Issue No 5, 2007

ChainReactionThe quarterly magazine of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and

How long O Lord?

The EAPPI is a World Council of Churches programme Editorial

By Rifat Odeh Kassis EAPPI International Programme Coordinator and Project Manager

Dear readers,

In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual Israel managed to find its seat within the international observance of the 29 of November as the International community whereas the Palestinians became a refugee Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that problem and a nation seeking self-determination and day, in 1947, the same Assembly adopted the resolution freedom. The resolution, which was taken to divide the on the partition of Palestine. country, was done in a rush and in an irresponsible way. In another resolution on 1 December 2004, it again The countries that took the decision did not understand requested the Committee on the Exercise of the the context. Instead of calling for one state where Jews Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the and Arabs would each enjoy self-determination, these Division for Palestinian Rights, as part of the observance same countries choose to divide the country as an easy of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian solution. This “easy” solution paved the way to one of People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual the world’ greatest tragedies and resulted in continuous solidarity day on Palestinian rights in cooperation with bloodshed between the two people. the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the . It also encouraged Member States to continue The UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people to give the widest support and publicity possible to this should not be only just another day, but a day to remind Day of Solidarity. the world that the injustice needs to end. Israel needs to end its occupation and the Palestinians should be I believe that the reason for all these resolutions is the able to at last see the realisation of their rights. The feeling of the assembly that the 1947 resolution same countries responsible for the resolution on the committed a major injustice against the Palestinian partition of Palestine in 1947 should be the ones to carry people. The resolution intended the creation of two states out this task. for both nations, but it was never completely enacted. Continued on Page 24

World Council of Churches Published by: The EAPPI EAPPI- 150 route de Ferney, International Programme Coordinator: Rifat Odeh Kassis, [email protected] P.O. Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Editor: Gemma Abbs, Communication and Advocacy Officer, [email protected] Switzerland Web Sites: Cover Photo: by Gemma Abbs. www.eappi.org, www.wcc-coe.org Inset photo by Osten Gunnersson. Design and printing: Emerezian Est. [email protected] Palestinian Christians in Jerusalem 4 An interview with Bishop Munib Younan, By Gemma Abbs

My home became my prison 7 By Madeleine Dahl

A Demographic Threat (Home Demolitions in Al-Walaja) 10 By Goren Buren

The Plan A Step towards a Dead End 14 By Suhail Khaliliah

Accessing medical care in Jerusalem 18 By Karen-Elizabeth Heskja

We refuse to be enemies 21 By Goren Buren

Leaving Jerusalem 24 By Ian Alexander

No ordinary English lesson 28 By Karen-Elizabeth Heskja Contents Sections of articles and photos may be used freely, with proper attribution to the EAPPI and the author. For information regarding subscriptions, please contact the editor at: [email protected]

The views contained here do not necessarily reflect those of EAPPI or the World Council of Churches. Issue No.5, 2007 Introduction

Much ado about nothing? The relevance of international law in the Middle East conflict

By Christiane Gerstetter (Ecumenical Accompanier)

“Almost all nations observe almost Geneva Conventions. In addition, state does not comply? There is all principles of international law there are numerous other more simply no police to send in to and almost all of their obligations specific resolutions by the UN enforce international law. Moreover, almost all of the time”, stated Lou Security Council and General not all international law is legally Henkin, a famous international law Assembly, and, let us not forget, the binding. A big part of international scholar from the US, in 1979. One recent 2004 Advisory Opinion of the law is so-called ‘soft law’ - wonders whether the late Henkin International Court of Justice, which declarations, resolutions and other would have wished to modify this states the illegality of the separation documents that state what states statement had he taken a closer look barrier in its current form under should do, but do not legally bind at how the State of Israel has international law. them. While international human complied with its obligations under rights treaties and the Fourth Geneva international law so far. There is a None of the states in the region, and Convention, which deals with the myriad of international legal especially not Israel, seem to feel behaviour of an occupying power in instruments pertaining to the Middle any urge to bring their behaviour the territories occupied, are legally East conflict and stipulating into compliance with what is set out binding, this is not true for obligations for both Israel and its in these instruments, however. As resolutions of the UN General neighbouring countries. They include some of the articles in this issue of Assembly and with few exceptions binding international agreements ChainReaction will show in more for resolutions and recommendations which are not specifically designed depth, Israel obeys its obligations by the UN Security Council. Equally, for the Middle East conflict - under international law almost none an ICJ Advisory Opinion like the one international human rights treaties of the time. It is true to say that in on the legality of the Separation and international humanitarian law many cases, and not only the Israeli Barrier is - as one might guess- only such as the Fourth Geneva one, compliance with international advisory, i.e., non-binding in nature. Convention. Israel has ratified law is less automatic than with several human rights treaties and the domestic law. What happens when a Yet more UN resolutions have been

