This used to be Mastafa Chamaise's home.
Mastafa Chamaise.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sayag Zone- echo from Canada's past
The Negev Desert is one of the natural miracles that shows Israel's natural beauty. It is also home to the Bedouin, an ethnic group of people who have made their home in Israel's Negev Desert.
Bedouins do not only live in Israel. They can be found in almost every country in the middle east. Some of them are nomads. Others live in tents. Others build houses. They rely on "desert agriculture"- herding sheep and goats, some also grow wheat.
Our guide was Amos. He is an Israeli Jew who drove us to visit Bedouin Sheikh Atiyah Al Assam and the people under his leadersip. Before 1948, tens of thousands of Bedouins lived in the Negev Desert. Bedouins did not take part in Israeli-Palestinian/Arab fighting during the war. Yet after Israel was created, the government began massive expulsions. According to Amos, an estimated 90,000 people were exiled to the West Bank and Gaza. Those who stayed in the Negev were all herded into an area known as the Sayag Zone. It covers 1500 square kilometres.
We drove into some of the Bedouin villages. The first thing I noticed was the fact that the roads were not paved. The houses are made up mostly of scrap metal sheets and wooden boards. Many have no windows. Children walk around barefoot. There is glass on the ground. There is no school in sight. You also cannot see post offices or playgrounds or police stations or hotels or other sights one would associate with a community.
Yet this is only a few metres from a very well paved highway and if you drive down a bit you will come across restaurants and houses and neighborhoods that would remind one of home in North America.
Bedouin villages are neglected for a reason. After herding them into this concentrated area, the Israeli government announced that the villages there are 'unrecognized'. That means that they, unlike other villages in Israel, have no access to basic services. Many Bedouin villagers have to come to Israeli towns to get water. There is often no electricity. Schools are nonexistent so the children have to be bussed to Israeli schools, often an hours drive away.
The Bedouins were given a choice. They could move into Israeli towns and cities and "assimilate" and give up their way of life. Many Bedouins have done that, but they do not fare well. They suffer from some of the highest rates of crime and unemployment in the country.
Those who stay find themselves fighting for their very survival. As if being neglected was not already bad enough, Israel has also imposed restrictions on housing. Getting a building permit for a Bedouin is almost impossible. Many have built houses in their villages, only to have them torn down by bulldozers.
People living in "illegal" houses are given a 30 day eviction notice. Often the demolition crews arrive earlier, like 2 weeks before the demolition date. According to people we spoke to who have been displaced, it looks like this: police officers with dogs come to the houses, often in the morning when the men are at work and children are in school. Whoever is in the house is given 45 minutes to an hour to haul out all their earthly belongings. Those who refuse are roughly thrown out. The bulldozers move in and do their work. Often the men and children who come later in the afternoon find their homes destroyed.
We spoke to Mastafa Chamaise, whose home was demolished last week. He spoke to us near the ruins of what once used to be his house. Looking at the scrap metal, I could not help feeling horror, revulsion and anger.
These people are among the poorest in Israel. Unlike some other ethnic groups, they are citizens. Many of their young men serve in the Israeli army, often being sent to the Gaza Strip and other most dangerous places. In spite of the displacement they have been and are being subjected to, they have not turned to violence. There is no Bedouin Hamas. None of these people have ever attacked Israel. They have for the most part not even laid a hand against the police and demolition crews who turn them out of their homes.
We finished our day by visiting Al Arakib. It is a village of approximately 100 people. It's sheikh greeted us and some of them men took us for a meal. We sat down on beautifully ornamented carpet. We were served glasses of water, then glass cups of very sweet Arabic tea, then small cups of bitter Arabic coffee. We were offered dates and grapes. Every time our cups were empty, they offered to refill them. I have rarely ever encountered such hospitality.
All of the kids came out to see us. Their faces were smiling as they waved at us. The girls all crowded around Hope, who had some candy with her.
We had a great time talking to the locals and experiencing their legendary Bedouin hospitality. Their village is set to be demolished by August 15. It has been built illegally and at any day the bulldozers and police may come. They live under a state of constant uncertainty and terror.
The land may be taken by the Israeli army, or used to build or expand Jewish villages or towns.
The eviction of people from their homes and placing them into concentrated reserves is nothing new in history. It happened in our country to the Aboriginal peoples. Canada has displaced and ruined the lives of entire Aboriginal communities. It is disturbing to see Israel using the tactics that our leaders used in the past.
I could not help feeling shock at the lack of violent resistance from the Bedouin, and, in spite of all they are suffering, a still deep appreciation and love for a country that treats them as second class citizens. There is no talk of attacks on Israeli police or soldiers or civilians. No talk of revenge. The Bedouins are suffering for the most part in silence. I can't help wondering how much longer this silent steadfastness will continue.
Israel would be wise to begin treating them with the humanity and respect they deserve. It does not need more enemies. Forcing people to live in such desperate conditions creates ideal fertile ground for religious extremism and terrorism.
I praise God for Israeli Jews like Amos who are advocating on behalf of their fellow citizens whose way of life and cultural existence is under threat.
Sheikh Atiyah Al Assam
Amos (guy in collared shirt sitting beside white shirted CPT member, Marie)
Some delegation members listening.
