Accompaniment in Jit

The Palestinian family makes their case

to the Israeli Occupation Force.

Two MPTers traveled to Jit to provide accompaniment to a family who wished to harvest olives from their land, which adjoins the illegal Israeli settlement of Qedumim. Several years ago, a large section of their land was confiscated and 20-30 olive trees destroyed, to build a radar tower and a road to the settlement. Palestinian farmers are routinely evicted from lands close to illegal Israeli settlements, a process which not only denies farmers their livelihoods, but also facilitates the annexation of additional Palestinian lands by Israeli settlers. The family told MPT that about seven years ago the settlers had cut and poisoned their olive trees, so that 50-year-old trees are stunted and look more like 10-year-old trees.

Upon arrival at their olive grove, the family was dismayed to find there were hardly any olives on the trees. They concluded that settlers had picked them. In addition, the path among a section of the trees was strewn with the skull and bones of what must once have been a horse.

The family told the MPTers, "You see how they [Israeli settlers] treat our land."

It wasn’t long before two settlers arrived on the scene, an armed young man and a woman, who demanded the IDs of the Palestinian landowner, his wife and his brother. When later asked why they would give settlers their IDs, a relative responded that they could be shot should they refuse. The MPTers insisted that the IDs be returned to the Palestinians, that the settlers had no right to them, and after a time they were returned. The settlers began making phone calls almost as soon as they arrived, and the MPTers called the branch of the Israeli Forces that addresses settler problems. The two settlers were soon replaced by an armed young man whom the MPTers believed to be a member of settler security, although he wore no uniform.

A jeep of young soldiers arrived, and almost immediately took the IDs of the Palestinians. Two more soldiers arrived and, after assessing the situation, left to pick up their captain. Other soldiers left and new ones arrived. Then the major drove up. (Interestingly, as each group of soldiers arrived, they greeted and shook hands with the settlement security guard.) Amid this flurry of coming and going, the soldiers were poring over orders and maps, making phone calls, talking among themselves, talking with the Palestinian landowner, pointing and gesturing around the landscape.

Israeli soldiers and the settler security guard pore over the map.

This activity lasted two and a half hours, with no relief from the hot sun. Several times an MPTer asked the soldiers if the family could work while the discussion continued, and was told no. The story kept changing. First, the Palestinians did not have permission to pick that day. Then the land wasn’t theirs. At one point the major approached the MPTers and said: “Two sentences. You have to leave. The Palestinians can stay and pick.” MPTers protested that they had been invited by the Palestinians, and that it was up to the Palestinians whether they would leave. The Palestinian landowner insisted that the MPTers were his guests and would stay. Finally, the Israeli officers declared they needed to get better maps and would meet with the Palestinian landowner in two hours.

Life under Occupation: the Palestinian waits to learn if he can tend his own land.

The MPTers had been very concerned about the safety of the Palestinian IDs, trying to keep track of who had them. The IDs passed hands as the soldiers came and went, and twice the IDs left the area with the soldiers who had them. When this concern was expressed to the major, he said not to worry, that the Palestinians could go back to their village and get them there. Knowing that the Palestinians could be arrested for not having their IDs with them, the MPTers told the major they would not leave the vicinity of the settlement until the IDs were returned to the Palestinians. The IDs were returned when the meeting disbanded.

The late afternoon meeting was postponed to 9am the following morning. The family, two MPTers, and two other internationals who had come to show support, met the military and two settlers on the family’s land. The Israeli soldier in command that day refused to allow any internationals to come anywhere near the discussion. He also banned the taking of any photographs, although several were surreptitiously taken. Again, maps were scrutinized and vigorous discussion ensued, accompanied by flailing of arms and gesticulations in various directions.

So many people to reach no decision.

After an hour it was determined that new aerial maps needed to be taken to determine what land, if any, belonged to the Palestinian family.
The family, however, was granted permission to continue picking what olives remained and to prune their trees, which they did. The MPTers and other internationals assisted and provided accompaniment. One family member explained that the trees had not been pruned in three or more years because of trouble with settlers. He also said that because of the international presence, the soldiers remained on the scene and consequently prevented any settler disturbances. When pressed, “Are you sure we made a difference?,” the Palestinian landowner replied, “I know it.”

20-30 olive trees were uprooted to build this road and radar tower. The family was not compensated. They are not allowed to tend the trees around the tower, as that is now a "security area."