4 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 adopted concerning Israel, than desirable to do so, because Very often, and most other member states of the international law is incorporated especially when it United Nations. Why is it that with into municipal law (for which the comes to universally such regularity the UN bodies adopt compliance record is much better) applicable pieces of new resolutions aimed towards a or because a state’s government international law like more peaceful and human rights fears for its reputation and resulting human rights treaties or observant Middle East? Window negative consequences, e.g., that the Geneva dressing by diplomats that have other states will decrease foreign Conventions, the rules nothing better to do? The answer is investment or political support. contained in obviously a bit more complex. Firstly, international law are it can generally be observed that Let us take a look at the last one of the written embodiment although the degree of compliance those: reputation. Very often, and of a moral consensus. with international law is lower than especially when it comes to what can be observed within universally applicable pieces of domestic legal systems, it is equally international law like human rights true that many countries comply treaties or the Geneva Conventions, with their international legal the rules contained in international obligations most of the time. Recent law are the written embodiment of research by political scientists has a moral consensus. Most of us would convincingly demonstrated that agree that nobody should be there are several factors why states subjected to arbitrary arrest or do often comply with international detention to cite just one example law, among those that the of a human rights norm that the competent decision-makers at state Israeli state continues to violate in level consider it normatively the Occupied .

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 5 Governments in general are quite Fourth Geneva Convention is not Palestinian Territories. Their success reluctant to appear as the bad guys- applicable to Israeli behaviour in the may sometimes only be minor when those that act against the moral and Occupied Palestinian Territories (this it comes to inducing more lawful political consensus embodied in can, for example, be found on the behaviour of Israeli state actors. international law. It’s bad publicity. website of the Israeli Foreign However, by evoking relevant Rather than admitting that they are Ministry). international law as a moral, neutral in breach of international law, yardstick for how states in general governments tend to try to interpret The fact that governments, among and the Israeli state in particular the law in a way that they would them the Israeli government, try to should behave, they manage to not be breaking it. This is what the avoid appearing to be acting against generate a great deal of political Israeli government does when it their obligations under international solidarity with Palestinians suffering comes to the Fourth Geneva law has something to say about how from human rights violations. This Convention. This Convention important they think compliance in turn may enable them to directly regulates how an occupying force is with international law is for their alleviate some human suffering. Its supposed to behave in the territory reputation. Even if a government character as a moral yardstick for it occupies. For example, the Fourth does not ultimately comply, there is state behaviour is thus one of the Geneva Convention prohibits the the possibility to capitalise on the more indirect ways in which permanent transfer of civilian fact of non-compliance for other international law may help to foster population to the territories actors. NGOs doing advocacy in justice in the Middle East. occupied. Rather than admitting Israel and Palestine, for example, that the Israeli settlements are frequently use international law as A second way in which international therefore illegal under international a yardstick against which to assess law becomes effective is via law, the Government of Israel goes the behaviour of the Israeli army and enforcement not through to great lengths to explain why the other state bodies in the Occupied international bodies, but through

