CPT Al Khalil/Hebron

March 2010 Update

On team:  Ryan Schiffer, Nina Chiba, Jean Fallon, Maureen Jack, Fathiyeh Gainey, Paulette Schroeder, Barbara Martens, Alwyn Knight

The General Situation:

We are especially concerned that the the Israeli military appear to be targeting young people, especially boys, in the Old City. There have been a number of incidents during the month, including the arrest and detention of the son of a close neighbour and friend of CPT.  The usual accusation is that the boys – and in one case, a girl – have thrown stones.

There has been heightened tension in Hebron following the announcement by the Israeli prime minister that the Ibrahimi Mosque is to be recognised as a Jewish Historical Site.

School Patrols

CPTers have continued to monitor the Mosque Complex, Al Sahla Street, and Qitoun checkpoints when children are going to school in the morning, and have accompanied children returning home in the afternoon in the village of Al Bweireh. Settlers in the illegal outpost at Al Bweireh continue verbally to abuse CPTers, but there has been no further physical violence towards the children.

Incidents involving young men and children

Monday 1^st March:

Fallon and Schiffer visited the Old City home of a family whose 20-year old son had been arrested the previous day – for throwing stones. His mother did not know where he was being detained. The son had already served a six-moth sentence for stone throwing, and the mother was afraid that another sentence would be even longer. (NB stone throwing appears to be endemic here. Palestinian children throw them. So do Israeli settler children. The difference is that the latter are rarely, if ever, punished. Settler children often throw stones with the approval of adults, as many CPTers can testify).

Tuesday 2^nd March

 Jack and Fallon visited a neighbour and CPT friend whose son is detained in an Israeli detention centre in Ramallah. He denies the charge, and there may be independent evidence that he is innocent. That is held by a member of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron. Tragically for the young man, that evidence cannot be made available to the court. TIPH reports are made only to the Israeli government and the National Palestinian Authority. The court case is scheduled for the 22^nd April.

Thursday 11^th March.

The Israeli military detained two more young men from the Old City. On this occasion they were released without further action.

Tuesday 16^th March. 

Israeli soldiers detained a young man with learning difficulties. Again, he was accused of throwing a stone.

Tuesday 23^rd March. 

Israeli soldiers entered a house in the Old City, and ordered the entire family onto the roof. A soldier at a permanent post on the roof of an adjacent house then ordered the three teen-aged girls to stand to one side. One thirteen year-old was accused of throwing a stone. More soldiers came to escort her from her house. A Palestinian woman shouted at the soldiers: 'She's a girl! This is a girl! You can't arrest her'. This woman was finally allowed to accompany the girl to Kyriat Arba police station, where she was questioned, and later released.

Al Bweireh

In addition to the school patrol, CPTers are making visits to at-risk families.

Saturday 6^th March,

Gainey and Martens responded to a phone call from a Palestinian partner, who reported that a horse had been stolen from an Al Bweireh family. The CPTers arrived just as negotiations were being concluded with an Israeli police officer. The agreement was that Palestinians and internationals would leave, on the understanding that the horse would be returned. (NB, the agreement was broken. The horse was finally returned a month later, after a 'ransom' had been paid).

Actions,

Wednesday 3^rd March  

Gainey and Jack took part in a women's demonstration. The women came from a number of villages outside Hebron, and are members of an empowerment group. Their intention was to worship in the mosque. When they reached the mosque turnstile, they were locked for 25 minutes. They were finally allowed through, and after attending prayer in the mosque, they returned through the Old City without incident

Friday 5th March 

Following the announcement by the Israeli prime minister that the Ibrahimi Mosque is to be designated a Jewish Historical Site, an Imam led about 50 men down the hill from the mosque entrance after Friday prayers. A line of soldiers blocked their way. The Palestinians edged forward, but were stopped by more soldiers. The soldiers fired a round of tear gas  canisters, followed by percussion grenades, and the Palestinians dispersed.

Local incidents

Some local incidents during the month appear to be related to events in Jerusalem, and in particular the re-dedication of a dis-used synagogue in the vicinity of the Al Acqsa Mosque.

Tuesday 16^th March,

Palestinian young men were throwing stones and burning tyres between Bab il Baledeyya and Bab iZeweyya. Many of the young men were masked. No Palestinian soldiers or police were present.

Wednesday 17^th March

There were further clashes at Bab il Baledeyya, with about 20 National Palestinian Authority military present in full riot gear. Some young men were arrested by the NPA. The NPA used tear gas and percussion grenades. The clashes continued sporadically all day. Many local contacts expressed anger at the behaviour of the NPA military.

Morning school patrol at the Qitoun checkpoint was without incident, but at 8.00 a.m. a Palestinian  adult started to throw stones at the checkpoint. He was joined by several children. The soldiers responded with tear gas.

Friday 19^th March

The clashes continued, with sporadic use of tear gas and percussion grenades,k throughout the afternoon and evening. While CPTers were present, most of the stone-throwing was by adults.l

Celebrations

Sunday 21^st March

A free breakfast was served to celebrate the Old City. Several hundred people attended. Food was provided by the Governor's and Mayor's office.

Wednesday 31^st March

The Dream Theatre and Arts Centre – a Palestinian initiative in Hebron and surrounding villages - performed for children and their mothers in the street outside the CPT apartment. The Centre uses puppetry, drama, painting etc under the direction of AbdulMari Jabberi to teach non-violence, and to help deal with the traumas many children and young people experience as a result of the Occupation. They have an office near the former Occupied House.

Youth Initiative

Sunday 28^th March

At the suggestion of the Advisory Council, CPT hosted a meeting of young men from the Old City. 12 young men attended, together with members of the Advisory Council. One of the needs identified was for English lessons. These will be provided by Charlotte, a young volunteer from England. It is also hoped that the football team – which used to use the Chicken Market for practice – will make a new start under the manager of Zleekha and manager Ziad.