Sabra, the cactus fruit of the Israeli desert. It is very juicy and filling.
Bedouins do not only live in Israel. They can be found in almost every country in the middle east. Some of them are nomads. Others live in tents. Others build houses. They rely on "desert agriculture"- herding sheep and goats, some also grow wheat.
Our guide was Amos. He is an Israeli Jew who drove us to visit Bedouin Sheikh Atiyah Al Assam and the people under his leadersip. Before 1948, tens of thousands of Bedouins lived in the Negev Desert. Bedouins did not take part in Israeli-Palestinian/Arab fighting during the war. Yet after Israel was created, the government began massive expulsions. According to Amos, an estimated 90,000 people were exiled to the West Bank and Gaza. Those who stayed in the Negev were all herded into an area known as the Sayag Zone. It covers 1500 square kilometres.
We drove into some of the Bedouin villages. The first thing I noticed was the fact that the roads were not paved. The houses are made up mostly of scrap metal sheets and wooden boards. Many have no windows. Children walk around barefoot. There is glass on the ground. There is no school in sight. You also cannot see post offices or playgrounds or police stations or hotels or other sights one would associate with a community.
Yet this is only a few metres from a very well paved highway and if you drive down a bit you will come across restaurants and houses and neighborhoods that would remind one of home in North America.
Bedouin villages are neglected for a reason. After herding them into this concentrated area, the Israeli government announced that the villages there are 'unrecognized'. That means that they, unlike other villages in Israel, have no access to basic services. Many Bedouin villagers have to come to Israeli towns to get water. There is often no electricity. Schools are nonexistent so the children have to be bussed to Israeli schools, often an hours drive away.
The Bedouins were given a choice. They could move into Israeli towns and cities and "assimilate" and give up their way of life. Many Bedouins have done that, but they do not fare well. They suffer from some of the highest rates of crime and unemployment in the country.
Those who stay find themselves fighting for their very survival. As if being neglected was not already bad enough, Israel has also imposed restrictions on housing. Getting a building permit for a Bedouin is almost impossible. Many have built houses in their villages, only to have them torn down by bulldozers.
People living in "illegal" houses are given a 30 day eviction notice. Often the demolition crews arrive earlier, like 2 weeks before the demolition date. According to people we spoke to who have been displaced, it looks like this: police officers with dogs come to the houses, often in the morning when the men are at work and children are in school. Whoever is in the house is given 45 minutes to an hour to haul out all their earthly belongings. Those who refuse are roughly thrown out. The bulldozers move in and do their work. Often the men and children who come later in the afternoon find their homes destroyed.
We spoke to Mastafa Chamaise, whose home was demolished last week. He spoke to us near the ruins of what once used to be his house. Looking at the scrap metal, I could not help feeling horror, revulsion and anger.
These people are among the poorest in Israel. Unlike some other ethnic groups, they are citizens. Many of their young men serve in the Israeli army, often being sent to the Gaza Strip and other most dangerous places. In spite of the displacement they have been and are being subjected to, they have not turned to violence. There is no Bedouin Hamas. None of these people have ever attacked Israel. They have for the most part not even laid a hand against the police and demolition crews who turn them out of their homes.
We finished our day by visiting Al Arakib. It is a village of approximately 100 people. It's sheikh greeted us and some of them men took us for a meal. We sat down on beautifully ornamented carpet. We were served glasses of water, then glass cups of very sweet Arabic tea, then small cups of bitter Arabic coffee. We were offered dates and grapes. Every time our cups were empty, they offered to refill them. I have rarely ever encountered such hospitality.
All of the kids came out to see us. Their faces were smiling as they waved at us. The girls all crowded around Hope, who had some candy with her.
We had a great time talking to the locals and experiencing their legendary Bedouin hospitality. Their village is set to be demolished by August 15. It has been built illegally and at any day the bulldozers and police may come. They live under a state of constant uncertainty and terror.
The land may be taken by the Israeli army, or used to build or expand Jewish villages or towns.
The eviction of people from their homes and placing them into concentrated reserves is nothing new in history. It happened in our country to the Aboriginal peoples. Canada has displaced and ruined the lives of entire Aboriginal communities. It is disturbing to see Israel using the tactics that our leaders used in the past.
I could not help feeling shock at the lack of violent resistance from the Bedouin, and, in spite of all they are suffering, a still deep appreciation and love for a country that treats them as second class citizens. There is no talk of attacks on Israeli police or soldiers or civilians. No talk of revenge. The Bedouins are suffering for the most part in silence. I can't help wondering how much longer this silent steadfastness will continue.
Israel would be wise to begin treating them with the humanity and respect they deserve. It does not need more enemies. Forcing people to live in such desperate conditions creates ideal fertile ground for religious extremism and terrorism.
I praise God for Israeli Jews like Amos who are advocating on behalf of their fellow citizens whose way of life and cultural existence is under threat.
Sheikh Atiyah Al Assam
Amos (guy in collared shirt sitting beside white shirted CPT member, Marie)
Some delegation members listening.
Sabra, the cactus fruit of the Israeli desert. It is very juicy and filling.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday afternoon with Women in Black
Earlier that day we met a group of Israeli women who hold a weekly vigil in Jerusalem, calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian land.
