CPT Al Khalil/Hebron

Update April 1 – 16, 2010

On team: Paulette Schroeder, Alwyn Knight, Ryan Schiffer, Nina Chiba, Paul Rehm

General Situation:

We are still concerned about the number of young men who have been arrested in recent weeks. Several will appear in Israeli military courts during the month.

Moslem leaders are encouraging local people to use the Ibrahimi Mosque following the announcement by the Israeli prime minister that the Ibrahimi Mosque complex is now regarded as a Jewish Historical Site.

CPTers are continuing to visit shopkeepers in the Old City, and families at risk in Al Bweireh. 

School Patrols:

In addition to the daily Mosque, Al Sahla Street and Qitoun checkpoint school patrols, CPTers together with EAPPI continue to visit the village of Al Bweireh each school day afternoon. There have been no further incidents in the village, and residents have expressed their thanks to CPT for their presence.

Acts of Palestinian Resistance

Saturday 3^rd April

Schiffer and Knight visited Idhna to witness the planting of about 100 olive trees by local farmers. About 250 people – women, men and children – took part in the event, which was on Palestinian-owned land a few hundred metres from the separation fence, and on land which is under threat from the Israeli authorities. Actions are held regularly in the village, and often attract the attention of the IDF, but on this occasion no soldiers were seen, though they were obviously aware of what was happening because a security  camera points directly towards  the land in question.

After the planting the CPTers were invited to a festival, which was organised by the Palestine People's Party – the successor organisation to the Communist Party. Speeches were given by party organizers from Palestine and Israel. Then local musicians played Palestinian music, joined often by the men dancing.

The festival was held in a privately-owned leisure facility on the edge of the village.

The action was supported by PARC – the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee.

Israeli Settler action:

Wednesday 7^th April

At 2.00 p.m. CPTers received a call that settlers and soldiers were trying to break into Palestinian owned properties in Shuhada Street. When Knight and Schroeder arrived the incident had ended, but TIPH, and local press were there, together with Israeli soldiers and police. We understand that up to 10 settlers and soldiers had tried to break into an empty Palestinian house near the Corduba School, and then into the adjacent, occupied house. They had been unsuccessful.

Thursday 8^th April

The son of one of the Palestinian shopkeepers who has premises opposite the Israeli Gutnick Centre had to visit the Israeli police-station in Kiryat Arba to try to identify settler(s) who had attacked him the day before, while in his father's shop. The usually cheerful shopkeeper was sad, and worried about his son: 'I am sorry. Usually I am happy, but today I am sad'.

Israeli military action:

Thursday 1^st April

The Mosque turnstile was closed, as Israelis were celebrating Pesach, and had exclusive use of the mosque complex for two days. CPTers tried to approach the Qitoun checkpoint via Shuhada Street, but were prevented by the IDF. They had to take a long taxi ride to Qitoun. Children and teachers who normally use the Mosque checkpoint used the 'Ladder Lady's' house to get to school.

Tuesday 6^th April

A teacher who regularly passes the Mosque Checkpoint showed Schroeder cigarette burns on his shirt which had been made by a soldier. The soldier had stopped him at the Mosque gate and had told him to say: 'Yasser Arafat is a son of a bitch'. He refused, and the soldier burned his shirt and chest in two places. He is unwilling to report. the incident, for fear of reprisals.

Thursday 15^th April

Knight attempted to visit Jerusalem. Internationals are now forbidden to leave Bethlehem via the checkpoint below Beit Jala, so he went to the Gilo checkpoint. Before he completed his passage through the checkpoint he was 'detained' with three Palestinians for 45 minutes. Because it was no longer worth making the journey to Jerusalem, Knight exited via a turnstile which led back into Bethlehem. He then saw about 100 Palestinians and internationals waiting in a queue. Two Palestinians at the front of the queue had hospital appointments for that afternoon, which they almost certainly missed.

When he returned to the CPT apartment Knight telephoned the office of the Bethlehem Civil Administrator. He was told that the checkpoint was closed 'for a military exercise'. No explanations or apologies had been given to people queuing to use the checkpoint.

Friday 16^th April

Rehm and Schroeder went to Beit Ummar for a commemoration of Prisoners' Day. The venue was a school. The ceremony began peacefully, but then the IDF arrived, and took up positions on rooftops. Meanwhile, outside, young men began to throw stones. The IDF ordered the organisers of the event to stop the music and speeches. The organisers appeared to comply with the instruction but students sat down and began to clap. The IDF seemed to be confused. Meanwhile young men were still throwing stones outside the school, and this preoccupied the army for some time, as they responded with tear gas and percussion grenades. This distraction enabled the proceedings in the school to continue. A large crowd of Palestinians gathered.

Afterwards CPTers intervened with the IDF to open a closed military barrier, and to remove military vehicles which were preventing Palestinians from leaving the village.