Running the settler gauntlet

[Violet_Crumble]

The suffering of those unable to step outside their towns without protection must be addressed if we are to stop the rot in Israel
Seth Freedman
guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 March 2009 14.30 GMT

As we hauled our tired bodies across miles of rock-strewn fields, our human cargo skipped effortlessly ahead of us, seemingly untroubled by either the exertion of the hike or the relentless heat of the mid-morning sun. The excitement of a day off school had lifted their spirits, as had the prospect of their weekly football practice in the village to which we were heading.

The children flew along the torturous gradients as nimbly as the gazelles we'd encountered earlier on the trail, and – to the untrained eye – the walk through the stunning South Hebron Hills would have appeared utterly calm and carefree. However, that the pre-pubescent players required our accompaniment at all belied the seemingly benign nature of our journey. Were it not for the presence of the international activists, the likelihood of the children coming under attack from nearby settlers would have been too high to risk them setting off for Tuwani from the neighbouring hamlet of Tu'ba.

The chaperones from Operation Dove were armed, though not with the same weaponry wielded by the gun-toting settlers of Maon; instead, they slung binoculars and video cameras over their shoulders, vital tools to keep an eye out for trouble and obtain hard evidence, should the tranquillity of the rolling hills be shattered by a violent assault.

The activists' guard was up even more than usual, in the wake of a settler attack on a local shepherd in the same fields a day earlier. The once-bitten, twice-shy approach meant that the mood of the adults among our group was understandably edgy; the threat of an ambush hung over their heads like a Damoclean sword, and it wasn't until the children were safely delivered into the town centre that their guards could breathe easy once more.

While the army do assist in escorting local students on the way to school each day, they take a somewhat half-hearted approach, walking with them only two-thirds of the way, and leaving them at the mercy of the settlers for the most perilous part of the journey: the walk past the settlement's perimeter fence. Extra-curricular activities such as Friday football training are seen by the army as extraneous, and therefore unworthy of sending soldiers to protect the children from the settlers' wrath.

Past attacks have ranged from verbal abuse to hurling rocks at the youths to grabbing them and stealing their school bags: utterly repugnant crimes, but low-level enough to slip under the radar of indifferent IDF commanders, who rarely – if ever – arrest the assailants or prosecute them for their felonies.

The settlers don't stop at merely harassing the children: farmers' flocks are routinely stolen, poisoned or driven from their pastures; villagers homes are stoned and surrounded by baying settlers – many of whom bring their own children along for the fun, inculcating them in the ways of the Wild West Bank in order to pass on the baton to the next generation of God's warriors.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/16/israel-palestine-tuwani-west-bank-settlements

[geek tragedy]

1. If there's any justice, we'll be treated to the sight

of the IDF tear-gassing those fundyclowns and dragging them kicking, screaming, and crying back to where they belong.

[azurnoir]

4. Don't hold your breath for that one n/t

[Scurrilous]

2. More news from the Hebron Hills:

Soldiers: Drunk reservists vandalized West Bank cars

<snip>

"Reservists marked their last night stationed in the southern Hebron Hills by damaging confiscated Palestinian vehicles, their replacements told Haaretz on Monday.

The reserve battalion in question was stationed at a small base near the Shekef settlement, and spent three weeks in the south Hebron Hills. They were responsible primarily for patrolling the green line.

On their last night at the base, the reservists got drunk and vandalized some of the vehicles they had confiscated from Palestinian drivers, for transporting passengers who lacked permits to enter Israel, soldiers told Haaretz.

Some soldiers broke windshields, ripped out mirrors and electronic equipment, and beat the cars with their weapons, the sources said. None of the soldiers present tried to stop the vandalism.

The Israel Defense Forces Spokesman's office said, "The force in question completed its operational engagement on Wednesday in a professional manner. The complaints were forwarded to the commanders. Once checks are complete, further steps will be decided upon."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073466.html

[Scurrilous]

3. Outstanding officer suspected of attacking Palestinian girl

Hebron resident tells Ynet officer hit his daughter, broke into family home and stole her camera; soldier arrested by Investigating Military Police

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3691386,00.htm

<snip>

"An officer who fought in the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza and was slated to receive a citation for his performance was arrested recently on suspicion of assaulting a Palestinian girl in the Hebron area, Ynet has learned.

The Investigating Military Police sought to keep the officer in jail, but over the weekend it was decided that he would remain outside his unit in an open prison (in confinement conditions). A decision on the legal proceedings against him was expected to be made on Tuesday.

The incident occurred about a week after Operation Cast Lead ended, while the officer's unit was stationed in the Hebron area as part of routine security measures.

The event began when a clash broke out between settlers and Palestinians, and the IDF was forced to intervene, causing the incident to turn violent. The officer filed a complaint with the police against several Palestinians, and they filed complaints against him. The material was turned over to the Investigating Military Police, which decided to arrest the officer, who is a settlement resident.

Taysir Abu Aisha, the father of the girl who was allegedly assaulted, told Ynet about the incident: "My nephew and my sisters came over to visit us, and they are registered as people who are allowed to enter the area according to an IDF decision, as some of them are even registered as living in a house owned by my father. The moment they arrived, a female settler emerged and began pushing them away and cursing them."

According to Abu Aisha, at this point the officer intervened and used violence against his daughter.

"My daughter Fidaa went out with her camera, and he beat her and her aunt and came into the house. In the house he beat my wife and took the camera. A UN monitors' representatives saw the signs on my wife's leg and photographed them. The officer warned the family members not to approach the area again or he would hit them.

"The amazing thing is that the officer apparently tried to precede us, and filed a complaint against my daughter," the father added. "They took us in for questioning, and the photo proved that the person who beat us and used violence was the officer. My daughter and niece were released and the investigation is ongoing, and the videotape is still with the police."

The family members also reported that the officer had a habit of entering Palestinians' homes "in order to maintain order."

[azurnoir]

5. This is just reprehensible

Grown men attacking defenceless children on their way to school is the stuff of nightmares, yet is a waking reality for dozens of youngsters forced to run the settler gauntlet every day

what brave souls those settlers are

[Sezu]

6. Just as "brave" as the Katusha rocket launchers. There's

enough blame there for all sides I believe.

[azurnoir]

7. The OP was about the settlers not the rockets n/t

[Bodhi BloodWave]

8. about as expected in regards to the reply you replied to

some people can't or won't accept a single criticism of Israel without turning around and pointing at a totally unrelated thing some Palestinians have done when its not even mentioned in the story.