CPTnet
26 August 2005

AT-TUWANI: Palestinian villagers prepare for night assaults by Israeli
settlers

by Joe Carr

On 21 August 2005, a group of Israeli settlers terrorized Palestinian
villagers near the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank during the
night. The settlers marched through eight villages chanting, making threats,
and destroying Palestinian property.

Since the people living in the southern Hebron district have also
experienced frequent settler assaults, At-Tuwani villagers called a village
meeting this week to discuss the threat of settler violence and potential
responses. Participants agreed that an attack would likely come at night,
so they decided to post night patrols; two Palestinians and two
internationals would watch the Ma'on settlement and Havot Ma'on outpost from
midnight to 3:00 a.m. every night. Most villagers sleep outside because of
the heat, so the people keeping watch can use a megaphone with a siren to
warn the villagers in the event of an attack.

We also agreed that internationals would call the Israeli police and
military immediately, as they often respond more quickly when internationals
call (though not always as quickly as they ought.)

Staff members from another Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) have advised
us to tell the villagers to go inside and lock their doors in case of an
incursion; this course of action was not acceptable to the residents of
At-Tuwani. Not all At Tuwani villagers have door locks, and they are
certainly not going to hide in their homes while settlers attack people and
livestock and destroy village property.

"We've got to keep them from entering the village" said At-Tuwani villager
Mohammad* adamantly. "When we see them coming, we should all go block them,
and do what we have to do to keep them out." The rest nodded their heads in
agreement. We assured them that we would accompany them--to try deterring
any violence and videotape what happens.

Mahmoud suggested that each family read a passage from the Koran each night
to protect them, and all affirmed the idea. Another jokingly suggested that
if settlers come into the village we should all go to the settlement, and
laughter broke the heavy mood.

Everyone was excited about the plan until it came time to choose who would
stay up that night. Mohammad patted Samir and said "Samir you!" and Samir
patted Mohammad saying "Mohammad, you!", so the group decided that the first
two would be Samir and Mohammad.

Staying up isn't so hard. We make alternating pots of tea and coffee, pick
grapes and figs, and chat in basic Arabic and English. Those of us not
watching sleep in our clothes with our shoes, flashlights, phones, and
cameras close by.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.