Friday, July 17 the Israeli group Human Rights Defenders' Team
painted over hate graffiti on shop doors in the streets and main
market of Hebron. The team of six persons was arrested here Saturday
morning by Israeli police while they were touring the Israeli
controlled section of Hebron. The group was released following
five hours of questioning and after being coerced to sign a
statement promising not to return to Hebron for one month.

The painting project began in the market area on Friday afternoon at
4:30 while most Muslims were home with families. Armed with paint
brushes, paint, scrapers and paint thinner the Human Rights Defenders
were joined by Palestinians and CPT supporters. The group painted
over hate signs like "Kill All Arabs", and graffiti that eulogized
Baruch Goldstein, the settler doctor who shot and killed 29 Muslims
at prayer at the Abraham Mosque in Hebron in February 1994.

The hate-filled graffiti covers large areas of the market doorways
and walls and is applied by groups of settlers who walk through
the market area late at night. "This is a problem for all Jews and
Arabs" said Charles Lenchner, "Hebron is a city of our ancestors. If
we are to have peace here we need to stop doing things that offend
Arabs or Jews." He said, "We are taking a stand here against all
those who write 'Death to Arabs, and we are in solidarity with Arabs
who want to live peacefully - especially the 20% of Hebron still
under occupation but also with people who's homes are being
demolished, people who can't get to work, and people who can't travel
freely in their own country.

Lenchner spoke in front of graffiti with the words, "This is the Kach
branch of Hebron". Kach was an Israeli political party founded by the
late Meir Kahane who advocated the deportation of all Arabs from
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Kach members allegedly have been
involved in bombings and other crimes against civilians and both
Israel and the U.S. have classified Kach as a terrorist organization.
Even though membership in Kach is against Israeli law, many
Jewish settlers in and around Hebron have been affiliated with the
organization. Hate material like that reflected in the Hebron
graffiti is illegal in Israel but its presence has been routinely
ignored by the occupation authorities.

The painting project began with a survey of shopkeepers to assess
their interest in having their shop doors painted. In the midst of
that survey CPTers and co-workers encountered an Arab painter who had
just been hired that day, July 14 by Israel's Civil Administration
to paint over the graffiti. Later in the week Charles Lennchner,
leader of the Human Rights Defender Teams was summoned by police in
Tel Aviv to talk with a special agent, named Noam of the General
Security Services. Lenchner was warned about going to Hebron and
cooperating with peace groups there.

Significant numbers of shop doors still need repainting.