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Haris
On May 12th, women from International Women’s Peace Service [IWPS], Beth from Canada, Sarah from Britain and Andjelka from Croatia, took us to meet two families in the Haris area.
Paraplegic Man
Our visit with a paraplegic man in Haris was a difficult one. He had been shot by an Israeli soldier on May 15, 2001, the anniversary of the Nakba: "Contrastrophe" [Israel Independence Day 1948] , by an Israeli soldier as he tried to protect his home and children while tear gas was being thrown into his house. He continues to deal with his situation – having been a physical education instructor, having 3 small children, and the ongoing harassment of Israeli soldiers and authorities. His house still has a demolition order. He is a man grappling with his personal situation and the need for a true justice with peace for Palestine.
He believes it wrong that Palestine receives the punishment for the Holocaust through the illegal Israeli occupation. Europeans have been destructive in many ways – the Holocaust, slavery, colonization, unfair trade practices. He thinks it audacious of them to try to teach human rights and democracy to the rest of the world. He said he works for [1] international solidarity among peoples, [2] more effective work by Israeli peace activists and [3] increased non-violent resistance in Palestine. He stated that even to continue to live in Palestine is resistance.
House Surrounded by Wall in Mas’ha
We visited a family whose home was at the edge of an illegal Israeli settlement. The home is completely surrounded by illegal Apartheid barbed wire and a high cement wall. The wife and mother of the family with six children told us they have one gate key to enter and leave their yard.
The illegal Israeli settlement was constructed 19 years ago on confiscated Palestinian farm land. The family still has land on the other side of the illegal settlement, but now an hour going through checkpoints is needed to reach it, when before it took five minutes. Vegetables and fruits were grown on the land, but often sale of the produce is impossible because products are held at the checkpoint until they are not sellable.
The woman showed us pictures of their previously prosperous poultry and egg business and a wonderful greenhouse that was bulldozed to put up the wall.
The mother told us of the
continuing harassment by settlers and soldiers. At any time of the day or night
settlers throw stones which break windows and solar panels. Recently the army
had come in the middle of the night and searched the entire house. We could see
the tension in her face that is caused by living with this persecution.
Sign states in Hebrew, Arabic and English:
Our day in the Haris area left us sad and silent. |
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