Settler Threats to the Olive Harvest in Jamma'in

Olive groves cover the hills of this part of Palestine.

This pastoral scene is a site of contention

between Palestinians and illegal Israeli settlements.

(Click on picture to enlarge)

One MPTer and other internationals assisted with the olive harvest near the Jamma’in village, which has suffered harassment by Israeli settlers and frequent Israeli military invasions in the last couple of years. This village of over 6,000 is near two illegal Israeli settlements, Ariel, the largest settlement in Palestine and Kfar-Tappuah. Jamma’in is in Area B [Israeli military control and Palestinian civil control], so Palestinians are not allowed to build homes. The school cannot expand to meet growing population needs; thus often fifty children are taught in a very small classroom.

Since 2008, the Israeli Occupation Forces have maintained a roadblock which prevents vehicular traffic in and out of the village along the main road. [See www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsNm2WSUTio This video was taken by Machsum Watch, an Israeli checkpoint watch organization.]

On the third day MPT joined other internationals in accompanying the village farmers harvesting the olives in this area. One of the internationals who had been with the farmers for the previous two days, recounted her experience to MPT.

Israeli outpost east of grove.

Largest illegal Israeli settlement, Ariel, to the west of the grove.


The olive trees grow on terraces built
into a rugged rocky hillside.

The first day an Israeli settler with an automatic rifle walked into the grove, flexed his muscles and shouted that the land was his. The international said that the settler looked scared, but terrifying as he strutted toward the internationals and then through part of the grove near the farmers picking olives shouting that the land was Israeli. The second day several Israeli settlers armed with M-16s came to the olive grove, and Palestinians “armed” themselves with stones and sticks, but there was no occurrence of physical violence. The settlers said the Palestinians could stay, but demanded that the internationals leave. The settlers claimed that the land was theirs. The internationals called a contact who phoned the Israeli Occupation Forces who sent several soldiers in about 10-15 minutes who asked the settlers to leave, which they did.

The third day internationals, including an MPTer, took turns on a high spot to observe the outpost and settlements in the distance in order to warn of approaching settlers. No settlers came, much to the joy of everyone. The three internationals were joined by 3 Israelis with Rabbis for Human Rights, including a married couple who were helping Palestinians with the olive harvest for the first time.

The Israeli couple were first-timers working with Palestinians

in the olive harvest.

MPT picks olives in those groves where there is a threat of violence by settlers or the army. All were grateful that there had been no incident of violence this day.

Problems at the Qalandia Checkpoint

On October 8th, the two arriving MPT members met in Jerusalem for a late lunch with the two departing MPT members and the Team "anchor." A heightened military presence due to the Jewish feast of Sukkot/Tabernacles [harvest feast with tents/booths] in the city was noted. Many more Jewish people were walking in the Arab section of the Old City.

As the MPTers proceeded out of Jerusalem toward Ramallah, the bus came to a crawl about a mile from the Qalandia checkpoint and then to a stop about a quarter mile away. At that point, passengers began leaving the bus as the driver announced a problem at the checkpoint and a delay of a half-hour to two hours or longer.

Qalandia checkpoint is one of the largest Israeli military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank. It governs traffic between the West Bank capital of Ramallah and the international city of Jerusalem. On a daily basis, Israeli soldiers check Palestinian identity cards, often causing pedestrians long delays as they pass through the checkpoint building and major traffic jams at the vehicle checkpoint.

MPTers learned that the Israeli military had closed Qalandia checkpoint because of the heightened tensions in Jerusalem. All vehicular traffic had reached gridlock as vehicles jostled to change lanes and directions, attempting to get to their destinations via other routes. Young Palestinian men were directing traffic and, amazingly, everyone was taking it in stride with minimal honking or aggressive maneuvers.

Total gridlock at Qalandia Checkpoint.

Passengers grabbed their bags and
searched for alternative transport.

Drivers searched for alternative routes

to their destinations.

Jews, celebrating the end of the Jewish festival of Sukkot, had gone to the Temple Mount, Jerusalem's Islamic religious sanctuary. Some 200 Muslim men were in the El-Aqsa Mosque, the primary place of Islamic worship in Jerusalem, to protect it. Tensions were running high. Palestinians from the West Bank are prohibited from entering Jerusalem and Israel has increasingly limited access to the mosques for Palestinians with Israeli IDs or special permission.

