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.

Tree Planting Protest in Burin

The Olive Tree: symbol of Palestine

Olive trees have long been an economic staple of Palestine, constituting the traditional livelihood of the Palestinians. Many products such as olives, olive oil, olive wood, and olive-based soap are extracted from the olive trees. But the olive tree is far more than an economic resource for Palestinians. To Palestinians, the olive tree is sacred and symbolically represents Palestine. The older trees, their gnarled, ancient trunks attesting to a life span of 800 to 1,000 years, have been passed from one generation to another, over hundreds of years.

Since 2000, however, over half a million olive trees and thousands of acres of farmland have been destroyed by the Israeli Occupation Forces to clear land for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, for construction of roads that only settlers can use, and for the building of the apartheid Wall that has been declared illegal by the International Court of Justice. In addition, thousands of olive trees have been destroyed -- burned, poisoned, chain-sawed -- by militant Israeli settlers in an attempt to drive the Palestinian farmers from their land. The settlers even uproot ancient olive trees and replant them in their settlements.

Some of the 95 trees destroyed in Burin by settlers last month.

Thus the planting of olive trees -- the universal symbol of peace -- is a meaningful form of peaceful protest against the violence perpetrated against the Palestinians. Such plantings are also testament to the steadfast persistence of Palestinians and their undying love for their land.

Young saplings are planted on threatened Palestinian land near the settlements; given to farmers whose trees have been destroyed by the Israeli Occupation Army and/or settlers, and to farmers who face economic privation due to the Israeli Occupation. Internationals and Israeli peace groups join in the effort which fosters international awareness of the challenges facing Palestinian farmers and the deteriorating economic situation they face.

Kick-off of the "10,000 Trees for Nablus" Campaign in Burin

On Thursday, October 29th, MPTers joined international activists in accompanying the farmers and villagers of Burin to the planting of approximately 50 olive trees as part of the “10,000 Trees for Nablus” campaign. Burin was selected as one of the communities to participate in the program as it has endured numerous Israeli Army and settler attacks this year; just in the last two months the village endured an arson attack, settler harassment, and the cutting of 97 trees by settlers with chainsaws.

The morning of the tree planting the “winter rain” began, prompting concerns that the tree planting would have to be postponed, the rain and winds were so intense. However, by the appointed noon hour, the rain had stopped. The drought-stricken land was so thirsty, that it had rained was not readily apparent.

Burin schoolgirls join in the walk to the field for the planting.

There was a significant outpouring of villagers, including about 30 students from the Burin Girls School in their green and white striped tunics, and a comparable number from the Burin Boys School, the boys sporting their blue shirts. Eighteen members of the Civil Campaign for the Protection of Palestinian People, a French solidarity organization, participated in the effort. Although a total of 200 trees were slated for Burin for this first planting, only 48 were planted that day, and not on threatened lands near the illegal settlements of Yitzhar and Bracha so that the children could participate.

Carefully unwrapping an olive tree.

Students planting an olive sapling. Teachers from the Burin Girls School in the background.

The boys take their turn at planting an olive tree.

Similar tree plantings are scheduled to occur every two weeks, weather permitting, in a dozen villages around Nablus, including the communities of Qusin and Asira Al Qibliya where MPTers have provided accompaniment for the olive harvest, in addition to Burin. Funding for the 10,000 trees is spearheaded by Friends of Nablus and Surrounding Areas (FONSA), a charitable trust created by the people of Dundee, Scotland, to help the Palestinians of Nablus and surrounding areas who are suffering under the Israeli Occupation (http://www.fonsa.org.uk/). Dundee has been “twinned” with Nablus for almost 30 years through the Nablus-Dundee Twinning Association. FONSA works in cooperation with the Palestinian Al-Hayat Center for Development of the Civil Community.

Villagers and internationalists celebrate a successful planting, giving hope to the future of Palestinian children.

Qaryut

On Tuesday, Oct.27, the Palestinian village of Qaryut was attacked by Israeli settlers from a nearby illegal Israeli settlements. Nine villagers needed medical attention with a number of them being taken to the hospital in Ramallah.
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, two MPTers along with other internationals and Israeli peace activists responded to the call for an international presence so the harvest could continue. When they arrived, the rough dirt road to the olive grove was clogged with two Israel army jeeps, sixteen soldiers and a couple of Palestinian farmers’ tractors filled with eager Palestinian olive pickers.
The vehicles were adjusting positions and we were motioned to stay back by the Palestinians. Shortly the entire group of soldiers and police of the Israeli occupation forces, Palestinians and internationals began to move up the road, past Palestinian farmers picking their olives to an disputed area in an olive grove. The Israelis activists were particularly helpful in aiding the internationals to gain access to the olive grove. In this disputed area there were about 18 long rows of olive trees with the settlers “owning” the six rows on either end and the Palestinians owning the six rows in the middle, a most unusual and hard to comprehend arrangement.
MPTers observed that the settlers’ trees were very heavily laden with ripe olives while many of the Palestinian trees had almost no olives on the lower branches, but generally a good amount up high. The suspicion by the internationals and Israelis was that lower olives might have been stolen in a quick harvest by settlers , or possibly the lower area of the trees had been strayed with something, or maybe the settlers’ access to piped in irrigation water allowed their trees to flourish.
The harvesting started with men, women, children, Israelis and internationals working together and, at times, up to twenty Israeli police and soldiers standing guard at the edge of the grove. Shortly after a traditional communal picnic lunch, a Japanese journalist, a Japanese photographer and a Palestinian journalist arrived to interview the Palestinians about the olive harvest and the situation regarding the occupation and the illegal settlements.

