Here are some videos I found from another blogger, ibn Ezra, who recorded his experience doing some of the same things we did, with the same people, in the same places, at almost the same time. His first video shows shepherding in Tuba, the family featured is the family we stayed with. The situation he recorded is very similar to the one we experienced. The second video is about the school patrol and the route the children take in order to get to school. Shawn, the young American man in the hat, is one of the full-time CPT members in At-Tuwani who guided our team.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Strong, Savvy Women
I want to introduce you to one of my favorite places and one of my favorite persons from my trip to the Middle East: Nawal and the Women’s Cooperative of Hebron!At the Women’s Cooperative of Hebron, we were greeted warmly by Nawal and her sister who invited us into their shop, served us delicious tea, and showed off their beautiful clothing, bags, wall-hangings, and other goodies embroidered by women. To support their families and become more financially independent, women from all over the West Bank learn skills like embroidery and make beautiful products in their homes to be sold in shops like this one.
Palestinians have been hit hard, economically, by the military occupation because of the violence, arrests, and restrictions of movement. In Hebron, the military ordered many businesses to close and several others closed themselves when the city was under curfew (they could not leave their homes) or the shops could not be profitable. Many men in Bethlehem can no longer go to their jobs in Jerusalem because of the separation wall and checkpoints. Farmers in the West Bank have a hard time getting their harvests to the market because of the roadblocks and restrictions on roads. Husbands and fathers have been killed, arrested, or deported to Gaza with no notice or explanation. All of these stories mean serious financial, social, psychological, and cultural implications for women and children.
Nawal's is the only women-owned shop in the marketplace and the male merchants often give them a hard time. It is especially difficult, Nawal said, on days when her son comes to work with her and he wants to run and play, not sit quietly in the shop! Our friend Kevin, a perpetual good sport, provided us all with lots of laughs when Nawal demonstrated how to wear the traditional Palestinian keffiyah. The women just loved that Kevin bought gifts for the women in his family there, including a coin purse embroidered with the words “Women Can Do ANYthing!”
When we visited the village of At-Tuwani in the South Hebron hills, we met Kifa, an entrepreneur who started a Women’s Co-op in her village. When Kifa first started the Co-op, there was little support in the village but her husband stood behind her. Little by little, more women (and supportive husbands) began to take part after seeing what a positive thing it was for the community and for their families. Now even some of the most conservative families take part in the Cooperative. Kifa told us that she does this work because it is good for women; it helps them financially, psychologically, and spiritually. She said it sets a good example not just for little girls but especially for little boys like her own sons whom she knows will grow up to be “good men”.
The full-time CPT members in the village told us that Kifa’s husband had been arrested a week earlier for taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the demolition orders of homes and electrical pylons in their village. British Prime Minister Tony Blair had previously visited the village and promised, on behalf of the Quartet, that they would receive electricity so the village built electrical pylons in preparation. But the village recently received notice from the Israeli government that the pylons were illegally constructed and will be bulldozed. Building permits must be approved by the government and it is almost impossible for Palestinians to be granted permits. At our visit, Kifa's family did not know yet when her husband would be allowed to return or how much the fine would cost. You can imagine the stress this causes for Kifa and her children and how important a source of income is for them now. The demonstration was likely an excuse to arrest her husband, the team told us, because the government knows he is a respected leader and organizer in the small community.
Holy Shenanigans: ways to put your faith into action:
- Support fair-trade women’s products and businesses, like 10,000 Villages, which sells products from women’s co-ops around the world. Plan ahead when you take vacations or mission trips and save your souvenir money for women’s co-ops or shop in areas that need the money most.
- Ask the Quartet to keep Tony Blair's promise that At-Tuwani will receive electricity.
- Teach your daughters, and just as importantly, your sons, that women can do anything! Model gender equity in your sermons, Sunday School curriculum, church committees, and family life.
Powerful Women from Alternative Information Centre on Vimeo.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Better Know a Peacemaker, Episode 1
Meet Anna Baltzer. She is really brilliant. Here's her bio:
Anna Baltzer is a 28 -year-old Jewish American Columbia graduate, Fulbright scholar, and the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. She is a three-time volunteer with the International Women’s Peace Service, where she documented human rights abuses in the West Bank and supported the nonviolent movement against the Occupation. She has spent most of the past few years in Palestine or on tour with her book, Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories.
