Palestine: January 2007

Christian Peacemaker Teams
Delegation to Palestine - January 2007

After arriving in Tel Aviv on January 11 and settling in Jerusalem we started our journey together: Rick Polhamus, our leader, Joyce Guinn, Fred Snyder, Mike Fay, Paul McKeown, Randy Janzen, Ron King, Ryan Sweeney, Sharon Fritsch, and Bill Barrett.

January 12 - Jerusalem

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions/Angela Godfrey-Goldstein: Angela led us in a conversation about the current situation in Israel and Palestine and then took us on a tour via van to places that we could see the effects of the occupation including the Wall, new settlement growth, and the Ma'ale Adammim settlement.
Women in Black Vigil: We joined in the vigil that brings witness to the occupation every Friday.
World Vision/Allyn Dhynes: Allyn talked about World Vision's social justice work in Palestine.

January 13 - Bethlehem

Holy Land Trust/Elda Zaghmout: Elda spoke to us about the Trust=s vision to educate people from outside Palestine about what is happening in Palestine as well as their programs to train Palestinian activists and organizers non-violent tactics relative to the issue of occupation.
Retracing CPT steps/Rick Polhamus: Rick had us walk through the old city of Bethlehem retracing the steps that CPT had taken when trying to get food to people in the Church of the Navitity back in year?.
PRC/George Rishmawi: George provided us a brief history of the non-violent resistance in Palestine from the First Intifada until today.
Checkpoints: On the way back into Jerusalem, the team was passing through the checkpoint and the guard was barely looking at the passports while letting us pass. Bill, who was still finding his passport, was let through the checkpoint with out it. Behind Bill was a Palestinian and Paul. It took Paul about 10 minutes to get through because of the questioning that the Palestinian went through showing the team the unfair treatement first hand.

January 14 - Jerusalem

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer: We attended the English speaking church service on Sunday morning.
B'Tselem/Etan Diamond: Etan shared with us his story of his time in the military and how he left it eventually as well as B'Tselem's mission of documenting human rights violations happening within the occupation. Special concern is given to those things that violate Israeli and international law.
Rabbis for Human Rights/Michael Swartz: Michael helped us understand the organization's call to address Judaism's call for social justice. This organization is involved in Palestinian issues as well as Israeli concerns of poverty and discrimation.

January 15 - Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron

Bus ride passport check: The bus was stopped at a flying checkpoint and Bill was asked to step off the bus. The police woman said the date stamped on Bill's visa was incorrect, even though it was the same date as the rest of the delegation. She told Bill to Aplease come with me. Rick intervened and said something to the effect of "No, that doesn't make any sense, he came into the country with us, and he's coming with us." Then Rick told Bill to get back on the bus. And the police woman said "fine."
Ad-Dheishe Refugee Camp/Atallah Salem: Atallah took us on a tour of the Camp and showed us the UN provided homes and how that now people have built on top of those homes to expand them. Atallah shared his experiences of his childhood, including his trip that was prohibited because of curfew and has prevented him from leaving the West Bank since.
Hebron Old City: Rick and CPTer John gave us a tour of the Old City of Hebron before supper.
Hebron exploring: Paul, Randy, and Bill went to get some money changed and while they were walking in the market there was an attempted but unsuccessful robbery. Bill was hit by a piece of fruit on his eye which was checked out by the clinic later in the evening.

January 16 - Hebron

School patrol: Along with the CPTers in Hebron, the delegation went on school patrol. Some of the delegation spoke to the soldiers about where they grew up and how they got to be soldiers. Other delegation members saw a teacher be detained at a checkpoint.
Children=s Center/Zleekha: Zleekha, a friend and neighbor of CPT, met with us and explained her work in helping children in Hebron. She is well known in Hebron for her work resisting the occupation and the Asecurity@ wall was placed between the wall and her front door so that she must travel around to get home.
Hebron Charitable Medical Clinic: Zleekha hosted us and translated at the Clinic as the doctor and the founder met with us to tell us about the patients as well as the effect of the occupation on medical practice.
Hisham Sharabati: Hisham shared many stories from the local people that he has been involved in as a local newspaper editor. He also shared his personal sotry about been detained repeatedly and how he has been denied entry into the United States.
Supper: Zleekha provided us an amazing supper of Maklubae.

January 17 - Hebron, Beit Ummar

School Patrol: We headed out with the CPTers and took the routes that the school children go to school. Randy had a connection with a soldier who told Randy that he hated his job and didn=t understand why the soldiers were in Hebron.
Hebron Restoration Committee: This orgaziation gave a presentation on first the political situation of Hebron, and then the rehabitiation work that they are doing to restore the Old City of Hebron. The rehab work is needed because of the violence that is ruining the structures of the Old City.
Beit Ummar Town Center/Farhan M. Alqam: Mayor Alqam, a member of the Hammas party, spoke to us about his story of his town and his times in jail on regards to his beliefs. We also saw a presentation on Israeli=s plans to construct a new Route 60 which will take away 6 square kilometers of farm land.
Home Stays: After visiting with the Mayor, we split up to go to homes for the night. On the way to home stays, Dianne and Janet (full time CPTers) along with Joyce, Sharon, and Krista went to the Abu Khiran family home who had been experiencing soldiers breaking into their home on a regular basis. They had called CPT and were asking for international observers to stay with them. While we were there, tear gas was used outside the home to Acalm@ down some children.

January 18 - Hebron area

Worshippers Way: We took a tour up to the well of Sarah and Abraham as well as to their tomb with John and Rick.
Village of Dura/ Khalid Amayreh: Khalid is a journalist who has a way with words. However, he can not leave the Dura district because he is seen as a security risk.

January 19 - At-Tuwani

Tour of At-Tuwani/Art Gish: We toured around the village and spoke with Art, Yohan and the men in the town.
Susiya: We went to Susiya to make sure that a threat of settlers coming into the village was not realized. It was not.

January 20 - Hebron, Jerusalem

Met with _________ who lives at Tel Rumeida to see if we should come and visit with his family as an act of protest. He requested that we not because of the climate of the area at the current time.
Protest: Went to see a gathering protesting checkpoints.

January 21 - Jerusalem

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer: We attended the English speaking church service on Sunday morning.
Tour of Jerusalem and the Via Dolersa: Some of the delegation followed Rick on a tour of the historical sites of Jerusalem.
We all had a final meal in Jerusalem before heading to the airport on January 22.