6 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 domestic courts, both in Israel and then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel in other countries. For example, the Sharon. These complaints were filed Israeli High Court in several cases before a court not in Israel, but in explicitly recognised that Israeli Belgium. In 2003, a Belgian appeal authorities in the Occupied court considered the complaints, in Palestinian Territories were bound by principle, admissible. If more states public international law. Accordingly, start to consider grave breaches of it decided that measures like the international humanitarian law or construction of the Separation human rights treaties a matter of Barrier or roads could only be taken universal jurisdiction and not one where they were needed for of national sovereignty, military and “security” reasons, but could not be political leaders all over the world taken for other purposes, such as to may become more hesitant to make the life more comfortable for commit such breaches, because they the Israeli settler population. Still, may face legal consequences as soon as some Israeli human rights lawyers as they leave their own country. put it, the Israeli High Court tends to alter details of Israeli measures So there are several reasons why The fact that in the Occupied Territories while international law is worth the paper governments, among ignoring the overall picture. that it is written on - and much more them the Israeli than that. Even though some states government, try to It is, however, not only Israeli courts do not always comply with avoid appearing to be that may be helpful in enforcing international law, and the Israeli acting against their international legal obligations. It is government has been especially obligations under also courts in other countries. Over reluctant to do so, international law international law has the last two decades or so, the is far from useless for bringing about something to say observance of human rights, the a just solution and respect for human about how important avoidance of war crimes and rights in Israel and the Palestinian they think compliance compliance with International Territories. Quite to the contrary, it with international law Humanitarian Law have come to be contains important guidelines about is for their reputation. seen as a concern of the what a just peace in the Middle East international community as a whole, could look like. Last but not least, in irrespective of where a violation of reflecting a majority position among international law occurs. Courts, the international community, advocates and prosecutors in international law is also an appeal different countries have gradually to the conscience of each individual become more active in taking action that is part of that community. An against foreign nationals appeal to speak out against committing war crimes or gross violations of international law, human rights violations. For especially human rights abuses. Christiane Gerstetter is a lawyer with a example, victims of the 1982 Hopefully then, in the not too distant focus in international law from massacres in Sabra and Shatila future, good old Lou Henkin will be Germany. She served as an Ecumenical recently filed complaints against the proven right also in the Middle East. Accompanier from December 2005 to May 2006.

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 7 Israeli Settlements Illegal “facts” on the ground by Jeff Halper Israel’s building of settlements in the Nonetheless, Israel has engaged in a Occupied Territories, including East project of “creating “facts on the Jerusalem, is absolutely forbidden ground” ever since the Occupation under international law. Article 49 of began in 1967, but particularly since the Geneva Convention which 1977, when the Begin government governs situations of occupation was elected and became states unequivocally: “The Occupying the head of the Ministerial Committee Power shall not...transfer parts of its on Settlements. Through a complex own civilian population into Matrix of Control, including territories it occupies.” settlement “facts,” the Begin

8 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 government sought (1) to completely American Congress in May, 2006, In his “convergence” or incorporate the and East Prime Minister Olmert presented a “realignment” plan presented to a joint Jerusalem into Israel proper; (2) to plan for an expanded Israel and a session of the American render Israel’s Occupation irreversible truncated Palestinian Bantustan Congress in May, 2006, by prejudicing any negotiations based on Israel’s annexation of seven Prime Minister Olmert before they begin; and (3) to settlement “blocs.” These blocs, presented a plan for an foreclose any possible Palestinian comprising about 15-20% of the West expanded Israel and a state, and certainly a truly sovereign Bank, including , truncated Palestinian Bantustan based on and viable one. To date Israel has effectively control the entire country Israel’s annexation of constructed more than 200 between the Mediterranean and the seven settlement “blocs.” settlements, some 300 if one includes Valley, reducing the “outposts.” Palestinians to a “state” on 4-5 “cantons” (Sharon’s term). True, There will be a Palestinian state. Israel relinquishes small settlements Israel needs one to get the deep in Palestinian areas, but it Palestinian residents of the Occupied maintains the large blocs containing Territories, almost four million on 80% of the settlers. number, “off its hands.” To make it look credible Israel might even make The settlement blocs are: a “generous offer:” 85% of the • The Jordan Valley settlements territory for a Palestinian state. That which control both the border with sounds generous indeed, but the issue is not only territory; it’s also a matter of control and resources. For if a Palestinian state has territory but no control of its borders, no freedom of movement either internally or to neighbouring countries, no control of water and its richest agricultural land, no meaningful access to Jerusalem which accounts for 40% of its economy and no control of its airspace or communications, then it becomes a prison, a Bantustan a la South Africa in the days of apartheid.