The group is small but active. They come out every week, holding the same signs. And amost every week they face abuse from people who are walking and driving by who see them as traitors.
We stood with them for an hour, from 1:00 to 2:00. We heard angry cries from people driving by in their cars. Many showed them (and us) the middle finger. A guy on a motorcycle drove up to me, stopped, spat at me, and took off.
I was more amused than insulted. First of all, he totally missed (which was a good thing). I couldn't help thinking how glad I was that he actually stopped his bike to do what his patriotic duty required before tearing back off into traffic. Like, what if he was speeding by and not looking at the road before he let loose and crashed into something? I would have felt pretty horrible then. It was more amusing then anything to me.
Then I remembered that this happened to me once. Weekly these women face spittle, verbal abuse, and in the past have been subjected to physical assault. All for silently opposing their country's policies in the West Bank.
A man walked up to me and stated that all Arabs should leave the West Bank, that the Bible says this land is only for the Jews. I asked him if he was referring to God telling Abram that "I will bless those who bless thee and curse those who curse thee". He said yes. I reminded him that Abram had 2 sons, Isaac and Ishmael. The promise was given to both.
He moved on to say he has friends in hospital on life support because of Hamas rockets. I told him that I feel terrible about that, that CPT does not support Hamas and that in my personal opinion the suicide bombers and gunmen who attack Israeli civilians are cowards and murderers. But I also pointed out that the Israeli army has killed far more Palestinians than Palestinians have killed Israelis.
He pointed out that not one Israeli has became a suicide bomber and blown himself up in a Palestinian city. I agreed with him, then pointing out that Palestinian helicopter gunships have not fired missiles into Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
I also said that Israel is a beautiful country and that as a tourist I have grown to love its people and would never support it being dismantled or destroyed. I told him that if the shoe was on the other foot and the Israelis were living under Palestinian occupation, I would be there with CPT to defend them and support them. He said that he is sad whenever people die, on both sides.
That kind of ended the discussion and we shook hands before he left. It was really good to be able to speak with him and I did not rehearse the words or prepare for this conversation. All I can say is that I thank God for giving me the right words to say in the situation.
One of our team members was approached by a group of soldiers and told that the Palestinians are dogs and that when they begin to make trouble they need to be kicked down.
The group is small but active. They come out every week, holding the same signs. And amost every week they face abuse from people who are walking and driving by who see them as traitors.
We stood with them for an hour, from 1:00 to 2:00. We heard angry cries from people driving by in their cars. Many showed them (and us) the middle finger. A guy on a motorcycle drove up to me, stopped, spat at me, and took off.
I was more amused than insulted. First of all, he totally missed (which was a good thing). I couldn't help thinking how glad I was that he actually stopped his bike to do what his patriotic duty required before tearing back off into traffic. Like, what if he was speeding by and not looking at the road before he let loose and crashed into something? I would have felt pretty horrible then. It was more amusing then anything to me.
Then I remembered that this happened to me once. Weekly these women face spittle, verbal abuse, and in the past have been subjected to physical assault. All for silently opposing their country's policies in the West Bank.
A man walked up to me and stated that all Arabs should leave the West Bank, that the Bible says this land is only for the Jews. I asked him if he was referring to God telling Abram that "I will bless those who bless thee and curse those who curse thee". He said yes. I reminded him that Abram had 2 sons, Isaac and Ishmael. The promise was given to both.
He moved on to say he has friends in hospital on life support because of Hamas rockets. I told him that I feel terrible about that, that CPT does not support Hamas and that in my personal opinion the suicide bombers and gunmen who attack Israeli civilians are cowards and murderers. But I also pointed out that the Israeli army has killed far more Palestinians than Palestinians have killed Israelis.
He pointed out that not one Israeli has became a suicide bomber and blown himself up in a Palestinian city. I agreed with him, then pointing out that Palestinian helicopter gunships have not fired missiles into Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
I also said that Israel is a beautiful country and that as a tourist I have grown to love its people and would never support it being dismantled or destroyed. I told him that if the shoe was on the other foot and the Israelis were living under Palestinian occupation, I would be there with CPT to defend them and support them. He said that he is sad whenever people die, on both sides.
That kind of ended the discussion and we shook hands before he left. It was really good to be able to speak with him and I did not rehearse the words or prepare for this conversation. All I can say is that I thank God for giving me the right words to say in the situation.
One of our team members was approached by a group of soldiers and told that the Palestinians are dogs and that when they begin to make trouble they need to be kicked down.
Sheikh Jarrah action
We began the day with a tour of East Jerusalem, organized by a group called Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD). ICAHD was formed by Jeff Halper, an Israeli Jew. It was formed to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes.
East Jerusalem has a very high Palestinian population. Many fled there in 1948. Both Jews and Palestinians now live there, but Palestinians are not treated as equals.
The Israeli government does not allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to have Israeli citizenship. They are accorded the status of "permanent residents" but not citizens. They are barred from voting in national elections and most live in poverty. We drove through an Israeli and a Palestinian neighbourhood, literally just blocks away from each other.
The Israeli neighbourhood had a nice paved road and large houses as well as a beautiful playground for children and an elementary school.
In the Palestinian neighbourhood the road suddenly became gravel. The houses delapitated. No playground. No school.
