2.10.2012
Peace Vigil in Lansing
My name is Sara, and I'm a recently returned Peace Corps volunteer from CA. I served as an English teacher in Kazakhstan. Since returning home, I have been excited to discover and apply to be a part of MPT's work as a presence in occupied Palestine. I an now writing from their offices in Lansing, on day one of the Nonviolence Skills Retreat. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of a future team going to the West Bank, and the opportunities I will have to grow as a peace team member and individual there. I'm looking forward to becoming a part of the growing international movement of nonviolence as a means of change between Israel and Palestine, and to live and work among the Palestinian people. I hope to report soon from the field!
2.08.2012
A Teamer's Experience (MPT's January 2012 Annual Letter)
I am sitting in the MPT House in Huwwara (West Bank) during our the last Peace Team to the West Bank of 2011. I just got an email from Nicole asking if I would write a note to MPT’s returned team members. Today, the team rode with a farmer and got pulled over at a flying check point. The Israeli commanding officer’s parting words to the farmer were, “Tell those two not to start any trouble today.” I was a bit offended at first. Then I thought: Spreading the truth about the occupation is trouble from his point of view. If we’re “speaking truth to power,” his reply is a sign our work is successful! Many of you have had similar experiences on MPT Teams. I would like to share very briefly about my journey. Perhaps you will feel led to reflect on your journey and decide how to best remain involved with this important work.
My first trip to Palestine was with the 2009 MPT Fall Team. I was eager to do my bit. I was a beginner at this kind of activism and really just beginning to really learn the history of the Israeli/Palestinian struggle. Fortunately, my three teammates were experienced, knowledgeable and supportive as I slowly got up to speed. I stayed six weeks and headed home very tired--but eager to learn more. I wondered: What difference had I made? I felt that my best role might be at home studying the issues and encouraging others to do the same. After all impacting public opinion is a major goal for MPT. A return trip seemed unlikely, and being the anchor was out of the question.
Back home I read a variety of books about Israel/Palestine, learned a lot, did some presentations, and then I began to “slide back into my same old used to be” – as the old song goes. The end result for me was a need and a desire to return and renew my commitment. So I contacted Nicole and said “I want to go again and my window of opportunity is Oct/Nov of 2011.” Gradually five persons showed serious interest. We were going to have a team. But I was the only returnee and therefore the only one eligible to serve as the anchor. This caused me a high level of internal conflict. I really wanted to return, and I really did not want to be the anchor at first. Long story short …. of the five applicants, only two of us were left at the end of the application, screening, and commitment process. I sit here tonight as the anchor of a team of two. In the end, we’re a strong and cohesive team team; perhaps being smaller is even an advantage sometimes. Fortunately, my teammate speaks Arabic, and is a quick learn and an eager participant.
My fears of being a Team Anchor were unfounded. The anchor is not the leader. The anchor is the experienced person charged with helping the team with the process and understanding MPT policies and procedures. Decisions are still by consensus. And the difficult work is shared equally or unequally if tapping into the strengths of certain team members is deemed appropriate.
I have been married for 40 years and have no desire to find out if indeed love is “sweeter the second time around”. But it is true of my second trip to Palestine. I recognized the road to Qaryut (where MPT took part in actions to remove a road block) as our service pasted on the initial trip to Huwwara. I had a calming sense of being home when reentering our Huwwara home. We are really getting known in Huwwara. “Our” little grocery store at the bottom of the hill refused payment on our first stop. “You come to help us; first time free.” Our first taxi cab driver did not charge us. A man on a service heard me ask for Huwarra and said, “I had a friend named Martha ….” …connection made … He paid my fare. I walk into the produce shop by the south mosque and the man always says “Michigan!” A young man in Deir Istiya said something like “They steal our land; they steal our olives; we only have left the air we breathe. Thank you for coming; you give us hope.” As of today we have been invited home for supper 11 times. Our efforts are appreciated.
Am I the only one who sort of wishes for the big stuff to happen so we can have a “better” story to tell, when the real story is the daily indignities and harassments? Big events do happen, but the daily stuff can really wear a person down. I have come to understand just how important our “you give us hope” role is.
And speaking of hope, I find myself gaining hope also when I see so many young adults giving of their time and finances to be here as activists with the various organizations and/or volunteers with NGOs and such. I am tired tonight; I am tired of being away from home; I am tired of the occupation; and I am tired of not knowing how to be most effective. But I am so happy that I decided to come again. It has revitalized me and given me that good feeling about myself that comes from standing up for your convictions and giving of yourself for a worthy cause.
I hope this sharing will encourage you to rethink your involvement. Maybe working stateside is the best role for you. Maybe the revitalization that a return trip can give is just what you need. And certainly your involvement with either of the above is part what MPT needs; we need vetearn teamers to volunteer to go back, if MPT is going to send Peace Teams to the West Bank to support our friends there in 2012.
A special shukran to Abby, Lois, and Martha for nurturing me into the process and to my fellow Team member Gaby for ‘having my back” in so many ways.
longing for peace,
MPT Palestine Team Anchor Fall 2011
MPT Palestine Team Member Fall 2009
- Sign Up or Get More Info about being an Anchor in 2011/12 and let MPT help cover the costs for another deployment (scholarships may be available, ask for details).
