during one such raid. That blog can be read at: http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2009/09/night-raid-in-bilin.html. Overwhelming support and outcry from the international community have contributed to what appears to be the end of the night raids (the last raid took place on Sept. 30, 2009). The aftermath of the raids has left Bil'in with large legal fees. In defiance of the pressure from Israeli authorities, the village continues to hold weekly demonstrations.

In addition to its grassroots movement, Bil'in turned to the courts in the fall of 2005. In September 2007, 2 years after they initiated legal proceedings, the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that due to illegal construction in part of Modi'in Illit, unfinished housing could not be completed and that the route of the Wall be moved several hundred meters west, returning 25% of Bil’in’s lands to the village. To date, the High Court ruling has not been implemented and settlement construction continues.

In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Wall was contrary to international law, particularly International Humanitarian Law. The Court went on to rule that Israel's settlements are illegal under the same laws, noting that the Wall's route is intimately connected to the settlements adjacent to the Green Line, further annexing 12% of the West Bank to Israel. Despite the advisory opinion, early in 2005, Israel began constructing the separation Wall on Bil'in's land, cutting the village in half in order to place Modi'in Illit and its future growth on the "Israeli side" of the Wall.

In March 2005, Bil’in residents began to organize almost daily direct actions and demonstrations against the theft of their lands. Gaining the attention of the international community with their creativity and perseverance, Bil’in has become a symbol for popular resistance. Almost five years later, Bil’in continues to have weekly Friday protests. MPTers joined many internationals, Israelis, and Palestinians for the weekly demonstration on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. Speakers from Palestine, Israel (including one member of the Israeli Parliament) and other countries spoke strong encouraging words.

The fifth anniversary march began with speeches by leading Palestinians.

Another speech of strong support for ending the occupation of Palestine was given by an Israeli peace activist.

Among the speakers was a member of the Israeli Knesset (in red shirt).

Palestinians led the demonstration.

Internationals and Israelis were part of the march.

The march approached the gate and the three rows of fences.

Israeli Occupation Forces stand beyond the gate

ready to volley the teargas canisters, which can be lethal.

To the upper right another row of Israeli soldiers were ready with weapons and tear gas canisters.

Tear gas was fired almost as soon as the protesters reached the wall (gate).

International and Palestinian press were present

to record the demonstration.

Huge clouds of tear gas filled the air near the fence and gradually blended into the dark rain clouds.

An international ran to escape the tear gas.

Over 300 hundred proceeded to the walk to the barrier fence area to demonstrate against the “wall” and stand in solidarity with the Palestinians.

One international suffered a head injury which required medical attention and stitches. A number of people suffered from tear gas inhalation. It is hoped the strong showing of international support was apparent to the Israeli officials. The presence of many internationals was visibly apparent and chanting in Hebrew and in English should have been audible to the soldiers.

Special bus stop.

This picture is an informal bus stop in the village of Bil’in. Notice the bent metal awning over the small bench. The awning is a section of a barrier gate that the villagers removed during an earlier demonstration. May all the barrier materials be recycled into positive uses some day soon.

Resisting Home Demolitions and Evictions

A sign in front of the al-Ghawe family tent reminds visitors that in a deal with the United Nations in 1956, the family gave up their food aid in exchange for ownership of their home

Over the weekend of Nov 6-9, 4 MPTers visited two Palestinian communities that are resisting home demolitions and evictions in different ways.On Friday, four MPTers joined about 40 Palestinians, internationals and Israeli activists at the al-Ghawe family tent in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The family has been living with neighbors and in a tent across the street from their home since early August of this year, when they were evicted to make way for Israeli settlers. (See the MPT blog of October 31 http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2009/11/e-jerusalem-incomplete.html for more background.) The al-Ghawe family had requested international presence on Friday before sunset, as on the previous two Fridays, 20-30 Israeli settlers had prayed and danced in the street in front of the tent. The family saw the settlers’ action as provocative, even threatening, especially as the family has been attacked by settlers in the past (see for example, http://www.alternativenews.org/jerusalem-info/2062-continuing-settler-violence-in-sheikh-jarrah.html). There was a festive atmosphere in the street as the family, neighbors, and Israeli and international activists stood around talking. A small number of police and military were present on the street, between the road that turns off to a synagogue, and the family tent. The family members and their supporters did not know if the police and military were preventing settlers from coming any closer to the tent, or if the large presence discouraged them.