According to our tour guide, over 78% of Palestinian children in East Jerusalem live under the poverty line. In West Jerusalem (mostly Israeli Jewish), 23% of children live under the poverty line- still shockingly high I think.
A Palestinian child is granted 480 shekels per year for education. An Israeli child is granted 2850 shekels per year.
Many Palestinian neighbourhoods are sorrounded by Jewish neighbourhoods. Before they drive through them, they are often stopped by soldiers at checkpoints. Some have been mistreated.
Palestinians are very rarely given permits to build homes, unlike Israelis. Often homes are build illegally and are then demolished. Our guide described how many of them look like- police with dogs come to force the families out of their homes before they are bulldozed. Sometimes people are given less than an hour to gather up their belongings before the bulldozers move in. After the homes are destroyed, their inhabitants are fined 8000 shekels to pay for cleanup of the rubble.
Many Palestinians are leaving East Jerusalem, unable to handle the pressure. They are encouraged to emigrate. Once they leave, most are not allowed to come back.
Sheikh Jarrah is a neighbourhood in East Jerusalem where Palestinians have settled after fleeing the 1948 war. The government of Israel promised them that if they agreed not to return to their former homes in Israel they would be allowed to live there.
During the past few years, Jewish settlers have began moving into Sheikh Jarrah. Many Palestinians have been given eviction notices and told to leave their homes to make way for the settlers. Families have been thrown out into the streets with no place to go. The goal of many of the settlers is to make Jerusalem more Jewish, and so the Palestinian population there has to be removed. The same is happening in the West Bank.
The actions of the settlers are opposed by many thousands of Israelis. In the afternoon, we went to a protest in Sheikh Jarrah that was organized and led by predominantly Israeli activists. Between 400 and 500 people showed up. The activists chanted "Jews and Arabs together" and "justice for Sheikh Jarrah". CPT joined in. I met Israeli university students, rabbis and orthodox Jews, all who came out to protest this injustice. Many Palestinians and Israelis driving by were honking and flashing us victory signs. Some also gave us the middle finger, but most showed support.
It was amazing to be there with these people and I felt so much pride for them, seeing them standing up against their government's unfair policies and with the Palestinian people. I spoke to some of the activists, many had been arrested by the police and have spent many a night in jail. We were observed by a dozen heavily armed soldiers and police. They stood by and watched but did nothing. That is not always the case.
I think of rallies organized in my city against the war in Afghanistan or to draw attention to poverty in the North End. In most cases, we are lucky if we get 50 people. Yet I have been to enough of these rallies to know that the police rarely ever arrest anyone or try to interfere. We risk little and do little. Israelis risk a lot and yet they continue to speak out and stand in solidarity with the victims of their governments' policies.
I am attaching pictures of the rally in the posts below.
Do protests work? I have been told that since they began, the judge who gives out eviction orders has given out a lot less of them. The struggle continues.
East Jerusalem has a very high Palestinian population. Many fled there in 1948. Both Jews and Palestinians now live there, but Palestinians are not treated as equals.
The Israeli government does not allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to have Israeli citizenship. They are accorded the status of "permanent residents" but not citizens. They are barred from voting in national elections and most live in poverty. We drove through an Israeli and a Palestinian neighbourhood, literally just blocks away from each other.
The Israeli neighbourhood had a nice paved road and large houses as well as a beautiful playground for children and an elementary school.
In the Palestinian neighbourhood the road suddenly became gravel. The houses delapitated. No playground. No school.
According to our tour guide, over 78% of Palestinian children in East Jerusalem live under the poverty line. In West Jerusalem (mostly Israeli Jewish), 23% of children live under the poverty line- still shockingly high I think.
A Palestinian child is granted 480 shekels per year for education. An Israeli child is granted 2850 shekels per year.
Many Palestinian neighbourhoods are sorrounded by Jewish neighbourhoods. Before they drive through them, they are often stopped by soldiers at checkpoints. Some have been mistreated.
Palestinians are very rarely given permits to build homes, unlike Israelis. Often homes are build illegally and are then demolished. Our guide described how many of them look like- police with dogs come to force the families out of their homes before they are bulldozed. Sometimes people are given less than an hour to gather up their belongings before the bulldozers move in. After the homes are destroyed, their inhabitants are fined 8000 shekels to pay for cleanup of the rubble.
Many Palestinians are leaving East Jerusalem, unable to handle the pressure. They are encouraged to emigrate. Once they leave, most are not allowed to come back.
Sheikh Jarrah is a neighbourhood in East Jerusalem where Palestinians have settled after fleeing the 1948 war. The government of Israel promised them that if they agreed not to return to their former homes in Israel they would be allowed to live there.
During the past few years, Jewish settlers have began moving into Sheikh Jarrah. Many Palestinians have been given eviction notices and told to leave their homes to make way for the settlers. Families have been thrown out into the streets with no place to go. The goal of many of the settlers is to make Jerusalem more Jewish, and so the Palestinian population there has to be removed. The same is happening in the West Bank.