One of the Palestinian woman readily and passionately spoke of the difficult situation.

A few minutes later two settlers arrived driving small utility vehicles. They circled the Palestinian area hanging markers in “their” trees.

This activity continued on and off for a number of hours, giving the Japanese crew, internationals and Israelis a chance to photo them. A couple of internationals and several of the Israelis tried to communicate with the settlers in the utility vehicles. The settlers just continued to repeat that the land was theirs and all should leave. The Israeli military and police finally moved into the center of the grove. One settler drove right through the middle of the Palestinian trees and stopped to talk to the Israeli police.

The police asked him to leave saying, “If you return, you will be arrested.”

Although there was concern and tension in the air, the Palestinians were able to complete most of their harvest in their area and then load all the bags of olives, ladders, kids and workers into the trailer and drive back to town.

Israeli soldiers and police stayed “to escort” everyone out of the area. The Palestinians were not able to complete totally the harvest nor collect fallen olives which can be used for making oil or olive oil soap. As the MPTers and three other internationals enjoyed the cooler air and pleasant mile plus walk back to the village, they pondered the effects of the occupation on every detail of Palestinian life.

Settler Attack in Asira al Qibliya

In the late afternoon of Tuesday, October 27th, three MPTers and another international went to Asira al Qibliya after receiving a call that a Palestinian home was being attacked by Israeli settlers from Yitzhar. Asira al Qibliya is a village 9 miles southwest of Nablus, and half a mile from Yitzhar, one of the most ideologically-oriented illegal Israel settlements in the area.

An Israeli soldier across the street from the family's home, the settlement of Yitzhar in the distance.

When the internationals arrived, the settlers were gone but two Israeli Occupation Army jeeps remained along with about six soldiers. Interestingly, the internationals were told that the soldiers arrived half an hour before the settlers, and that the same thing happened in the last settler attack. The MPTers were puzzled by this and mentioned it to a Palestinian acquaintance, who said that such “attacks” are planned between the army and the settlers to make it appear that the soldiers are defending the Palestinians. MPTers attempted to engage the soldiers in conversation but the commanding officer ordered the soldiers not to speak. As MPTers took photographs, one soldier came over and offered to pose for a photo of himself shaking hands with a Palestinian man, but his efforts were rebuffed.

Israeli soldiers and jeeps in front of the family's home.
The home is on the edge of Asira al Qibliya and the target of settler invasions over the past four years. Villagers often watch for the attacks and come to their aid. This particular day the husband was away and the wife was alone with her four children. She said that settlers had been attacking the house every Friday, but lately now “only” once or twice a month. Approximately a year ago, settlers spraypainted stars of David on the house. The family painted them over, and settlers repainted several of the stars.

The mother shows the MPTers some of the damage previously caused by settlers, while three of the children pose.

During one attack when the soldiers fired tear gas at the family home, the mother asked a soldier, “Why do you fire tear gas at us and do nothing to the settlers, when the settlers attack us?” The soldier responded, “I don’t know. I’ve only been here a week.” The other international told MPTers that a year ago 100 settlers attacked the village, shooting, smashing windows, and throwing stones. A video of the invasion had been surreptitiously taken by an international and was shown on Israeli TV. The Israeli Prime Minister described the incident as a “settler pogrom.” (See http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1020914.html for Israeli press coverage of the incident.)

Solar panels on the roof, one damaged previously by settlers.

MPTers and the other international visited another family who also had been subjected to attacks. The homeowner said his and two other hilltop houses are frequently attacked. He has lived in his home since 1994 but for the past four years he has not been able to visit or tend his land for fear of the settlers. He said the Oslo Accords made conditions worse. Before Oslo, he said, people in his community could go to their land without fear. Now settlers have confiscated his father’s land; burned wheat that the villagers had planted, and destroyed 60 olive trees. In addition, the villagers can no longer access the village well which had supplied the community with much of its water needs. He said the settlers’ only purpose in coming down to the village is to harass and intimidate the people, with the purpose of getting them to move so settlers can take over the entire area. He was the first Palestinian these MPTers encountered who wagged his finger at them when they identified themselves as from the United States. Palestinians are aware of the complicity of the United States in the financing of the Israeli military occupation of Palestine.

Jit Accompaniment - Part II

The settlers' vineyards abut the Palestinians' olive groves. Note the illegal Israeli settlement on the mountaintop.

