REFLECTION

Hebron: An Eventful day in the West Bank - March 15, 2011

Inger Styrbjorn

 

A horrible murder took place four days ago in the illegal settlement of Itamar near Nablus. Parents and three young children were stabbed to death, presumably in their sleep.

The attack followed a week of countless attacks on the Palestinian people by the illegal settlers. Houses had been set on fire, trees cut down and water sources destroyed.

The Israeli government was quick to try to win political points from the attack. The funeral was a big deal and was transferred to Jerusalem. Virulent attacks and statements deluged the Palestinian population. Nablus and surrounding villages were subjected to the toughest possible restrictions – the hardest was the invasion of the nearest village of Awarta. The Israeli military went from house to house destroying everything they could.

Yesterday, we read in the media that all foreign workers of Thai and Filipino origin had been interrogated about the crime. From our contacts with the ISM (International Solidarity Movement) we were told that it was a man from Thailand who carried out the attack. He had threatened to kill the family if he did not get his outstanding salary.

The thing is, that three members of the ISM, two Swedes and one woman from Norway, were in the village when it was closed by the military. This evening I spoke with one of the Swedes. They are OK, but cannot come out of the village yet. Last night, they believed the Army would lift the restrictions, but settlers forced their way into the village to harass villagers. The army drove them away and stayed.

The Swedes said they could move fairly freely in the village, which has about 5,000 inhabitants.  They documented the destruction. The devastation was enormous in most houses.  The soldiers became very careful in this rampage when they saw that there was an international presence. It is rumored, according to the Swedes, that a Palestinian has been shot dead. They also believed that the army will leave the village this evening, No Palestinians have been found guilty of the terrible atrocity in Itamar.

After all the accusations and threats, not least from the Israeli leadership, we expected to hear some form of apology and corrections. Instead, it was announced that 500 new settlement houses will be built as a punishment for the alleged offense. In fact, bosättarhåll announced that a new settlement is already being built on Palestinian land, in memory of and in retaliation for the slain family. The information about the man from Thailand has been neither confirmed or denied.

 Large numbers of young people also gathered today across the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, to manifest their desire for peace and a united Palestine. The young people have joined forces to put an end to years of disagreement and conflict, primarily among its leaders.

In Hebron, we CPTers joined a crowd of about 800 Palestinians, around Manara Circle and Ebni Rushd. The slogans echoed: "Yes to a united Palestine", "Down with political disagreements", "Yes to national elections", "No to the Oslo Agreement" and "No to occupation".  There were many speakers and scores of Palestinian flags fluttered among the crowd. Palestinian police and security personnel oversaw the whole thing and directed traffic to other streets. Everything about it was calm and dignified. Of course, I was both touched and proud when I saw zeal and determination of the youth. A young Palestinian excitedly said to me: "Ever since my father died when I was five, I've had a bad life. Now we young people want to have a change!"

We hear from Al Bweireh that the village is constantly exposed to attacks by the illegal settlers on a hill near the village. Two nights ago several cars in the village were damaged and stones were thrown at houses. Last night some ISMers stayed  with a family that was worried. During the day, settlers threatened the school children with guns and in the evening, once again, the illegal, hostile settlers attacked the house. We try to keep an international presence in Al Bweireh together with the other international peace organizations EAPPI and ISM.