Moreover, many Palestinians, including the woman with whom MPTers spoke at the gridlock, fear that the archeological dig that Israel is undertaking at the Temple Mount is actually a tunneling to undermine the foundation of the Dome of the Rock so that it collapses.

When the Qalandia checkpoint was closed, Palestinian youth, knowing of the ongoing events around the Temple Mount, started to throw stones and the Israeli soldiers responded with tear gas. MPTers finally reached the MPT house, 5 hours after leaving Jerusalem. The trip usually takes 1 ½ to 2 hours. Arriving MPT members received an early orientation to the daily life of Palestinians under occupation.

Fall Team Complete

This week our fourth Fall Team Member arrived safely in the field for the second session of our Fall 2009 Team. Per the last post, the team is working on getting access to the internet, so watch for more Blog postings soon.

Keeping you all in the loop....

Readers:

Our Team in the West Bank is doing amazing work, but their apartment has temporarily lost internet access. Look for updated reports and photos to be posted as soon as they can get back on line. We hope this "technical difficulty" will be resolved very soon. Thanks for following the Team's progress.

- Mary Hanna/Michigan Peace Team

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Two Fall Team Members Arrive Safely

Two additional Fall Team members joined our team anchor on the ground early this morning (Michigan time). The last Fall Team member will join them soon.

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Sarra - Settler Theft of Villager's Olives

This roadblock barring entrance from a main highway to Sarra village was constructed in 2002.
Formerly it barred both pedestrians and cars; now only cars are blocked.
(Click on pictures to enlarge them.)

Today MPTers and other internationals were invited to pick olives with a Sarra village family in a grove across from an illegal Israeli outpost of the Qedumim settlement. Sarra village, seven miles west of Nablus, has had its road leading to the main highway closed by huge cement blocks since 2002. The village has removed this road block at various demonstrations and then been punished for it by home invasions and harsh harassment by the Israeli occupation army

Sarra villagers are proud of their well-organized village with good internet access. Brothers in the inviting family have spent time in the USA; one attended an Ohio nursing school.

As MPTers walked the long distance to a small olive grove, a family member pointed out an area burned by settlers. The wind had blown the flames to a brush area in the east rather than to the east, thus saving a large olive grove.

A family uncle rides ahead of the MPTers to his large olive grove,
hoping that he and his family can salvage a few olives from his grove.

MPTers noticed that in the distance across the highway near the illegal Israeli outpost and a large olive grove about ten settler cars and a group of settlers. The owner of the olive grove, an uncle of the inviting family who rode on his donkey beside the MPTers, told them that the Israeli settlers had already picked most of his olives.

In the distance is the outpost. Israeli soldiers are there to "protect" the villagers from the settlers. Two settlers youth were turned back. Often both settlers and soldiers attack villagers.

The Israeli army was stationed at several points near the grove.
Here villagers negotiate with the army in order to pick any remaining olives.

Israeli army and army police jeeps were stationed at the west of the grove,
effectively controlling the entrance of any persons they deemed undesirable.

This day Sarra villagers had "permission" and "protection" from the Israeli army to pick olives on this land, their land. However, the settlers had already picked most of the olives and at least one family was turned back by the soldiers when the internationals were present.

When the international group [MPTers included] moved down to observe more closely, an Israeli military officer called the villager with them down to the highway. The villager was told by the officer that no internationals were allowed across the highway. According to a recent Israeli court decision Palestinians can invite whomever they wish to pick in their groves. The villager was given the "OK" by the Israeli officer to check out the grove belonging to his uncle. He reported when he returned that he has seen few olives left to pick. Internationals had not been invited by the family to pick in this area perhaps because they did not know the court decision or knew that the olives there were very few.

After finishing picking in the small grove on the side opposite the outpost, the family and internationals returned to the village for a delicious lunch. Internationals commented that Israeli settlers live outside the law and are protected by the Israeli occupation forces when they commited huge thefts that affect the livelihood of Palestinian villagers.

This group attempted to negotiate an entrance to their olive grove, but the soldiers sent them back to the village. Their entire olive crop has been lost.

An Example of Cooperation and Courage

The main entrance to Qaryut village is blocked

by a large earth and rock mound.

This week, two MPTers and three other internationals went to the small village of Qaryut to participate in a demonstration against the blockade of a road leading directly from the main highway to the village. The road blockade forced residents to take a much longer access route. It turned out to be much more than a demonstration. It was an example of planning, courage, cooperation and persistence.