The actions of the settlers are opposed by many thousands of Israelis. In the afternoon, we went to a protest in Sheikh Jarrah that was organized and led by predominantly Israeli activists. Between 400 and 500 people showed up. The activists chanted "Jews and Arabs together" and "justice for Sheikh Jarrah". CPT joined in. I met Israeli university students, rabbis and orthodox Jews, all who came out to protest this injustice. Many Palestinians and Israelis driving by were honking and flashing us victory signs. Some also gave us the middle finger, but most showed support.
It was amazing to be there with these people and I felt so much pride for them, seeing them standing up against their government's unfair policies and with the Palestinian people. I spoke to some of the activists, many had been arrested by the police and have spent many a night in jail. We were observed by a dozen heavily armed soldiers and police. They stood by and watched but did nothing. That is not always the case.
I think of rallies organized in my city against the war in Afghanistan or to draw attention to poverty in the North End. In most cases, we are lucky if we get 50 people. Yet I have been to enough of these rallies to know that the police rarely ever arrest anyone or try to interfere. We risk little and do little. Israelis risk a lot and yet they continue to speak out and stand in solidarity with the victims of their governments' policies.
I am attaching pictures of the rally in the posts below.
Do protests work? I have been told that since they began, the judge who gives out eviction orders has given out a lot less of them. The struggle continues.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Parents Circle- Families Forum
In the evening we met a group called Parents Circle- Families Forum. It is a group of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost their children or family members to the violence.
We met Sihama Alwad and Aaron Barniyah. Sihama is a Palestinian. Aaron is an Israeli. Both of them have lost family members to the violence.
Sihama's mother was imprisoned for speaking out against the Israeli army's actions in the West Bank. Her brothers were arrested for resisting the army. She did not say how, it may or may not have involved violence. They were imprisoned for several years. One of Sihama's brothers, Yussef, fell in love with a female prisoner. He got out before she did. He had to pass the engagement ring to her through the barbed wire. Simaha described Yussef as her best friend. He was a person she could always talk to, who would always listen to her and be there for her.
Eventually Sihama's mother and Ali were released too. In 2000, a party was being planned for Ali. On his way home, he was shot by an Israeli settler. That same day, a soldier shot Yussef in the forehead as he was driving his car. Yussef died.
Aaron's son served in the Israeli army and went to fight in Lebanon. His dad describes him as a very intelligent and gifted young man. His name was Noam. Noam did not agree with Israel's policies in Lebanon but went to fight because he believed that as a citizen of a democracy, he must serve his country. He volunteered to defuse explosives. During the last few weeks of the war, he wore an antiwar badge on his uniform that he refused to take off. On April 12, 1999 at 4:29 PM Aaron and his wife received the news that he had been killed by a bomb laid by Hizbullah.
Sihama and Aaron suffered great loss. The fact they got through such tragedy is remarkable enough. Even more so is what they, and hundreds of other grieving Palestinian and Israeli parents across the region, chose to do with that loss. Parents Circle brings grieving family members together. Palestinians and Israelis see each other through the pain they have experienced. But the group does more. It speaks to youth on both sides, youth who are most likely to take up violence. Simaha and Aaron have spoken in many Israeli schools to high school students, sharing their stories. Many of these kids are only a year or two away before being drafted by the army. The students see that human beings are dying and suffering on each side. It is less easy to hate people you feel empathy for. Many Israeli young men and women have refused to serve in the armed forces, instead opting for prison terms.
Ali has went into the West Bank and spoken with young men in Palestinian armed groups, sharing his story and the stories of suffering Israelis. He spoke to 60 members of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed group that has carried out attacks against Israeli civilians. They have invited him to speak again. Many have since left the group.
I will keep Parents Circle-Families Forum in my prayers. They are doing a very courageous thing, working through their suffering to put a human face to the war and in some cases effectively convincing people on both sides to put down their guns- or refuse to take them up in the first place.
I pray that God works through them to bring peace to this suffering region. I also pray they find true and eternal peace in Jesus Christ.
If you want to learn more about this amazing group please check out this website: http://www.theparentscircle.com/default.asp
We met Sihama Alwad and Aaron Barniyah. Sihama is a Palestinian. Aaron is an Israeli. Both of them have lost family members to the violence.
Sihama's mother was imprisoned for speaking out against the Israeli army's actions in the West Bank. Her brothers were arrested for resisting the army. She did not say how, it may or may not have involved violence. They were imprisoned for several years. One of Sihama's brothers, Yussef, fell in love with a female prisoner. He got out before she did. He had to pass the engagement ring to her through the barbed wire. Simaha described Yussef as her best friend. He was a person she could always talk to, who would always listen to her and be there for her.
Eventually Sihama's mother and Ali were released too. In 2000, a party was being planned for Ali. On his way home, he was shot by an Israeli settler. That same day, a soldier shot Yussef in the forehead as he was driving his car. Yussef died.
Aaron's son served in the Israeli army and went to fight in Lebanon. His dad describes him as a very intelligent and gifted young man. His name was Noam. Noam did not agree with Israel's policies in Lebanon but went to fight because he believed that as a citizen of a democracy, he must serve his country. He volunteered to defuse explosives. During the last few weeks of the war, he wore an antiwar badge on his uniform that he refused to take off. On April 12, 1999 at 4:29 PM Aaron and his wife received the news that he had been killed by a bomb laid by Hizbullah.