This is the heart of the issue. In his “convergence” or “realignment” plan presented to a joint session of the

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 9 Jordan and the water resources of Etzion Bloc. Jerusalem is being the West Bank and East Jerusalem the Jordan River; transformed from a city into a while truncating the Palestinian areas region, one which controls the into a series of “cantons” that, if • The “Western Samaria” Bloc around entire central portion of the West given statehood, will be nothing but the city of Ariel which cuts the Bank, separates Ramallah from an non-viable, semi-sovereign West Bank in half between the Bethlehem and Hebron in the Bantustan. To further ensure that the major cities of Qalqilyia, Jenin and south, isolates Palestinian parts of Palestinians cannot negotiate a Nablus in the north and Ramallah Jerusalem from the wider genuinely viable state, Israel has in the center while also keeping Palestinian society and fragments created a last, ultimate “fact on the under Israeli control the major Palestinian East Jerusalem into a ground:” the Separation Barrier, a water aquifer of the West Bank; mere collection of ghettos complex of walls and fences five surrounded by massive Israeli times longer than the Berlin Wall and, • The Modi’in Bloc which connects settlements inside “greater” in populated Palestinian areas, walls the Western Samaria Bloc to the Jerusalem; and more than twice as high as the Berlin Jerusalem area, anchored in the Wall, all intended to unilaterally new city of Modi’in which straddles • The Hebron Bloc, a salient coming determine the borders of the the “” and which takes up to the city of Hebron from the Bantustan. some of the Palestinians’ richest south to connect the Israeli agricultural land; settlements there to Israel. The result of all this is, in the opinion of the Israeli Committee Against • Three blocs which make up a These settlements blocs represent House Demolitions (ICAHD), a new “greater” Israeli Jerusalem: Givat Israel’s “bottom line.” They annex to apartheid situation - one about which Ze’ev, Ma’aleh Adumim and the Israel the major settlement areas of President Carter has warned in his recent book: Palestine: Peace or Apartheid. Olmert’s “convergence plan” is apartheid. It establishes a permanent regime of separation (Jews from Palestinians) in which one group structurally dominates the other group forever. Apartheid means “separation” in Afrikaner, and Israel calls its policy one of , separation, as reflected in the official name of the Barrier - the Separation Barrier. The question remains: will the international community stand back and allow a new apartheid regime to emerge before our eyes, and in the Holy Land no less?

(Jeff Halper, an anthropologist, is the Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions . He was nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize together with the Palestinian intellectual and activist Ghassan Andoni. He can be reached at .)

10 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 Denial of Rights By Elizabeth Burroughs In the Christian Orthodox calendar, ‘Everyone has the (Ecumenical Accompanier) August 28th is the Feast of the right to freedom of Assumption of the Virgin Mary. On movement and that day every year hundreds of residence within the Palestinians, both Catholic and Orthodox, set out at 3 am to walk borders of each from Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem state’ to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary at (Article 13 of the Universal the foot of the Mount of Olives in Declaration of Human Rights) Jerusalem. It is a very happy occasion with much singing and praying along the way. Some Muslim families have been known to join in. The walk ends with a mass at the