Qaryut, a Palestinian village of 2,500, is surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements on three sides. Since 2000, sixty percent of the land around the village has been confiscated by the settlements. Recently Israeli authorities have confiscated an additional 225 acres of agricultural land to build three new roads for the settlements. This land belongs to about 150 Palestinian families living in Qaryut.

Large blocks needed the force of several strong men.

Shortly after noon men and boys, young and old, came down the road and gathered in front of the massive rock and gravel barrier. With shovels, hoes and bare hands they began to remove the road block. Five Israeli occupation force jeeps arrived and soon the whiz of tear gas bombs was heard.

Five Israeli jeeps with heavily armed soldiers arrived
in an effort to control this nonviolent demonstration.

At this point about 75 of the younger demonstrators hurried across the field to block the main highway Number 60. The soldiers were forced to turn their attention to this problem, but could not use the tear gas because of its effects on motorists.

In a clever maneuver youth moved to the main highway
to block traffic.

Several stopped for midday prayer.

Meantime work on the road barrier continued and many of the young boys and older men gathered for prayer between the barrier and the Israeli soldiers who had by this time abandoned their plans of stopping the demonstration.

There were loud cheers and whistles as the first car crossed the barrier and made its way to the village.

Cheering and whistling, the crowd greeted the first car across.

Later, at a gathering in the village center, leaders of the demonstration reminded the gathering that this was the 105th time since 2000 that they had opened their road -- and they were ready to do it again!

Burin Tree Massacre

Settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Yitzar
cut down 97 olive trees.
(Click on picture to enlarge)

On Monday night, September 28, a group of settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Yitzar, near the small Palestinian village of Burin, used chainsaws to cut down 97 olive trees belonging to a Burin village farmer. The next morning, internationals, including MPTers, were invited by villagers to come to the site. They found branches and tree limbs scattered everywhere over a 100 square yard area. The Israeli occupation forces had arrived before the internationals. The farmer whose olive trees had been cut down had contacted Israeli authorities to ask for Israeli army presence as protection against further settler violence during the time the cut down olive trees were harvested.

Olives from the cut trees were beginning to shrivel
so picking was urgent.

A crew of ten Palestinian men tried to salvage as many olives as possible. The internationals assisted these pickers. At first, the Israeli occupation forces showed no objection. However, a little later another Israeli army jeep came with a new commanding officer who told the Palestinians that the internationals must leave the area. The officer would not give a reason, but it was noted that a settler security jeep had come earlier and its passengers had talked to the commander. After some consultation the Palestinians advised the internationals that it would be best that they leave the area, but asked the internationals to return the following day, which they did.

On the first day, the Israeli military would not allow the internationals in the olive grove.

In the two days following this, the Israeli military were not present in the olive grove. MPTers and other internationals provided accompaniment and labor to the Palestinian workers as they picked and bagged perhaps 30 bags of olives from the destroyed trees. There was no further interference or harassment from settlers.

MPTers for two days picked olives from the cut down trees.

Hearty breaks were enjoyed by all.

On Saturday, October 3rd, the villagers of Burin organized a march to the field of the destroyed olive trees. About 15 internationals, including 3 MPTers, and a dozen media people accompanied the villagers. Halfway to the site, Israeli military jeeps were already in evidence and for a time prevented some of the marchers and media from crossing the highway. Leaders of the march negotiated with the soldiers so that the media and the rest of the marchers could witness the destruction in the olive grove. [The media and the internationals will show the world what illegal settlers had done.]

Israeli military jeeps blocked the passage of marchers, including media, until a compromise was negotiated by the Palestinians.

For a few minutes those in the march were allowed to pile cut branches for burning, but after about 30 minutes the Israeli occupation forces ordered the marchers out of the grove. The marchers returned to Burin feeling satisfied that they had done something to express their feelings about this sad event.

Marchers were only allowed to work a few minutes before being ordered out of the grove by the Israeli occupation forces.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of olive trees to the Palestinian people. Olives are used for light and heat, soap and wood-art, food and oil; they are the mainstay of the economy. The olive harvest is beginning now and incidents like this are not rare. Consequently, the Palestinians must make special preparations for the olive harvest and seek the presence of internationals to help protect them from settlers who try in various ways to prevent the harvest from being completed.

Olive trees which are vital to the economic life of Palestine
are loved by Palestinians.