For Palestinian Muslims in the Old City, a very special place to pray is the Ibrahimi Mosque, where it is believed by both Muslims and Jews that Abraham is buried.
For most people reading this blog, who probably come from countries that are not under military occupation, church or synagogue or mosque or temple of wherever you go (if you are religious) is only a difficult place to get to if distance or transportation are an issue.
For Palestinian Muslims in Hebron, there is another obstacle. Israeli Border Police set up checkpoints around the mosque, and how soon (or if) you will get to the service really depends on them. X documented several people being stopped, and some searched.
X and I originally stood close to the two checkpoints nearest the mosque itself as people were being stopped and searched, but an Israeli Border Police commander caught me filming and yelled at me to go away. We told him we are tourists and for a while he ignored us, then again he came forward and told me specifically to "grow legs and fly away". I am not sure how that is anatomically possible, but I didn't ask for clarification. I told him I am from Canada and like taking pictures, and he looked annoyed but said nothing. He walked back to the checkpoint then a few minutes came out again, yelling that this is our final warning. We didn't want to get arrested, so we walked away.
We stood by a friend's shop and watched yet another checkpoint, furthest from the mosque but which also was stopping Palestinians on their way to pray. Three Border Police officers, all of them quite young looking, were manning it. They laughed among each other as they sipped their soft drinks and smoked their cigarettes. It was another lovely day in the sun.
Some of the Palestinians going by them were lucky, and were ignored or waved through.
Others were stopped, and the officers demanded to see their passports. Sometimes the documents were quickly glanced at and given back. In other cases, the person or groups of people were ordered to stand against the wall as their papers were held by the soldiers. I say "held" instead of "inspected" for a specific reason. Like I have seen in previous summers, the military aren't always interested in doing a security check. Often they will just hold someone's papers for a few minutes without even glancing at them, before calling them to take them back. The point is to hold someone up, not to check whether or not they are a threat.
Others were stopped, and the officers demanded to see their passports. Sometimes the documents were quickly glanced at and given back. In other cases, the person or groups of people were ordered to stand against the wall as their papers were held by the soldiers. I say "held" instead of "inspected" for a specific reason. Like I have seen in previous summers, the military aren't always interested in doing a security check. Often they will just hold someone's papers for a few minutes without even glancing at them, before calling them to take them back. The point is to hold someone up, not to check whether or not they are a threat.
We saw many others- men, women as well as children- being pulled over and made to show their documents. It was very sad to see the look on the faces of the children who watched their parents being stopped, knowing they were powerless against the men in the green uniforms. One of the men had to lift up his shirt and turn around.
So many were held up by these three, and I lost count by the time the prayers ended and people went home... some stopped and searched on their way out also.
We witnessed an elderly man with a cane trying to make his way home. One of the Border Police officers, a young looking blonde girl decked out in stylish sunglasses, waved her hand dismissively and told him he cannot go home the normal way today. There were some settlers going for a walk, and she probably didn't want them disturbed. He pleaded with her, but to no avail. He had to take the long way around.
We eventually left after our the service ended, and after watching our Palestinian friends get harassed and stopped and held up and searched on their way in and their way out of a place that to them is a house of worship. As we were leaving, we heard someone say that he heard that at another checkpoint, the Border Police beat up a Palestinian, and that he had to be taken away in an ambulance. By the time we got there, there was no one around, so there was no way for us to either confirm or deny the report. Given how Palestinians are treated by the Israeli military, it was not at all unlikely.
On our way back to the apartment, we received a call from an ISMer who was in Kafr Kaddum. During the clashes there today, the soldiers used rubber coated steel bullets as well as live rounds against the Palestinian demonstrators. One man was shot with a rubber coated steel bullet and went to the hospital. Another was wounded with a live bullet to the head. Miraculously, he is alive.
Another Friday in Palestine.
People entering from the Souq being made to go through the cage, as they enter one of the checkpoints near the mosque. This time, I saw no one being denied entry. X, who arrived a few minutes before me, saw many being searched, before entering.
Second checkpoint near the mosque.
People being stopped at the second checkpoint. One of the BP officers, standing with his arm stretched out and not wearing a beret but instead a cap, angrily ordered me to stop filming and leave.
After being made to stand back, we could observe the second checkpoint from a distance. We could not see what happens in the box where the people have their papers checked.
A Palestinian woman being stopped at the checkpoint furthest from the mosque.
Some people are allowed to walk through without being hassled. They are the lucky ones.
Palestinian man being stopped and made to present his papers.
This woman had to present her purse.
This man was stopped and made to wait for several minutes (1).
This man was stopped and made to wait for several minutes (2).
The three Border Police officers enjoying a laugh, a drink, and a smoke.
A man and a young boy, maybe his son, stopped and made to stand against the wall (1).
A man and a young boy, maybe his son, stopped and made to stand against the wall (2).
More Palestinians stopped and made to wait. Passports are sometimes checked, sometimes not.
A group of men are called over, and some are ordered to present their passports.
Then they are made to stand against the wall, waiting.
After a few minutes, they are released.
One of the BP officers, possibly a superior, comes by to check up on the men in the booth.
The man wearing the black shirt had his ID taken and was made to stand against the wall. Some other Palestinian men chose to stand with him.
The man in the white shirt was also ordered to hand over his ID and stand against the wall.
They were held for approximately 9 minutes before being released.
This man tried walking to his home, but permission was denied by the girl with blonde hair. He had to take the long way home.
The man trying to negotiate with the Border Police officer, unsuccessfully. Dismissively, as if dealing with a dog, she waves him away and he will have to take the long way home.
A group of Israeli settlers going on a guided walk. None of them need worry about being stopped on their way to synagogue and made to stand against a wall as their documents are checked.
After service ended and the worshipers had been thoroughly checked and humiliated and harassed, some other Border Police walk by the checkpoint booth. It has been a long shift (1).
After service ended and the worshipers had been thoroughly checked and humiliated and harassed, some other Border Police walk by the checkpoint booth. It has been a long shift (2).
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