She has an oh-so-helpful video with pictures of settlements in the West Bank and an explanation of roadblocks:
Anna Baltzer is a 28 -year-old Jewish American Columbia graduate, Fulbright scholar, and the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. She is a three-time volunteer with the International Women’s Peace Service, where she documented human rights abuses in the West Bank and supported the nonviolent movement against the Occupation. She has spent most of the past few years in Palestine or on tour with her book, Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories.
She has an oh-so-helpful video with pictures of settlements in the West Bank and an explanation of roadblocks:
Back in the USA
I am back in Colorado! We mailed our memory cards and literature home to avoid questions at the airport so I have to wait even longer to put pictures up but they are coming – I promise!
An important note I should share, I am no expert on these issues but will try to share what I’ve learned in a way that I think helps others understand, while still struggling to understand the issues.
This post is dedicated to my Uncle Jerry who asks many important and difficult questions about who the fundamentalist Jews are, how the settlements are funded, and Prime Minister Netenyahu’s recent order to demolish some settlements.
Who are the fundamentalist Jewish settlers?
We tried to get into a settlement for a tour but were not able to see one from the inside, unfortunately. What we heard from Israelis, Palestinians, and Internationals living in the area is that the largest population of fundamentalist Jews is from America (Brooklyn, specifically). We also heard that a large population comes from France.
Additionally, we've heard that a lot of the economically-motivated settlers are from Ethiopia and Russia.
How are the settlements funded?
We heard from several organizations that the settlements are heavily subsidized by the Israeli government. In an earlier post I wrote that the Israeli government pays for the settlements but I should clarify, they don't pay 100% of the costs. According to an article released while we were in Jerusalem, the Macro Center of the Israeli European Policy Network reported that settlements receive 57% of their funding from the Israeli government. (In contrast, Israeli municipalities receive 35% funding from the government.)
What about the recent news reports that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered the demolition of several settlements?
Israel has been pressured by Internationals to stop construction of new settlements and we heard news that Netanyahu announced his plans to bulldoze 12-20 outposts that were not approved by the Israeli government. People we spoke to had bittersweet reactions to this news. On one hand, it shows the value of International pressure and influence on the government. On the other hand, there is fear that this is a political move that will appease Internationals but that no real change will come from it. One of our CPT guides took us to an outpost that had been identified as one planned for demolition and it was a tent that housed a synagogue outside a settlement. No one lived there and it was not even a building, compared to the large settlement community of houses and buildings a few blocks away. I’ll post a picture when I have my memory card back. It is my understanding that the many of the outposts ordered for demolition are “political settlements” and few, if any, people actually live there.
A "settlement" outpost ordered for destruction in Hebron.
An important note I should share, I am no expert on these issues but will try to share what I’ve learned in a way that I think helps others understand, while still struggling to understand the issues.
This post is dedicated to my Uncle Jerry who asks many important and difficult questions about who the fundamentalist Jews are, how the settlements are funded, and Prime Minister Netenyahu’s recent order to demolish some settlements.
Who are the fundamentalist Jewish settlers?
We tried to get into a settlement for a tour but were not able to see one from the inside, unfortunately. What we heard from Israelis, Palestinians, and Internationals living in the area is that the largest population of fundamentalist Jews is from America (Brooklyn, specifically). We also heard that a large population comes from France.
Additionally, we've heard that a lot of the economically-motivated settlers are from Ethiopia and Russia.
How are the settlements funded?
We heard from several organizations that the settlements are heavily subsidized by the Israeli government. In an earlier post I wrote that the Israeli government pays for the settlements but I should clarify, they don't pay 100% of the costs. According to an article released while we were in Jerusalem, the Macro Center of the Israeli European Policy Network reported that settlements receive 57% of their funding from the Israeli government. (In contrast, Israeli municipalities receive 35% funding from the government.)
What about the recent news reports that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered the demolition of several settlements?
