CPTnet
14 December 2005

WEST BANK: CPT delegates join demonstration in Abud

Just after noon on Friday, 2 December 2005, the Christian Peacemaker Teams
(CPT) delegation to the Middle East joined about 200 Palestinians from the
West Bank village of Abud in a march toward the construction site of the
Israeli security wall on the outskirts of their town. When construction
began on this portion of the wall, a Village Popular Commission set to work
planning actions that would draw attention to the concerns of the village
and provide the people with an opportunity to speak against the injustices
inflicted upon them by the Israeli government.

The commission called upon international and Israeli peace activists, as
well as the local and international media, to join them in a series of
demonstrations. The 2 December demonstration, the third in the series,
displayed a broad range of support for the people of Abud, with members of
the Palestinian political parties coming out in large numbers.

A sizable military and police force in position behind a barrier of razor
wire met the demonstrators. The demonstration at this barrier began with a
speech from a representative of the Israeli Knesset (parliament), denouncing
the oppression inflicted by the State of Israel. Soon after, some
Palestinians began throwing stones and the Israeli authorities responded
with sound bombs, tear gas and rubber bullets. Activists attempting to pass
the barrier were beaten with clubs, and two Israelis were promptly arrested
and detained in the military vehicles waiting beyond the razor wire.

The remainder of the protest was peaceful. Participants sang Palestinian
folk songs and called for peace. Concerned about the safety of the
protesters the Village Popular Commission, eventually called an end to the
event. The general mood on the long walk back into town was upbeat and
hopeful.

The Commission plans to continue holding the rallies on the road to the wall
each Friday until construction stops and the wall comes down.

Members of CPT's 22 November -4 December, 2005 delegation were James Cooper
(Warsaw, Indiana), Elizabeth Garcia (Brownsville, Texas), Rebecca Glotfelty
(Charlevoix, Michigan), Ali Ahamad Hydar (Winnipeg, Manitoba), David Miller
(State College, Pennsylvania), Terry Rogers (New York, New York), Heidi
Schramm (Lindenhurst, Illinois), Paulette Schroeder (Tiffin, Ohio), Sarah
Scruggs (Washington, DC), Susan Wilkinson (Chicago, Illinois), and Marge
Zacharias (Wyondotte, Michigan.)