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10.28.2010
FREE Tix to MPT's Gala Signature Event! Plus, Trainings for 2011
Israeli High Court ruling not enforced by soldiers
MPT encountered this same situation in the village of Kafr Qaddum two days after this video was taken. The farmer MPT was helping chose to leave his field because his identity papers show his history of Israeli prison and travel outside of Palestine forbidden. If the soldiers asked to see his papers he said he would be sent to prison again. His uncle was killed by settlers in 1988.
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10.24.2010
At the gates of an Israeli settlement
Palestinian olive trees in Kafr Qaddum are steps away from a back entrance to the illegal Israeli settlement of Qedumim. Today the Israeli army declared this area a closed military zone. MPT, Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) and International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteers are told by the army that non-Palestinians must leave the area. While the orders to leave were being clarified, two 50 kilo bags of olives were harvested by the Palestinian farmers and loaded onto the pictured donkey.
A RHR representative talks with a Palestinian farmer. Each Israeli activist( RHR) and international volunteer was thanked personally by the farmer for the help that was given today.
10.23.2010
MPT watches army and goats
A family from the small village of Kafr Qalil was picking very near the settlement of Har Brach. When angry yelling was heard from Israeli settlers, MPT talked on the cell phone with Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) explaining the situation at the request of the Palestinian farmer. The District Commanding Officer of the Occupying Israeli army was contacted by RHR representative. The Palestinian farmer appeared increasingly anxious; there has been a history of harassment including violation and destruction of property. MPT saw evidence of illegal grazing and burned land. The farmer and RHR requested MPT to take pictures of any settler aggression. An Israeli military jeep with 4 soldiers drove to the settlers’ goat watering pond and talked to the settlers. From the valley below the picking area, the soldiers observed the Palestinian family and the 4 internationals with photo equipment. Although the soldiers remained with the settlers, the farmer decided to pick in a safer area.
10.20.2010
A Glimpse in the life of a Palestinian farmer
Omar uses his donkey to transport tarps and bags to the picking site.
For the past three days MPT has accompanied Omar, a Palestinian farmer to his olive trees. A month ago he had 350 trees burned by the settlers. Today he heard that the Israel army would come to protect him from the settlers but the army didn’t come. Omar used his cell phone but was unable to learn why the army didn’t come. He chose to pick olives in a safer valley area further from the Israeli settlement of Har Bach.
In spite of the many hardships, Omar continues to experience, both he and his son could be heard singing Arabic songs while picking olives.
Omar picks up the newspaper that served as a ground cover during our picnic lunch and begins to read.
10.18.2010
Burned Olive Trees
As MPT leaves the taxi at a checkpoint on the way to picking olives, an Israeli soldier questions our team.
This morning MPT went to assist a Palestinian farmer with his olive harvest. A month ago, the Alqami family had 350 olive, fig, and almond trees burned by the illegal Israeli religious settlement of Har Brach which overlooks the family ‘s trees. The family has 650 trees remaining which the grandfather planted 60 years ago on their 750 durans of land (roughly 185 acres).
The District Coordinating Office (DCO) of Israel had issued at permit for Omar Alqami to harvest on October 11 when there could be military presence to insure protection from the settlers. Omar, however, was unable to harvest on the unrequested date so today was the start of his olive harvesting. Omar states it will take at least 10 more days to finish his harvest. With only himself, his wife and his son, Omar has no plans to harvest any trees close to the settlement “because it is just too dangerous.”
Yesterday, the DCO told the farmer just below Omer that his permit to pick olives was November 18 – a date when the olives would be past harvesting stage.
Such is the life of the farmer in the Occupied Territory of Palestine.
10.17.2010
Illegal Israeli Settlers Steal Olive Harvest
MPT was asked to accompany a family that lives in Awarta to harvest olives in their grove near the three illegal Israeli settlements of Itamar, Yitzah and Bracha. The Palestinian farmers feared the harvest would be disrupted by the settlers. When MPT and the Palestinian family arrived at their trees, it was soon evident that all of the trees had already been picked. Since 2007, the Awwad family have had their olives stolen. Five Awwad families have 200 olive trees which normally yield 300 kilos of olives. This year they gave up after we helped them harvest only 5 kilos of olives. Five kilos of olives would fill a 2 ½ gallon bucket; 300 kilos would fill approximately 12 bushels.
The two brothers & another relative were resigned as they explained with a smattering of English, that this has happened several years in a row. They did not seem angry, they did not yell. They were gracious to MPT members, shared their breakfast with us & took us to help another family with their olive harvest. This family spoke almost no English and we speak only a few words of Arabic. From what we were able to understand this family was under no threat but we did see some Israeli military vehicles pass by as we worked. They were apparently in route to their base in the valley, there to protect the three settlements built up on the hilltops. From what? Perhaps from the Palestinian farmers harvesting their own crops before the settlers are able to steal them?!
As we waited in Awarta we observed several posters & paintings on the building of one young man. When we asked about them, we were told that he was killed by the Israeli military, a year ago, Oct 23, 2009. International Solidarity Movement published an article about the murder of this 29 year old father last year.
10.14.2010
Last Fall Team Member Arrives Safely in Palestine
The third Fall Team Member has arrived safely in the field, and is well on her way to the team meeting point. She will join her teammate and they will continue on to their home base very soon. They will continue accompaniment work during the Olive Harvest, and more; watch for reports very soon.
Nicole Rohrkemper
International Peace Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team
Nicole Rohrkemper
International Peace Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team
10.11.2010
Role of religion in the Israel/Palestinian peace process - a panel discussion
MPT went to a discussion among local experts on what impact religion can make towards peace.
Dr. Mohammed Dajani represented the Muslim faith. He is a Jerusalem born scholar and peace activist. Dr. Dajani said Palestinians are disappointed in both Fatah and Hamas political parties. He suggested that Old Jerusalem have a non-political status not related to a country but a shared spiritual area. Palestine's capitol could be East of the Old City and Israel's capitol could be west of the Old City. His vision for peace is articulated at www.wasatia.info
Rev,Fr. David Neuhaus is a Jewish convert to Catholocism at the age of 26. He leads the Hebrew speaking Catholic Vicariate in Israel. Fr. Neuhaus said since 2% of population in Israel /Palestine are Christians,they have little influence. His opening statement called for 1) being self-critical not self-righteous,2) to be humble in relating to Jews and Muslims 3) to remember that God is the one that knows and has the answers. He doubted that religion could have much of an impact on the current political situation. More detail of his opinions can be found at http://religiousstudies.bethlehem.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=27
Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish represented a Jewish perspective. He is founder and director of The Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. He has lived in Israel for 31 years. He commented that if Christians had sway that there would have been peace long ago. Rabbi Kronish says he is very much in the minority in Israel since he is not on the extreme Zionist right in politics. He has been working with programs that bring Israelis and Muslims together in dialogue. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-stanton/hardnosed-dialogue-in-the_b_739625.html
There were areas of agreement among the three men. All agreed that religion as politics is a bad idea. All emphasized that each religion needs to teach how much in common the three have with each other. Dr Dajani regretted that extremists can take a passage of the Qur'an out of context and teach a narrow understanding as the Word of God. The panel agreed that each religion needs to teach their faithful the layers of meaning in their Holy books as a way of changing hearts and minds to be able to live in peace.
10.07.2010
MPT International Peace Team Insider News - Fall 2010
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