Working for Justice: The settlers enter H1

Sunday evening was a very interesting one in Hebron. The Israeli Army and Border Police went into H1 in full force, with armed soldiers and APCs. The reason was simple: the settlers who go on a weekly tour each Saturday and disrupt people in the Souq, a few times a year repeat the activity but on a larger level.

The excuse is the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av. During this holiday, Jewish people mourn the loss of the First Temple and Second Temple, which were cruelly destroyed by Babylonians and Romans. The destructions were traumatic for the Jewish people. It is very ironic that while commemorating these terrible events, the Israeli settlers of Hebron choose to use this occasion to inflict further humiliation and suffering on the Palestinian people.

Border Police and Army came out of Checkpoint 56 around six o’clock in the afternoon, and began to make way for the settlers. While some cleared the route that the settlers will be walking from traffic- initially most of them telling Palestinians politely to move- but making sure they knew they had no choice… others spread out in Bab E Zawiyeh. Two military vehicles rolled in, and Border Police and soldiers told Palestinians they need to move back.

The soldiers also began to randomly obstruct Palestinian movement, telling people where they can and cannot go. Some people who tried to go home were given permission. Others were denied. A man coming from a shop allowed to pass. A couple denied permission. Some boys allowed to pass. Others held back. An elderly woman denied permission.

An old man pulling a cart was denied permission, until I made it clear to the Border Police that they were on film. Others than let him through, one even stopping to shake his hand.

Pretty soon, a small but growing crowd of young men and boys began to form facing the Army and Border Police. In spite of orders to move back and threats, they refused, or would move back and then return. Some began to talk back to the military, and some of the uniformed men and women began to yell.

A Palestinian journalist was ordered by the Border Police to come to them, after which they ordered him to hand over his camera and phone, and a female BP officer looked through them. I am pretty sure that is illegal but then again, so is the entire occupation.

The whole affair lasted several hours, and ended when the settlers went back through Checkpoint 56 from where they came. A few rocks were thrown at the departing soldiers, all of which missed. Fortunately, this time they did not respond with bullets or gas.

Another day in a city under occupation.