Meanwhile, home demolitions continue in East Jerusalem. According to Human Rights Watch, http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/11/06/israel-stop-east-jerusalem-home-demolitions, Jerusalem city authorities bulldozed 5 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2 because the homes were built without a permit. 57 people, many of them children, were displaced. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), it is extremely difficult and expensive for Palestinians in East Jerusalem to obtain building permits. The gap between the number of housing units need to accommodate population growth and the number of construction permits issued is approximately 1,100. For this reason, at least 28% of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem are built without a permit, and so some 60,000 Palestinians are at risk of having their homes demolished. For the full text of OCHA’s report the Planning Crisis in East Jerusalem: Understanding the Phenomenon of “Illegal” Construction see http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_planning_crisis_east_jerusalem_april_2009_english.pdf..

A section of the Wall that separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem

On Sunday, the 4 MPTers visited a Mahmoud (not his real name) a Palestinian friend of MPT, who lives in a small community near Bethlehem. The man is in the process of helping a neighbor rebuild his home which was demolished by Israeli Forces. The neighbor, who has three small children, did not want photos taken of the home, as it is being rebuilt without a permit, and so is subject to demolition. Mahmoud is also worried about his own home, as the demolition order on his home just expired, and could be renewed at any time. 80% of the homes in this small community have demolition orders. Mahmoud thinks that it is important for Palestinians to rebuild their own homes as an act of resistance, and he does not want help from Israelis or internationals to do the rebuilding. He said he would notify the MPTers and other internationals if the house received a demolition order. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Makmoud called to say that Israeli police had been seen taking photographs in the community.

Gilo, or Checkpoint 300, from the Bethlehem side

Mahmoud works in Jerusalem. Before the Wall was built, he was able to walk to work in about 45 minutes. Now he must go through the Checkpoint 300, also known as the Gilo checkpoint, and the trip takes at least 1.5 hours.

2 MPTers inside Gilo Checkpoint

OCHA published a report in May 2009, Shrinking Space:Urban Contraction and Rural Fragmentation in the Bethlehem Governorate (report available at

http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_bethlehem_shrinking_space_may_2009_english.pdfThe report shows the problems faced by Mahmoud and his community are very typical of the current situation in Bethlehem. About 600 workers from the Bethlehem Governorate travel through the Gilo checkpoint each morning, some arriving as early as 2 a.m., to make it through in time for work. According to a UN study, the average time to cross the checkpoint is an hour, but can be over three hours. A survey of the women in the community of Husan found that less than 1/3 of husbands who worked in Jerusalem before the Wall was built still do. Approximately 66% of the Bethlehem Governorate is Area C, where Israel has security control, as well as regulating planning and construction, and Palestinians are seldom able to obtain building permits.

Observation tower along the Wall in Bethlehem

Hebron Tour: "The Utimate Family Experience"

MPTers walking in Old City Hebron.

A Palestinian child wanders through the tunnel-like Old City.

Hebron, or Al Khalil to Palestinians, is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims as it is the ancient home of Abraham and Sarah. Hebron’s large Ibrahimi Mosque was at one time a synagogue, but also a Christian church. Now it is a mosque on one side and a synagogue on the other.

Jews, Christians and Muslims had lived peacefully in Hebron for centuries, but the city was the site of a large massacre of Jews in August of 1929. In August of 1929 land confiscations by Jewish gangs and the increasing number of Jewish immigrants from the USA and Europe resulted in riots in Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine. Sixty-seven Jews living in Hebron were killed by a Palestinian mob whose main target was the recent immigrants. Sympathetic Palestinians in Hebron harbored Hebron Jews in their homes and thus saved 435 from death and injury. [For more detail on this incident see: “Long Shadow of 1929 Hebron Massacre” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8219864.stm ]

Some of these Jews returned to Hebron in the early 1930s, but left again in the mid 1930s.