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Sign up for one of our upcoming Step Two retreat sessions to deepen nonviolence skills and learn more about what's going on with MPT right now! See the right hand "Coming Events" bar for more information -- there's an event this weekend Feb 10-12th and registration is still open.
- Support International Teams from here at home: Join us Feb 4th 2012 to find out how. Contact Nicole to register, and have fun with us at this support volunteer training event!
- Become an MPT Nonviolence Trainer (ask about the hands-on training program)
- Interview new team applicants (anyone can do this, we give you a guide!)—great for busy folks, this takes as little as one hour every few months over the phone or Skype.
Or, contact us to volunteer in the way that suits you.
MPT Teams Newsletter January 2011, Upcoming Events and More!
A Letter from MPT Anchor Fred Elmore about his experiences in the West Bank on an MPT Team. Plus an appeal to our returned teamers to join a future team as Anchor!
http://app.e2ma.net/app2/ campaigns/archived/32698/ 92b903632cf56af5d0afa334dbcf398 1/
2.07.2012
MPT Step 2 Nonviolence Skills Retreat: Feb 10-12, or March 30-April 1, or May 25-27th! Pick one and join us.
May 25-27, 2012
July 20-22, 2012
12.08.2011
Goodbye from the MPT 2011 Fall Team
Al Walaja renamed - All Wall Around Ja
In brief Al Walaja lost it original village site and was reestablished nearby. The continuing construction of the wall will greatly reduced the village’s access to land, water, and the rest of Palestine. Al Walaja will be completely surrounded by a prison like wall with only one access road connecting them to the rest of the West Bank.
As prayers ended we walked downhill to see the construction route that has been cut through the olive groves. It was a damp day and a muddy walk. For most of the route there was no sign of the military or police
We moved onto a restricted road and were told that only cars with yellow plates (those originating in Israel) could use this road. At one point Palestinians began to place rocks on the road. The crowd’s presence slowed traffic allowing them to drive carefully around the rocks. There were no rocks thrown and no threatening gestures. Many activists were uncomfortable with the rocks on the road. Indeed they did present a considerable hazard to cars moving at normal speed. A short debate started with statements like: “This is a serious hazard; we are here to protect from violence and thus should remove the rocks.” Others said: “We are to be Palestinian led; this is their demonstration.” The discussion was friendly with most of us having very mixed feelings. As we were causing traffic to slow down there was no serious danger at the time. Within minutes one of the Palestinian leaders came over and began to kick rocks out of the road. Activists immediately began to help him. Police arrived shortly thereafter but the rocks were gone by the
The police did try to stop our movement but were greatly outnumbered. The demonstration just moved around them. They followed along behind in their jeep. We approached an entrance to a restricted area and found a line of soldiers waiting for us. After some talking and mutual picture.taking, the demonstration took a side road back to the Mosque.
No rocks thrown, no arrests, no tear gas or the like which led to a jubilant mood of having achieved some success – at least a chance to express our displeasure, have it heard and return home without injury. We were mindful that such demonstrations are a weekly occurrence in parts of Palestine. They are indeed so common that they seldom make the news anymore. But Palestinians risk arrest and injury on a regular basis to protest the injustices of the occupation.
12.06.2011
Announcing MPT Teachers Team Summer 2012! Calling all Teachers...
Nicole L. Rohrkemper
International Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team
(586) 419-1070 (direct line)
NicoleR. MPT@gmail.com
Read more about International Teams in our most recent Teams Insider eNews.
12.04.2011
A busy day in and around Hebron
Another informal taxi ride and a group cab got us back to Hebron for the another evening with CPT
12.03.2011
Sheikh Jarrah
Blog readers might wish to review the history of this situation by going to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Jarrah Or http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ir-amim/why-are-israelis-demonstr_b_445968.html
In brief, Palestinian refugees moved to this area when it was under Jordanian rule. The UN got involved and houses were built for the families. The area has been contested for years. Settlers have gained access to some houses even though complaints have been filed including one from the United States government. The above links will give the reader many more details. MPT has a history of involvement with this troubling situation.
MPT वास there in October of 2008 to provide protective accompaniment. The details can be read at http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2008/10/mpt-presence-at-al-kurds-in-east.html
MPT returned in April of 2009 after the family had been evicted. Read that report at http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2009/04/return-visit-to-sheikh-jarrah.html
MPT returned again in November of 2009 to stand watch for two nights. This team (which included one member of the current team) witnessed a police demolition of the tent site. Details can be read at http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/2009/11/e-jerusalem-incomplete.html
The tent that was removed by the police in 2009 was located right outside the home that is now the center of controversy. A Palestinian family built an addition without the proper permission. The end result is that Israeli settlers now “live” in the addition while the family remains in the original house. Internationals activists try to have at least two people at the site for each night. This presence created a barrier between the settlers and the Palestinians giving the latter a bit of peace of mind and a chance for decent rest each night.
This is the view from the street. The block addition on the left is the section taken over by the settlers. The small tent is shelter for the activists staying overnight and provides a "gate" and visual privacy for the Palestinians who live in the rear of this compound.
This is the view from the back side of the tent. There is a small court yard and access to the living areas.
Readers who are really interested in this situation would do well to watch the videos in the following link. The son of the Palestinian family talks about his life. Israelis (including a middle aged army veteran) talk about their decisions to stand in support of the Palestinians.
http://theonlydemocracy.org/2011/11/new-sheikh-jarrah-video-from-just-vision/