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 11 Tomb of the Virgin. Then the walkers more restricted - with Israeli- apply for a permit. head for the city’s market and the manned checkpoints, physical cafés. roadblocks, settler- only roads and The walk still takes place. My Arabic now the separation barrier. teacher, a Catholic who lives close Ellen (name changed to preserve to the Wall, told me that she herself anonymity) first took part in the Anyone who needs to pass through used to love to go. Alas, she too procession about 35 years ago. Her a checkpoint has to clear a set of can no longer get a permit. It seems husband had been very ill but, hurdles in order to obtain an Israeli that few people can. “To forbid us following much prayer, he recovered. permit from a District Civil Liaison to go to Jerusalem - it breaks our In gratitude for his recovery, Ellen Office (DCL). According to a joint hearts,” she said. made a solemn vow that every year report by two Israeli groups, at these that he lived she would take part in DCLs Palestinians encounter hidden Su’ad, an Orthodox Christian who the August 28th procession. violence - the violence of lives in Bethlehem, used to work at bureaucracy. Permits are issued or the branch of the Israeli Ministry of Ellen and her family have been refused by the Israeli authorities in the Interior in East Jerusalem and is actively involved in peace education what appears to be a completely still in close touch with many of her and non-violence training for many arbitrary fashion with no consistency former work colleagues, most of them years. During the first Palestinian and no transparency in a system that Israeli. She is regularly invited to uprising (1987-92) she was active is both inefficient and inadequate for family celebrations such as weddings in sit-ins, peaceful demonstrations the size of the task. and bar mitzvahs and she always and funerals, nothing more. But as used to try and attend. a result of these activities, she has For several years, Palestinian Unfortunately, she can no longer do since 1991 been considered by the Christians who wished to take part so as she is unable to obtain a Israeli authorities to be a security in the procession of the Feast of the permit. She has also tried to obtain risk. For this reason, she can no Assumption were allowed to do so permits to attend Orthodox Church longer get a permit from the Israeli whether or not they had an Israeli events in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa authorities to go into Jerusalem permit. But about two years ago, the but has always been refused. from Bethlehem. rules changed - permits were now required. Nader Abu Amsha is a Christian who Before the present Palestinian lives in the Bethlehem area. He is uprising, which broke out in According to the Israeli authorities, the director of the East Jerusalem September 2000, Palestinians Palestinian Christians are normally YMCA’s renowned Rehabilitation resident in the Occupied Territories permitted to go to Jerusalem for Programme and travels all over the required permits for travel between religious reasons. However, when world to speak about the programme. the West Bank and Gaza Strip and Ellen went to the Israeli District Civil He tells me that he has not been to from both of them to enter East Liaison Office to apply for a special Jerusalem since the middle of 2001 Jerusalem and Israel, but they were permit, she was refused. In tears - five years ago - and was even not required to have permits for she pleaded with the soldier on duty refused a permit to go to the Israeli travel within the West Bank and Gaza - to no avail. In the end she said to Hadassah hospital for medical Strip. However, after 2000 the him, ‘I made a solemn vow but, treatment. In August, an ecumenical freedom of movement of Palestinians because of you, I cannot keep it. I service of prayers for peace was held within the West Bank, Gaza and East therefore hold you responsible.’ Last in St Stephen’s Basilica in East Jerusalem has become progressively year, Ellen did not even bother to Jerusalem. Priests and prelates from

12 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 all the Christian denominations and January, could receive a permit only For several years, representatives from all the Christian for 24th December. It seems that Palestinian Christians who wished to take part organisations were present - but not things are no better now and may in the procession of the Nader. even be worse. Feast of the Assumption were allowed to do so The United Nations Office for the Co- The Universal Declaration of Human whether or not they had ordination of Humanitarian Affairs Rights states that ‘everyone has the an Israeli permit. But reported that during the Christmas right to freedom of movement within about two years ago, the rules changed - holiday in 2003, 2,785 permits were the borders of each state’. These permits were now issued for Palestinian Christians rights are being denied to thousands required. residing in Bethlehem - “a number of Palestinians living in the Occupied unable to satisfy all Christians Territories. Jerusalem is a city that wanting to travel to Jerusalem.” is holy to three faiths - Christianity, Applicants also had no control over Islam and Judaism. Although people the dates on which they were allowed come from all over the world to visit to enter. For example, an Orthodox the holy sites, those closest to them Christian wishing to enter Jerusalem are prevented from being able to on the Orthodox Christmas Day, 7th worship there.

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 13 Ramadan at Bethlehem checkpoint

By Michael Ophilant (Ecumenical Accompanier)

‘...all protected persons shall be forcing people back down the hill. A after another and fails. How sad I treated with the same consideration soldier is also using his gun - think, she should be worrying about by the Party to the conflict in whose thrusting it into a crowd of women - her matriculation farewell banquet or power they are, without any adverse aiming and hitting them in their being in love and exploring the distinction based, in particular, on chest area. breadth of life. Yet here she is trying race, religion or political opinion’. to look strong and failing dismally. (Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva The crowd is angry and the soldiers As she bears down on me, believing Convention) are numerous and vicious, lobbing she has the right of way, my vest is sound bombs into the crowd. One hits recognized and a colleague stops her Bethlehem 300 checkpoint, Friday someone on the head and one finds and asks me to move. 6th October its way back to the soldiers and We arrived at the checkpoint just explodes. The soldiers find this funny The crowd on the other hand is being after ten am to the sound of sound and laugh and there is a huge amount battered all the time and pushed back bombs going off in three successive of back slapping going on. A young down the hill as jeep after jeep arrives explosions. As we approach the female soldier is driving the jeep to control the ‘dangerous’ checkpoint it is clear that the which attempts to run me over as I Palestinians. A barricade is erected pressure today would be greater than stand watching in horror as the and people’s permits are being usual as cars are parked all the way soldier with the gun - known as checked at the barricade. Women past Caritas Hospital on both sides. Rambo - assaults the women. She though, are being let through along Our worst fears are realized as we on the other hand drives the jeep with children. The men are angry and turn the corner to the checkpoint. and screams at me and the agitated and they begin to respond A huge crowd of people are standing Palestinians. She looks so out of to the soldiers angrily. One man is around the gate and as we get to place and I actually feel sorry for her arrested. There goes his permit, I the entrance of the gate a jeep is as she attempts one soldierly thing think to myself. His anger has cost