Sihama and Aaron suffered great loss. The fact they got through such tragedy is remarkable enough. Even more so is what they, and hundreds of other grieving Palestinian and Israeli parents across the region, chose to do with that loss. Parents Circle brings grieving family members together. Palestinians and Israelis see each other through the pain they have experienced. But the group does more. It speaks to youth on both sides, youth who are most likely to take up violence. Simaha and Aaron have spoken in many Israeli schools to high school students, sharing their stories. Many of these kids are only a year or two away before being drafted by the army. The students see that human beings are dying and suffering on each side. It is less easy to hate people you feel empathy for. Many Israeli young men and women have refused to serve in the armed forces, instead opting for prison terms.
Ali has went into the West Bank and spoken with young men in Palestinian armed groups, sharing his story and the stories of suffering Israelis. He spoke to 60 members of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed group that has carried out attacks against Israeli civilians. They have invited him to speak again. Many have since left the group.
I will keep Parents Circle-Families Forum in my prayers. They are doing a very courageous thing, working through their suffering to put a human face to the war and in some cases effectively convincing people on both sides to put down their guns- or refuse to take them up in the first place.
I pray that God works through them to bring peace to this suffering region. I also pray they find true and eternal peace in Jesus Christ.
If you want to learn more about this amazing group please check out this website: http://www.theparentscircle.com/default.asp
Sabeel
We started off the morning today with a visit to the Sabeel Palestinian Liberation Theology Centre. Liberation Theology is an idea that was started by Christians in Central American countries who were facing grave economic injustice and horrific repression from despots who were at that time backed by the United States governments. Liberation Theology teaches that people who are oppressed have the right to stand up for their rights and that God values justice. I think that it is a Biblical doctrine with a lot of Scriptural support to back it up.
Sabeel means "the way" in Arabic. The organization encourages Palestinian Christians to a) keep true to their faith in Jesus and b) to confront the injustices being carried out against them with Christ's love.
Sabeel was founded by Reverend Naim Ateek, a Palestinian Christian Anglican priest. In 1948, he and his family were driven out of their homes by the Israeli army during a conflict that the Israelis refer to as the War of Independence and Palestinian refer to as The Catastrophe.
Before I go any further, some quick history of the roots of the conflict. This is only my interpretation. I strongly encourage you to do your own research and read both Israeli and Palestinian accounts.
European Jews began coming to Israel/Palestine in the 1800s, many of them fleeing persecution in Europe and hoping to establish a Jewish state.
Thousands of years ago it was the land of Israel. Over the centuries, many Jews were driven out by the Romans and dispersed around the world. In many countries they faced inhuman persecution. Throughout the centuries, the land was ruled by several countries and empires. By the 19th century, the land was populated predominantly by Palestinians- some of them were Arabs who came in the 7th century AD, others claim they are descendants of the Canaanites and Philistines. Almost all Palestinians speak Arabic. Most are Muslim.
The movement to establish a Jewish state once again was called zionism. It claimed that Israel was "a land without a people for a people without a land". The second part was true, but by the time the immigrants began coming there were already many thousands of non-Jews living there. There was fighting between Jews and Arabs in Israel/Palestine and in 1948. After the state of Israel was founded, it exploded into open war. Jewish military groups began driving Palestinians out of villages and towns in Israel. Palestinian fighters and later Arab armies that came to assist them initially wanted to destroy the new state. Atrocities occurred on all sides, although most of the victims were Palestinian.
The Israeli army won the fighting and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes in Israel. Many fled to the West Bank and Gaza which were ruled by Jordan and Egypt and at that time had a predominantly Arab population. Jerusalem was divided with the Israeli army controlling the West and the Jordanian army controlling the East. In 1967, after a lot of hostility and crossborder fighting with these countries, Israel invaded and occupied the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Millions of Palestinians suddenly found themselves under Israeli army rule. Jordan and Egypt refused to accept Palestinian refugees and most of those who fled were not treated humanely, and still in fact live in squalid refugee camps.
In Israeli occupied West Bank, the army is using policies that make the lives of Palestinians living there unbearable. I will be describing these in more detail later. I will be soon seeing them. In response, some Palestinian armed groups launch attacks on Israelis, soldiers and civilians alike. The military responds by launching attacks that kill mostly Palestinian civilians. For every dead Israeli there are usually several dead Palestinians.
Sabeel is a Palestinian Christian group that seeks to give Palestinians a voice. It believes that there must be a 2 state solution- so that both both Palestinians and Israelis have their own state. The idea on both sides is that the Palestinian state should encompass the West Bank and Gaza with some kind of shared control over East Jerusalem. Israel would keep the rest (a majority of the country).
Sabeel sends Palestinian Christians to work with Muslims and Jews who are opposed to Israeli government actions that cause Palestinian suffering. It also works to keep the Palestinian Christians strong in their faith in Jesus.
Sabeel believes that the suffering of Palestinians is not ordained by God and that Palestinian Christians have a very special relationship with Jesus. As Nura, one of the speakers, said to us, "Jesus was a Palestinian Jew living in the Holy Land under occupation. As Palestinian Christians, through our suffering we understand the suffering of Jesus". Their challenge is to stand up for the marginalized and oppressed, and do it with love.