Israeli settlers moved into the heart of Hebron in 1979, taking over a former hospital. There have been problems continually since then between the aggressive settlers now numbering over 450 and Palestinians protecting their homes, shops and city. http://www.tiph.org/en/About_Hebron/Settlements_in_Hebron

In 1994, a US-born settler, Baruch Goldstein, entered the Ibrahimi Mosque while Palestinians were at prayer and shot 29 men before being subdued and killed. Today near the Israeli settlement in middle of Hebron there is a monument honoring Baruch Goldstein. Settlers make pilgrimages to his tomb.

(http://asitoughttobe.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/witness-in-palestine/ article by Anna Balzter, respected author on Palestine.)

An exit out of the Old City leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque and the settler synagogue is guarded by a steel turnstile and Israeli Occupation Forces 24 hours a day.

Saturday afternoon, November 7, 2009, MPTers spent time with three different international organizations during their monitoring of a Hebron settler tour of the Old City of Hebron. A group of people in black and white conservative dress accompanied by about 20 well-armed Israeli Occupation Forces toured the Old City of Hebron. Settler tours occur most Saturdays. Settlers come from Occupied Palestine, Israel and from other parts of the world. (See: “Hebron, the Ultimate Family Experience in Israel” The advertisement states that all buses are bullet-proof. The purpose is stated as “reclamation and renovation of ancient Jewish houses.” http://www.hebron.com/english/tour.php ) MPTers were asked by the international groups not to photograph (unless there was overt violence) since this often results in hostility by the settlers.

Several years ago, the Israeli military vacated Palestinian homes in the Old City that were considered too close to the adjacent settlement . During the tour soldiers entered and exited homes, some of which were occupied, others may have been empty. The army entering home was disconcerting because MPTers had no idea what the reaction of the Palestinians was or if this was something they just ‘’accepted’’ on every Saturday afternoon. The soldiers may have entered homes for roof top or window access to see that the area was “safe.”

About 2000 Israeli Occupation Forces protect about 600 settlers in central Hebron. They occupied nearby Palestinian homes and buildings. [See Balzter article above.]

Palestinian shopkeepers put up metal netting to catch debris thrown down by Israeli settlers who live in the bordering homes confiscated from Palestinians.

The tour followed a circuitous route, including some back alleys of the Old City . At one point the tour entered an area where Palestinian boys were playing soccer. One soldier was a bit aggressive with the boys for a few minutes, shoving one boy. One young Palestinian a short distance from the tour acted aggressively, but he was calmed down by nearby shopkeepers. Otherwise there were no hostile interactions. Five European-tourist-looking youth came behind tour. One of the teenage girls in the settler tour was overheard asking if these youth were safe. There was close collaboration between the soldiers and the settler tour guides. Finally the group moved to what had been a closed off area and exited by unlocking a padlocked gate to a settler-only street.

A Star of David "claims" this area as Israeli.

This persistent Palestinian salesman stands in front of a Star of David marking "settler claims."

The internationals monitoring the tours told MPTers that Palestinians residents, especially shopkeepers are concerned that there could be violence against them. No physical harm was done by soldiers or settlers during this tour, but fear is always present almost the Old City residents because no one can anticipate what might happen.

(Former Israeli soldiers speak out about their experience in Occupied Palestine. Breaking the Silence conducts tours in Hebron and villages in the South Hebron Hills. http://www.shovrimshtika.org/tours_e.asp )

Qaryut Roadblock Removed Again

On Friday, November 6, 2009, four MPTers traveled to the village of Qaryut to provide support for the ongoing struggle to remove the road block on a critical access road. Qaryut is home to more than 2000 Palestinians. Their access road provides quick access to Route 60, the main road from Nablus to Ramallah. The inability to use this access adds about 15 miles and 30 minutes onto a trip to either city causing hardships for students, workers and others. Villagers have gathered a number of times to remove the block. MPT was also present on October 3 of this year when villagers successfully removed the roadblock. You can read that blog entry at: http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2009/10/example-of-cooperation-and-courage.html The army returns after each success with heavy equipment and reestablishes the dirt and rock barrier. This day’s event was well organized. More than 200 men and boys and about 10 internationals walked 1.5 miles down the road to the barrier. Soldiers and police backed off toward Route 60 to observe. Many men with hand tools began work on the pile of dirt and the large boulders that blocked the road.

Hard work with only hand tools.

A larger group moved down toward the soldiers and police. Media representatives were present as the group prayed and later danced the Dabke, a traditional Palestinian dance.