14 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 at the soldiers as people trickle past ‘...... all protected the barricades. Eventually at 12 noon persons shall be treated the crowd is down to around twenty. with the same Now it’s too late to get to Al Aqsa consideration by the for Friday prayers. ‘No peace’ says Party to the conflict in one protester referring to our vests. whose power they are, ‘It is all in the air. Do you hear what without any adverse I am saying’? distinction based, in particular, on race, I would estimate that there had been religion or political around 3000 people at the opinion’. checkpoint. There were buses that (Article 27 of the Fourth had brought people in from all over Geneva Convention) the southern West Bank. The IDF must have known that there would be this many people on the first Friday of Ramadan so why they were unprepared is astonishing. Plans and responses were made up as they went him his livelihood. Some of the along. In the end they complied with women are still being pushed back their rules, but did nothing to make with guns. Every effort is being the transit dignified and peaceful. It applied by the police and the army to would anyway have been too late to be obfuscatory, no effort being spared make it to the mosque. Another to make this journey to Al Aqsa wasted trip. Another day in the life mosque impossible. One by one people of the occupation. turn back. When I ask why they shrug their shoulders and just move on.

The jeeps push the people back more decisively now and everywhere there are children with guns trying to act soldierly and failing, but succeeding in being cruel nonetheless, screaming and waving their weapons arbitrarily at people. Eventually the crowd is moved to the bottom of the hill and I cannot work out why other than they do it because they can, and the helpless, powerless people who simply want to go to the mosque not 8 kilometres away, comply. Another man loses his cool and screams back

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 15 Living in the Shadow of the Wall

By Gemma Abbs “...the occupying state shall be regarded only as administrator..... of public buildings, real estate, forests, and agricultural estates...... situated in the occupied country. It must safeguard the capital of these properties, and administer them in accordance with the rules of usufruct.” In other words, the occupying power cannot take over or use territories or private properties in the occupied territories to serve the interests of its civilian population. Article 55 of the Hague Convention (Laws and Customs of War on Land (Hague II); July 29, 1899)

George and his family live in ‘the Wall’ - or separation barrier - Bethlehem. Their house is situated which is a couple of kilometers up the next to Rachel’s Tomb, which the road, but a different wall, a wall within Israeli Government has gradually been a wall, which surrounds the tomb, and surrounding with a wall. This is not now shadows the family’s home.

16 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 George lives with his six children, his mother and brother. They are a Palestinian Christian family. George’s property comprises a large hotel and restaurant and the family used to run a thriving business. However, in 1996, the Israeli army arrived and life Credits: ven to the recent teac has never been the same since. soldiers would come and search the house in the middle of the night and Soldiers took over the top three floors scare the children. One time his wife of the building and blocked it off so was hit by the butt of a gun whilst the family couldn’t access it. They trying to protect her son. She needed also took over the restaurant. They medical treatment, but the soldiers used the water and electricity and refused to let her out to get to now George has bills for thousands hospital. Another time, they tied up of shekels which he is obliged to pay. his mother, Carmen, and locked her He went to the Palestinian Authority in a room. asking for help, but they told him he has a business so what’s he George showed us the restaurant, on complaining about. The Israelis, of the ground floor of the building. A course, offered him no compensation and the electricity company refused to cancel the debt.

The army have been present in the building on and off since 1996, using it as an observation post. It overlooks the refugee camp next door - Aida Camp. Sometimes snipers would shoot at people in the camp. George told us how he has been searched going into his own house, how the

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 17 thick layer of dust covers the chairs and tables. Almost everything in the restaurant has been destroyed. Every plate and glass has been smashed. Empty bottles of vodka were left abandoned on a table after the soldiers last left the place.