What struck me was the concern that Nura expressed for the Israeli people. The occupation of the Palestinians does not make Israelis more safer. She talked sadly about Israeli youth forced to join the army. She discussed how Israeli settler children in the West Bank travel always under heavy guard and cannot play because of the possibility of violence from Palestinians, whose land their parents are occupying.
Sabeel strongly opposes the violence used by Palestinian militant groups and disagrees with any talk of destroying Israel. As she said, most Palestinians realize they can't go back to pre-1948. They accept Israel's existence but they also want a state of their own.
After Nura spoke, there was an ecumenical worship service. We sang hymns and prayed and shared communion. It was an extremely powerful experience, worshipping in the Holy Land with my brothers and sisters in Christ who decided to stay true to Him and were determined to change the situation by being faithful to Him.
I have been to several beautiful churches in Jerusalem, and it was a joy to be able to see the beautiful paintings and to pray and walk where He walked. However, for me it was so much more significant being able to worship with fellow Palestinian believers. They are living out their faith in the most trying of circumstances and remaining true to Jesus.
Sabeel means "the way" in Arabic. The organization encourages Palestinian Christians to a) keep true to their faith in Jesus and b) to confront the injustices being carried out against them with Christ's love.
Sabeel was founded by Reverend Naim Ateek, a Palestinian Christian Anglican priest. In 1948, he and his family were driven out of their homes by the Israeli army during a conflict that the Israelis refer to as the War of Independence and Palestinian refer to as The Catastrophe.
Before I go any further, some quick history of the roots of the conflict. This is only my interpretation. I strongly encourage you to do your own research and read both Israeli and Palestinian accounts.
European Jews began coming to Israel/Palestine in the 1800s, many of them fleeing persecution in Europe and hoping to establish a Jewish state.
Thousands of years ago it was the land of Israel. Over the centuries, many Jews were driven out by the Romans and dispersed around the world. In many countries they faced inhuman persecution. Throughout the centuries, the land was ruled by several countries and empires. By the 19th century, the land was populated predominantly by Palestinians- some of them were Arabs who came in the 7th century AD, others claim they are descendants of the Canaanites and Philistines. Almost all Palestinians speak Arabic. Most are Muslim.
The movement to establish a Jewish state once again was called zionism. It claimed that Israel was "a land without a people for a people without a land". The second part was true, but by the time the immigrants began coming there were already many thousands of non-Jews living there. There was fighting between Jews and Arabs in Israel/Palestine and in 1948. After the state of Israel was founded, it exploded into open war. Jewish military groups began driving Palestinians out of villages and towns in Israel. Palestinian fighters and later Arab armies that came to assist them initially wanted to destroy the new state. Atrocities occurred on all sides, although most of the victims were Palestinian.
The Israeli army won the fighting and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes in Israel. Many fled to the West Bank and Gaza which were ruled by Jordan and Egypt and at that time had a predominantly Arab population. Jerusalem was divided with the Israeli army controlling the West and the Jordanian army controlling the East. In 1967, after a lot of hostility and crossborder fighting with these countries, Israel invaded and occupied the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Millions of Palestinians suddenly found themselves under Israeli army rule. Jordan and Egypt refused to accept Palestinian refugees and most of those who fled were not treated humanely, and still in fact live in squalid refugee camps.
In Israeli occupied West Bank, the army is using policies that make the lives of Palestinians living there unbearable. I will be describing these in more detail later. I will be soon seeing them. In response, some Palestinian armed groups launch attacks on Israelis, soldiers and civilians alike. The military responds by launching attacks that kill mostly Palestinian civilians. For every dead Israeli there are usually several dead Palestinians.
Sabeel is a Palestinian Christian group that seeks to give Palestinians a voice. It believes that there must be a 2 state solution- so that both both Palestinians and Israelis have their own state. The idea on both sides is that the Palestinian state should encompass the West Bank and Gaza with some kind of shared control over East Jerusalem. Israel would keep the rest (a majority of the country).
Sabeel sends Palestinian Christians to work with Muslims and Jews who are opposed to Israeli government actions that cause Palestinian suffering. It also works to keep the Palestinian Christians strong in their faith in Jesus.
Sabeel believes that the suffering of Palestinians is not ordained by God and that Palestinian Christians have a very special relationship with Jesus. As Nura, one of the speakers, said to us, "Jesus was a Palestinian Jew living in the Holy Land under occupation. As Palestinian Christians, through our suffering we understand the suffering of Jesus". Their challenge is to stand up for the marginalized and oppressed, and do it with love.
What struck me was the concern that Nura expressed for the Israeli people. The occupation of the Palestinians does not make Israelis more safer. She talked sadly about Israeli youth forced to join the army. She discussed how Israeli settler children in the West Bank travel always under heavy guard and cannot play because of the possibility of violence from Palestinians, whose land their parents are occupying.
Sabeel strongly opposes the violence used by Palestinian militant groups and disagrees with any talk of destroying Israel. As she said, most Palestinians realize they can't go back to pre-1948. They accept Israel's existence but they also want a state of their own.
After Nura spoke, there was an ecumenical worship service. We sang hymns and prayed and shared communion. It was an extremely powerful experience, worshipping in the Holy Land with my brothers and sisters in Christ who decided to stay true to Him and were determined to change the situation by being faithful to Him.
