"Then why the fuck do you care??!!!"

I would like to begin this post by apologizing for the swear word in the middle of the sentence. Four letters words are usually not a part of my vocabulary, although I have to confess they do occasionally slip. However, this is a direct quote and I am going somewhere with this.

An hour after coming back from Atta’s house, we got a call from CPT that the settlers were planning a parade near Al Buweyre. Often such events result in attacks against Palestinians, destruction of property, and general harassment of non-Jewish people in the area (unless they happen to oppose the settlers, which most Israelis do).

We came to the village around 3:00 PM. Because of heavy police presence, we had to
go around the road. Like commandos, we climbed over rocks, snuck through the fields, went through grape groves and bean fields. We eventually got close to road connecting Harsina and the outpost and sat on the rocks on the Palestinian side. It is actually very close to the place where my friend and I were attacked two weeks ago.

A lady from the settlement came by with her two sons and crossed over to the Palestinian side to pick figs off the tree. A Palestinian who would dare to do the same and cross over to the settler’s side and be seen would end up either in prison or a hospital. She saw us sitting and watching and began yelling at us in English. She first told us that we are garbage. She yelled why are we standing there.

Actually, we were sitting but that didn’t really matter. She yelled at us that we do not believe in God, that God gave this land to Israel, and that God will kill us. I was about to start pointing out to her the many problems that modern Zionism has in the face of Scripture, that neither the Old Testament or New Testament condone it and that Israel’s policies towards Palestinians fly in the face of Biblical teachings on justice. My teammates advised me that this is neither the time or place for this discussion so I kept my mouth closed.

For a really good read from a Christian viewpoint, I’d recommend reading this article: http://http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Doctrines/Zionism/zionism.htm

Chances are that you may not agree with everything on the website. I personally don’t. Yet that is OK, we learn by hearing different opinions and points of view.

The woman settler yelled at us some more, then said “garbage garbage, you are garbage” again and walked away. Then we saw groups of settlers walking down the road towards the outpost. Some were men, others were women with kids. They both glared at us and made comments that I could not understand. One of the girls pointed to me and said something, then her girlfriends all started giggling. Perhaps she recognized me from the news.

The settlers moved on to the hills in the Becca Valley, very close to where Atta and other Palestinian farmers live. There were about 70 of them, they just walked on the Palestinians’ land. We followed them and observed from a distance. Some of the men moved uphill, and began chasing away a small group of sheep that was walking towards them on the way to graze. They began throwing rocks and the sheep ran away. Other settlers set up a loudspeaker and began broadcasting speeches.

We moved closer but the police were guarding them and confiscated our passports and told us to go away. We were told the area is a “closed military zone” but no documents were provided to show that. Some group members began arguing with them, pointing out that the settlers are the ones who are here illegally and that the farmers in the area have been attacked before. The soldier responded predictably, and told them to shut up.

I didn’t say much. I just asked the soldier one question: how would he respond if Palestinians held a public event in Harsina or even the outpost.

He looked at me in annoyance and asked me if I am a Palestinian. I told him I am not.

“Then why the fuck do you care??!!!” he yelled.

We were told go away or we would be arrested. It began getting dark. We were eventually given back our passports and we moved away a certain distance. We observed the event until the settlers left, around 8:30 at night. We navigated our way through the fields until we reached Al Buewyre. We stayed at a house with a family that had asked us to stay with them, they feared the settlers would attack them. Given the fact that there were between 70 and 80 of them in the area, it was a fairly reasonable request. We stayed up most of the night, drank water, ate grapes, and played chess with the young men. Thank God nothing happened.



I have to say though that the soldier’s words stayed in my mind, and still do. Why the fuck do I care? Why am I here? Why is ISM here? Why is CPT here? EAPPI? Other groups we may not even know about?

Why are we coming halfway across the world to stand up for the Palestinians? I can speak for myself. I am here because God wants me here. The call to hunger and thirst and if necessary for righteousness comes from my Lord and Saviour’s lips, and it is very real to me. I believe that by standing by the Palestinians I am standing by Jesus. I have also had many oppurtunities to be a witness to people around me.

Jesus accepted those who society had thrown away and decided are unfit to live in equality and dignity. Those, like the woman caught in adultery, whom the religious leaders of her day simply saw as unfit to live. He ate with tax collectors, hung out with fishermen and preached God’s love to the poor. He hears the cries of the Palestinians, and all other victims of injustice. If I am serious about following Him, I cannot close my ears and pretend that “it is not my business”.

Others come for different reasons. Most activists I work with do not yet know God, yet they too can sense the injustice that is taking place. They hunger and thirst for righteousness more than most Christians I know. Unlike so many people, they are not content to sit back and watch the tragedy unfold, they come down here and put their bodies on the line. I am filled with admiration. Paul speaks of them when he wrote of the people who have the Law written in their hearts, even if they do not know it. In many ways, they are already following Jesus and I pray they get to know Him. I wish more Christians had their courage and commitment.