CPTnet
October 12, 1998
HEBRON: RAISING THE ROOF, BUILDING PEACE:REFLECTIONS ON HOUSE REBUILDING
By Jamey Bouwmeester

Good news is hard to come by here. I send a letter home almost every day, and
it seems that each letter is less hopeful and more depressing than the one
before. I am aware that there is only so much bad news people can hear before
they stop listening. That is why I am grateful for what happened two days ago
in Katanna at the Fakia home.

This past Saturday, Joanne Kaufman and I, along with almost 100 Israeli peace
activists, began to rebuild the demolished home of the Fakia family.

When the map for the first partial Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank was
drawn, Katanna was placed in Area "B" where Palestinians were given
administrative control. However, the Fakia home, situated on the outskirts of
the village was left in area "C" where it had no protection from demolition.
The residents of Katanna petitioned Israel and the PA to move the border of
area "B" just 200 meters so that it would include the house. The request was
denied, and the Fakia home was demolished.

We worked throughout the day. Home-made banners and signs surrounded the
building site. They read, "Demolishing Houses = Demolishing Peace." As dusk
began to settle on the hills around Katanna, Ahmed Fakia brought the day to a
close. He planted an olive branch in the cement of the new roof as a symbol
of friendship and peace that can reach across borders.