Israel has been pressured by Internationals to stop construction of new settlements and we heard news that Netanyahu announced his plans to bulldoze 12-20 outposts that were not approved by the Israeli government. People we spoke to had bittersweet reactions to this news. On one hand, it shows the value of International pressure and influence on the government. On the other hand, there is fear that this is a political move that will appease Internationals but that no real change will come from it. One of our CPT guides took us to an outpost that had been identified as one planned for demolition and it was a tent that housed a synagogue outside a settlement. No one lived there and it was not even a building, compared to the large settlement community of houses and buildings a few blocks away. I’ll post a picture when I have my memory card back. It is my understanding that the many of the outposts ordered for demolition are “political settlements” and few, if any, people actually live there.
A "settlement" outpost ordered for destruction in Hebron.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Caves, Shepherds, and Detention
We are back in Jerusalem from visiting some rural villages South of Hebron and we get on a flight back to Denver tomorrow night, I have so much to tell you about, but here are some of the most eventful stories.
One night some of us walked to a neighboring village, Tuba (what a cool name, huh?), to spend the night with families there. This is the village we marched to with the children although we took a longer, more difficult route there for the sake of safety. Along the walk we encountered 3 camels, some gazelle, and a herd of sheep with a shepherd.
Tiffany and I stayed with O's family who are shepherds. Though they own many acres of land, it is illegal for them to build anything on the land so they live in a cave below ground without electricity or water (obviously). We were welcomed with great hospitality and their children took us by the hand to show us their animals and play games. (I tried out my best sheep impression for laughs but I guess it looked more like a monkey...) Then they served us an incredible dinner of a tomato and Leban (salty cheese) soup with veggies and Tuboon bread, which is a delcious flat bread.
After dinner, the family told us stories of settler violence. Their children make the long walk to Tuwani every day between the settlements. Some of their children have been beaten up by settlers (grown men) and one of their youngest sons who is entering 1st grade this year, was nearly kidnapped by a settler. (Though the Army has an agreement to accompany the children to school, they often don't show up and when they do, they only complete part of the route, stopping short of one of the most dangerous parts of the path, near the settlers' barns).
We stayed up late talking and then slept outside underneath the stars (this is the family's custom in summer). The weather was perfect and it was the best night of sleep I've had during the trip, despite the nighmarish stories. When we woke up, there were all sorts of animals walking right past our beds - donkeys, chickens, doves, and sheep! I don't want to romanticize their life, though, because they very much want a house and would prefer not to live in a cave!!
In the morning, we accompanied the shepherds, who are in constant danger of violence and harassment from settlers and soldiers. I don't know what I was imagining when I thought of shepherds...maybe tough, grizzly old men? These shepherds were just boys - ages 11, 15, and 19, and part of the family who hosted us (another team accompanied a pair of shepherds ages 10 and 11).
The shepherds took the sheep out to graze on their land (the land they own, near Tuba) and we walked alongside. (They requested our presence because the presence of "Internationals" deters the risk of violence, they believe). Shepherding is a form of resistance because when land is stolen, one of the justifications that is given is that "the land was not being used" so the shepherds are sure to graze their sheep everyday.
All was beautiful and peaceful for about an hour until we spotted some soldiers making their way towards us. This happens nearly every day and the shephers must decide if they will stay and graze anyway or leave for another place. Staying means possible violence or arrest and leaving means a step towards losing their land. That day, the shepherds decided to stay.
More soldiers came and they called the Israeli police who arrived with some settlers. The settlers in fact had called the Army who detained the shepherds and the Internationals. The detention was spread out over a long time (I think it was 4 hours sitting in the sun, altogether). The police were waiting for the military government to show up with the official maps that would show who the land belonged to, according to the Israeli government. When the military government finally showed up they did not bring any maps or other evidence and told us that the land was state land, which means it is illegal for Palestinians, settlers, Israelis, and Internationals to be on it (yet the settlers present were certainly not detained or risking arrest). In actuality, O's family's land has not been seized by the Israeli state, yet...which is probably why the government did not bring a map to show.
