So im now in Hebron, the second oldest city in the world. Second only to Jericho, another Palestinian city. The city is divided into two sections: H1 and H2. H1 is Palestinian controlled. H2 is under Israeli occupation. This is due to the unique fact that there is an illegal Israeli settlement in a built up urban area. The settlement houses about 500 of the most ideological and violent settlers. Their claim to the land is that there is the burial sight of Abraham as well as two people mentioned in the Torah. Theyre led by the most fascist right wing settler of them all: Baruh Marzel. He has his own wikipedia entry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baruch_Marzel
Took a three hour bus ride into the Hebron city centre. Then caught a cab to Tel Rumeida. Its really apparent that the whole goal of the Israelis is to annex all the fertile land and leave the Palestinians with nothing. You see one side of the highway with these amazing settlements and lush gardens and farmland. Then on the other you see dusty and decrepid Palestinian territory. Its the greatest injustice of our time.
ISM has an apartment in H2 right across from the settlement. Daily the settlers harass the Palestinian children as they come home from school. Throwing rocks as well as verbal harassment. There are other international watch dog groups here because its so bad. There are stars of David spray painted everywhere. Protecting the kids is one of our main jobs here. The other is protecting Issa's house. His house is on the other side of the settlement. Its been occupied by settlers as well as the IOF. Through court battles though, Issa managed to win it back. Must really cheese off the settlers, because they attempt to vanadalize it nightly so we have to send two ISMers out there each night to sleep in it.
The most surreal thing about muslim communities is the call to prayer from the mosques. The entire city fills with sound of the Quaran being sung from megaphones on the mosques. Must make the settlers shake in their boots. I love it.
1 comment:
Love your blog posts & photos, comrade. It sounds really intense, I can imagine a little of what it's like to be there. I think you're doing a great job observing in Palestine, getting the story out to those of us who don't know the details. Stay safe, take some time to make sure it doesn't get too overwhelming, and keep it up!
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