I have been to several beautiful churches in Jerusalem, and it was a joy to be able to see the beautiful paintings and to pray and walk where He walked. However, for me it was so much more significant being able to worship with fellow Palestinian believers. They are living out their faith in the most trying of circumstances and remaining true to Jesus.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Delegation day one
Today was the first day of our delegation. I'm with an awesome group of people, all whom share an obvious thirst for justice and peacemaking.
Steve Ramer is the only guy in the first picture with a CPT hat. He is our delegation leader and has experience leading CPT delegations in Israel/Palestine and the Philippines. He has a great sense of humour and a calm voice. I respect him as a leader already.
In the second photo, as you may have noticed, we are all wearing the red hats. Going from front to back, left to right here are their names: Mary-Anne, Steve, Eric, Cathy, yours truly, Dyck, Marie, Peggy, John, Hope, Ryan, John.
I got my itinerary, so this is some of the stuff we will be doing. We will be doing a lot of learning, talking to Palestinians and Israelis affected by the violence. Tomorrow we will be meeting an organization of Israeli and Palestinian parents who lost their lives in the conflict. We will be meeting with Palestinian Christians and Muslims who are working peacefully to end the military occupation of the West Bank and the abuses that are committed against the Palestinian people. We will be meeting Israeli activists and ex-soldiers who are working with Palestinians to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
We will also be taking part in some direct actions. We will be attending protests against evictions of Palestinians as well as walking kids to school and staying in homes of families who are facing harrassment from settlers. We may be able to arrange a meeting with Israeli settlers to hear their perspective. We do not know if they will agree to speak to our group.
There is a wide variety in age. There are pastors and retired people in the group, as well as university students and young adults. There is a wide variety of church backgrounds, although almost half are Mennonites. We were asked to list a thing that we hope will happen and one that we hope will not happen.
I hope that through our actions we represent Jesus to both Palestinians and Israelis. We will not be able to prosyletize and it is not our mission although if oppurtunity for interfaith dialogue arises I will take it. I had some awesome discussions with some backpackers in the hostel I was staying as well with a Muslim trader at the market. I am sure they will come again. I hope though that when people see us, they will see Jesus and hope to learn more about Him. I also hope that I see Him in people we will be working with.
I hope that I will never grow to hate the Israeli people, or the Israeli soldiers and settlers we will be meeting in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We will be talking to Palestinian victims of IDF and settler violence and may encounter opposition to our work. I pray that I do not hate the people who may be hating us. We are called to love our enemies. That can be hard sometimes. It will be good to put that to the test.
We are staying in the Old City for three days, then we set out for the West Bank. We are all getting along well and I really look forward to the next 12 days. There is a lot of poverty and injustice in the West Bank, but plenty of internet access so this blog should be updated often, inshallah.
Steve Ramer is the only guy in the first picture with a CPT hat. He is our delegation leader and has experience leading CPT delegations in Israel/Palestine and the Philippines. He has a great sense of humour and a calm voice. I respect him as a leader already.
In the second photo, as you may have noticed, we are all wearing the red hats. Going from front to back, left to right here are their names: Mary-Anne, Steve, Eric, Cathy, yours truly, Dyck, Marie, Peggy, John, Hope, Ryan, John.
I got my itinerary, so this is some of the stuff we will be doing. We will be doing a lot of learning, talking to Palestinians and Israelis affected by the violence. Tomorrow we will be meeting an organization of Israeli and Palestinian parents who lost their lives in the conflict. We will be meeting with Palestinian Christians and Muslims who are working peacefully to end the military occupation of the West Bank and the abuses that are committed against the Palestinian people. We will be meeting Israeli activists and ex-soldiers who are working with Palestinians to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
We will also be taking part in some direct actions. We will be attending protests against evictions of Palestinians as well as walking kids to school and staying in homes of families who are facing harrassment from settlers. We may be able to arrange a meeting with Israeli settlers to hear their perspective. We do not know if they will agree to speak to our group.
There is a wide variety in age. There are pastors and retired people in the group, as well as university students and young adults. There is a wide variety of church backgrounds, although almost half are Mennonites. We were asked to list a thing that we hope will happen and one that we hope will not happen.
I hope that through our actions we represent Jesus to both Palestinians and Israelis. We will not be able to prosyletize and it is not our mission although if oppurtunity for interfaith dialogue arises I will take it. I had some awesome discussions with some backpackers in the hostel I was staying as well with a Muslim trader at the market. I am sure they will come again. I hope though that when people see us, they will see Jesus and hope to learn more about Him. I also hope that I see Him in people we will be working with.
I hope that I will never grow to hate the Israeli people, or the Israeli soldiers and settlers we will be meeting in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We will be talking to Palestinian victims of IDF and settler violence and may encounter opposition to our work. I pray that I do not hate the people who may be hating us. We are called to love our enemies. That can be hard sometimes. It will be good to put that to the test.
We are staying in the Old City for three days, then we set out for the West Bank. We are all getting along well and I really look forward to the next 12 days. There is a lot of poverty and injustice in the West Bank, but plenty of internet access so this blog should be updated often, inshallah.
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