Once again MPT received a request to accompany a Palestinian farmer in Jit, who was experiencing problems with the Israeli Occupation Forces and settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Qedumim, established in 1975. (See the October 19th posting describing the MPT accompaniment of October 14 and 15 in Jit.) The Palestinian requesting accompaniment owns hundreds of olive trees on land adjoining the settlement and estimates it would take his men a solid two weeks to harvest them all. However, the Israeli Occupation Army has been banning him from picking, or restricting him to picking only two or three hours a day; at that rate, the harvesting would take weeks and the olives will have dried on the trees. The landowner has also experienced harassment and intimidation by the settlers.

Friday, October 23, 2009
About 7 a.m. three MPTers arrived at the family’s land, less than 100 yards from the settlement’s vineyards. At 8 a.m. the Palestinians and MPTers noted the arrival of an Israeli Occupation Army jeep on the settlement road, and two Israeli soldiers watching the picking. After an interval, the soldiers weaved their way through the vineyard and called to the Palestinian landowner, informing him that picking was restricted to two hours, until 10 a.m.

Israeli soldiers, at the fence, calling out the olive picking restrictions to the Palestinian landowner.

About this time a contingent of volunteers with Rabbis for Human Rights arrived, and the leader immediately went to the fence to talk with the soldiers. After a prolonged discussion, the leader informed the group of six volunteers that they had to leave: Israelis were barred from the area. The volunteers moved a short distance away to observe, and possibly to pick out of sight of the soldiers.

A volunteer with Rabbis for Human Rights speaking to soldiers of the Israeli Occupation Forces.

MPTers wondered when they would receive their orders from the Israeli military. They didn’t have long to wait, as the soldiers motioned them to the fence and told them they had to leave. The MPTers responded that they were Americans and didn’t have to leave. The soldiers called their superior who came and informed the MPTers that they could stay and pick with the Palestinians but everyone had to leave at noon. Surprised at being able to pick until noon, rather than the previously stated 10 a.m., the MPTers repeated the hour, “Noon,” to make sure there was no misunderstanding. The soldier nodded, “Noon.” The next few hours were a flurry of harvesting. Two volunteers from Rabbis for Human Rights returned to assist as they were not Israelis.

Israeli soldiers attempting to tell the MPTers they must leave.

Shortly after noon, a soldier appeared at the fence, announced that everyone had to be gone in five minutes, and left. The Palestinian landowner told the MPTers and the internationals that he and the other Palestinians would not stop as there were so many trees to be picked. MPTers decided they would remain with the Palestinians to provide accompaniment and help pick. Harvesting continued until 4 p.m. without any incident or appearance of soldiers or settlers.

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Three MPT members returned to help the family in case of further military or settler interference, arriving in the groves at 6:30am. The men had been at work since 5:30, intent on putting in as much time as possible before the soldiers arrived. Shortly after 7 a.m., six Israeli soldiers appeared in the olive grove. After checking the Palestinians’ IDs, the soldiers announced that there would be no picking of olives -- no work -- on the Jewish Sabbath. The inherent contradiction of the soldiers, who are Jewish, working on the Jewish Sabbath didn’t faze them.

Israeli soldiers on Palestinian land, in essence telling the Palestinians they must observe the Jewish Sabbath.

The MPTers argued with the soldiers that their dictum was ridiculous, and that their continual changing of the rules each day constituted harassment and intent to prevent harvesting. Every day brings a different story and order, in addition to the threat of settler violence.

The MPTers had been joined by two volunteers from Rabbis for Human Rights -- young, very attractive European women who spoke Arabic. The soldiers seemed quite taken with the young women who were able to speak to the Palestinians, interpret for the MTPers, and hold their ground with the soldiers.

Internationals argue the Palestinian cause with Israeli soldiers.

The European women and MPTers prolonged the discussion with the soldiers until the area Palestinian representative of Rabbis for Human Rights arrived. With official map in hand, he forcefully made the point that the land belonged to the Palestinians and they had permission to harvest their crop. Following an animated discussion and phone calls made by the soldier in command, resolution was reached: no one could pick in the immediate area because it was the Sabbath, but the Palestinians, with the help of internationals, could pick their olives on trees farther away from the settlement. The soldiers also stated that there would be no restrictions on picking olives the next day.

The Palestinian representative of Rabbis for Human Rights advocates for the Palestinian landowner.

Sunday, October 25, 2009
Three MPTers arrived at the olive grove at 6:30am to make sure that indeed the Palestinians would face no restrictions on their olive picking that day. They joined the men in the harvesting of trees a significant distance from the settlement. Around 8:30am, 10 volunteers from Rabbis for Human Rights arrived. They had secured permission from the Israeli Occupation Forces to help with the picking. Everyone then moved to the area closer to the settlement from which they had been evicted on the Jewish Sabbath. It was opportune to harvest that sensitive area when there was a significant presence and permission for picking had been granted to the Israeli volunteers. The picking continued all day without incident.

The joy of olive harvesting . . . absent intimidation, harassment and violence.