Villagers pray as work continues in the background.


Young men dance in celebration.


Soldiers and Palestinians stood in close proximity without incident. At times Red Crescent workers stood between the two groups. Discussion about the wind, which blew from the Palestinian side toward the soldiers, brought a big smile to one Palestinian who said, “Yes, it is a good day.” Such a wind direction would make the use of tear gas problematic for the soldiers.

Face to face without incident.

A loud cheer rose each time a boulder was rolled away. The barrier was successfully removed and two vehicles passed over the remaining mound of dirt. MPT has heard reports that a new barrier was installed by the Israeli forces a day or two later. The entire process was peaceful. Villagers and internationals walked away when the event was over.
It is difficult to justify this road block on the basis of security. There are settlements on many sides of Qaryut. But villagers can still drive the portion of their road which is nearest the settlements. The roadblock would appear to be continued more for the purpose of harassment.

After the demonstration one car uses the road to drive out to Route 60.

East Jerusalem

It will be helpful for the reader to understand the background and history of this area of Jerusalem. The Sheik Jarrah neighborhood was first developed by Jordon and the UN in the 1950s. For Detailed information, see the MPT blog of October 31, 2008 at http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2008/10/mpt-presence-at-al-kurds-in-east.html
Also of interest is the financial support given to East Jerusalem settlements by Americans. Such donations are even tax deductible in the US which equates to US governmental support for activities deemed illegal by the Geneva Convention, UN resolutions and international law. A detailed report of this concern can be found at: http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=36348

The al-Ghawe family home with the Israeli flag flying.

Two MPTers spent two nights of protective presence at the al-Ghawe home in East Jerusalem. The home is part of the Sheik Jarrah neighborhood that was constructed in 1956 by UNRWA, United Nations Relief and Works Agency. It has been reported that Istanbul opened long closed records and some information thus gained influenced the Israeli courts. The al-Ghawe family was evicted at the beginning of August of this year and has been living on the street across from their home. The family’s shelters and belongings have been demolished and confiscated numerous times. Internationals have often been present to provide support and protection.
The two MPTers started their watch on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. Taking turns sleeping and standing watch so that the family and other internationals (who had been spending multiple nights at the site) could get some much needed rest; the night passed uneventfully.

Sunday morning, Nov.1, breakfast was served, kids sent to school, and most family members had moved into neighboring homes to clean up for the day leaving just three internationals and one family member at the site. Suddenly eight vehicles and about 25 uniformed police and soldiers appeared and began tearing down the tent and taking all the belongings. The MPTers immediately began taking pictures and calling other internationals in the area. One MPTer tried to hold onto a stack of blankets but it was taken away and the MPTer was escorted across the street. The MPTer realized that she had forgotten her own bag near the family’s things. She was allowed to retrieve it. By the time the other internationals arrived, the family’s belongings were all packed up and the soldiers and police were leaving.

Father, blue jacket - left of center, talks with officer

The father of the family spoke with a number of the officers to no avail. Demolitions and confiscation have become almost routine. The look of frustration and fatigue was evident on his face. The family puts up a meager shelter with some donated pads and blankets, chairs, dishes, a gas cook stove, water containers and the like. In a matter of days the soldiers and police arrive to take it all.

Removing the tent and beds.


Two vehicles loading while soldiers watch.

It was a very disturbing event with little regard shown for the family and with some soldiers seeming to enjoy the “outing”. The mother of the family arrived after most things were already taken. She began screaming at the soldiers and police in Arabic. Most watched impassively, but at least one snickered. After the demolition was complete, one soldier came over and shook hands with a settler who was staying in the al-Ghawe’s home from which they have been evicted.

It is hard to know another's thoughts.

A neighbor youth, an officer and a settler watch.

The mother gives a passionate interview after the soldiers have left.

The camp was reestablished the same day and MPT maintained a presence along with other internationals for the next 24 hours. On Monday morning, the family moved some of their belongings to a neighbor’s yard. After three police cars drove by slowly, they took down the tent and put it in the neighbor’s yard as well.

On Monday morning the MPTers and other internationals staged a short silent protest at the American Consulate which is located about a half mile from the Sheik Jarrah area. The press arrived. Police observed but did not interfere.

Demonstration at the American Consulate.