Eventually, all detainees were let go, except the oldest shepherd boy. While we was not officially "arrested" (after all, there were no charges...he was legally on his land), he was not allowed to leave and was taken to the settlement police station so that the officers could "help answer his questions." They told us that the boy had requested to go and they were helping him, but it was clear he did not want to go to the police station.
I'm no lawyer...but this doesn't sound like justice to me...
Yesterday we spent an incredible day with Bedouins and I can't wait to tell you about them and their very complex issues, but this post is long enough.
Please pray for safe travels, especially an uneventful clearance through the Tel Aviv airport!!
Salaam! Shalom! Peace!
One night some of us walked to a neighboring village, Tuba (what a cool name, huh?), to spend the night with families there. This is the village we marched to with the children although we took a longer, more difficult route there for the sake of safety. Along the walk we encountered 3 camels, some gazelle, and a herd of sheep with a shepherd.
Tiffany and I stayed with O's family who are shepherds. Though they own many acres of land, it is illegal for them to build anything on the land so they live in a cave below ground without electricity or water (obviously). We were welcomed with great hospitality and their children took us by the hand to show us their animals and play games. (I tried out my best sheep impression for laughs but I guess it looked more like a monkey...) Then they served us an incredible dinner of a tomato and Leban (salty cheese) soup with veggies and Tuboon bread, which is a delcious flat bread.
After dinner, the family told us stories of settler violence. Their children make the long walk to Tuwani every day between the settlements. Some of their children have been beaten up by settlers (grown men) and one of their youngest sons who is entering 1st grade this year, was nearly kidnapped by a settler. (Though the Army has an agreement to accompany the children to school, they often don't show up and when they do, they only complete part of the route, stopping short of one of the most dangerous parts of the path, near the settlers' barns).
We stayed up late talking and then slept outside underneath the stars (this is the family's custom in summer). The weather was perfect and it was the best night of sleep I've had during the trip, despite the nighmarish stories. When we woke up, there were all sorts of animals walking right past our beds - donkeys, chickens, doves, and sheep! I don't want to romanticize their life, though, because they very much want a house and would prefer not to live in a cave!!
In the morning, we accompanied the shepherds, who are in constant danger of violence and harassment from settlers and soldiers. I don't know what I was imagining when I thought of shepherds...maybe tough, grizzly old men? These shepherds were just boys - ages 11, 15, and 19, and part of the family who hosted us (another team accompanied a pair of shepherds ages 10 and 11).
The shepherds took the sheep out to graze on their land (the land they own, near Tuba) and we walked alongside. (They requested our presence because the presence of "Internationals" deters the risk of violence, they believe). Shepherding is a form of resistance because when land is stolen, one of the justifications that is given is that "the land was not being used" so the shepherds are sure to graze their sheep everyday.
All was beautiful and peaceful for about an hour until we spotted some soldiers making their way towards us. This happens nearly every day and the shephers must decide if they will stay and graze anyway or leave for another place. Staying means possible violence or arrest and leaving means a step towards losing their land. That day, the shepherds decided to stay.
More soldiers came and they called the Israeli police who arrived with some settlers. The settlers in fact had called the Army who detained the shepherds and the Internationals. The detention was spread out over a long time (I think it was 4 hours sitting in the sun, altogether). The police were waiting for the military government to show up with the official maps that would show who the land belonged to, according to the Israeli government. When the military government finally showed up they did not bring any maps or other evidence and told us that the land was state land, which means it is illegal for Palestinians, settlers, Israelis, and Internationals to be on it (yet the settlers present were certainly not detained or risking arrest). In actuality, O's family's land has not been seized by the Israeli state, yet...which is probably why the government did not bring a map to show.
Eventually, all detainees were let go, except the oldest shepherd boy. While we was not officially "arrested" (after all, there were no charges...he was legally on his land), he was not allowed to leave and was taken to the settlement police station so that the officers could "help answer his questions." They told us that the boy had requested to go and they were helping him, but it was clear he did not want to go to the police station.
I'm no lawyer...but this doesn't sound like justice to me...
Yesterday we spent an incredible day with Bedouins and I can't wait to tell you about them and their very complex issues, but this post is long enough.
Please pray for safe travels, especially an uneventful clearance through the Tel Aviv airport!!
Salaam! Shalom! Peace!
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