palestine

Amman, Jordan
August 24, 2008

Dear Friends,

Yesterday afternoon as I got into a public taxi, or “service” as they are called here, a friendly driver greeted me in English, something very rare. This type of taxi carries four passengers, and it seems that people are reluctant to be heard speaking English. I had ridden in this driver’s taxi before, and the other time he felt free as well to address me in English. His words yesterday however took me completely by surprise. “Did you hear about the boats arriving in Gaza!” he said excitedly. He was referring to the Free Gaza campaign which I too have been following with great interest. We have friends among the 45 or so human rights activists on the two boats which, despite multiple threats, set sail from Cyprus to break the siege and end the blockade of Gaza and its 1.5 million occupants.

July 27, 2008

At 6:45 a.m. this morning, our friend, Joel Gulledge, called from At-Tuwani, a village in the West Bank where he and another Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) member were escorting Palestinian children to a local summer daycamp, protecting them from hostile Israeli settlers. A masked settler, carrying a slingshot, was threatening the children. While Jan Benvie, the other CPT team member, raced the children to safety, Joel paused to film what was happening. The masked settler caught up with Joel and attacked him. “He smashed my head again and again,” said Joel, “with my video camera, and punched me in the face, repeatedly, with his other hand.” Joel managed to remain standing. He didn’t fight back, but he screamed for help. The attacker broke Joel’s glasses, and Joel was bleeding from a gash over his eyes. When he called, he was waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

June 21, 2007

In a centuries-old West Bank town, Palestinian villagers, international peace teams and Israeli activists unite in the face of settler violence and military interference.

By Maya Schenwar

May 28, 2007
Photos Included

I’ve found the best tea in Palestine.

It’s made by cave dwellers who live a two hour hike from the rural village At-Tuwani where I work. This area is beautiful; to the south is a view of the Negev desert, and to the the east you will see the Jordan mountains. To get to these caves you must hike around Israeli settlements without being spotted (or else you risk harassment or worse), and climb up and down steep hills. From these remote caves one gets the sense that if there was an emergency an airlift out would be required.

November 15, 2006

“Your heads will be on the stones if you don’t leave this place”, threatened an Israeli settler from illegal outpost Havot Ma’on (Hill 833), to members of Christian Peacemaker Teams in the Palestinian village of At-Tuwani. Captured on video, but ignored by district Israeli police, the threat is part and parcel of daily life for Palestinians – and the reason for the continuous presence of international human rights workers here since 2004. A few days later, during a “routine check”, I witness my neighbor being physically abused by Israeli soldiers. Such abuse often ceases when soldiers become aware that internationals are present, filming their actions.

Joel Gulledge, co-coordinator with Voices for Creative Nonviolence, is currently a member of a Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation in At-Tuwani, Palestine. Joel recently sent us updates of his experiences of the last week, a well as a press release.

Sept 19, 2006 Joel Gulledge
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
Occupied Palestinian Territories
At-Tuwani,South Hebron Hills:

12 Sept 2006

It can be surreal here in Tuwani, to be watching a shepherd boy tend to his flock, and then see an armoured humvee pull up.

I am sitting here holding in my hands, metal spikes that were used today by Israeli settlers to sabatoge a truck carrying water (supplied by international aid organization Oxfam) to nearby Palestinian village Susiya. This entire area has been affected by serious drought, and the water brought by Oxfam is a necessity.

Dozens of spikes were placed across the road before the time of the water truck’s regularly scheduled arrival. The truck was disabled, three tires punctured. One, two, three. After a delay, the driver was able to deliver the water.