George shows us pictures of two of his cars which were destroyed by the soldiers, and pictures of army jeeps parked in front of his house. Even though we are using an Arabic translator, we can see from his eyes how desperate George is. He doesn’t know how to earn a living any more; his restaurant and hotel have been destroyed and he has no money for repairs. He has no way to pay the mounting bills. Even though the army left two weeks ago, he doesn’t know when they might be back. They cut off access to the rest of the building with barbed wire and told the family not to go up there. I wonder why they don’t do something, try to cut the wire at least, but it becomes clear that they are scared of what the army will do when they come back. George asks us, “What are we to do, there’s no where to go, no one left we can complain to. All of this was designed to force us to leave our house. But this is our home and we will not leave”. We have no answers. All we can do is say we’re sorry, promise to keep visiting and tell others about his story.

See also: UN General Assembly Res 48/41: Human rights in the territories, Dec 10th 1993 This article has been published in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, December issue.

18 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 Continued fromPage 2

This edition of ChainReaction looks at international law and some of the United Nations resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine, which have never been implemented over the last 59 years.

It will be exactly 40 years next year since the occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. The Palestinian struggle continues, and the international community continues to watch without taking action to implement a single United Nations resolution.

The 29th of November marks the Day of Solidarity with the Palestinians but also the longstanding hypocrisy of the international community.

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 19 Is this really ‘A world fit for children’?

By Kimendhri Pillay, Ecumenical Accompanier

The United Nations has developed various resolutions In October 2002, the United Nations addressing the needs of every child, including the right to General Assembly adopted resolution education. During my stay as an EA in Tulkarem, I have 27/2, entitled: “A world fit for heard and witnessed numerous accounts of children’s rights children”. This resolution aimed to being violated on a daily basis as a direct result of the “give every child a better future”. This occupation. This article looks at the horrific effects of the resolution claims that progress had occupation on school children, looking at the constant been made since the commitment obstacles that face children and their families. made for children 11 years previously at the World Summit for Children. Sadly this has never translated into a reality for Palestinian children. The lives of Palestinian children continue to deteriorate.

A World Fit for Children According to “A world fit for children”, some of the principles and objectives to be achieved are: • Principle 5: Educate every child, giving them access to primary education. • Principle 6: Children must be protected against acts of violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination. • Principle 7: Children should be protected from the horrors of armed conflict. Children under foreign occupation must be protected, in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law.

18 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 All the above principles have been and on teachers? Israel as the violated in the Occupied Palestinian occupying power is required to Territories. provide free education for all school children. Both the international Checkpoints and their effects on community and the occupying power children side-lined are failing in their duty to school Much international attention was aged children all across the Occupied given to the recent teachers strike; Palestinian Territories. However, however the impact of checkpoints access to schools encompasses more on access to education is than just the recent closures, which comparatively ignored. Teachers have been at the top of the media around the West Bank were on strike agenda locally. Even local Palestinian at the beginning of the school year, media are missing the main point. A due to salaries that had not been paid recent article by Mohammed for 7 months. Is the blame rightfully Daraghmeh: “Palestinian strike placed on the funding cutbacks due imperils school year”, speaks in great to the elected Hamas led government length about how the teachers strike

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 19 is detrimental to the education of vehicle while there are child Palestinian public servants, especially children. He further states that onlookers in the nearby vehicles; the teachers and furthermore not parents are unsure whether to blame soldier that rudely screams out orders providing alternative means of the Hamas led government or the to humiliate the parents of these education for Palestinian children, teachers. The focus on how children in their presence, the soldier the following problems have arisen, checkpoints, acts of violence and the that instructs men to lift up their to name just a few: occupation in general add to the clothes before their families and 1 Parents changing their child/ burden of children travelling to and strangers. Travelling through a children from public school to a from school, have been sidelined by checkpoint each day, being forced to private school which they cannot the focus on the strike. open your school bag for the soldier, necessarily comfortably afford and witnessing violence clearly 2 Children using escapisms such as There are many examples of random affects the emotional health and lengthy hours of playing with their acts of violence carried out on mental state of children, leading to friends in the street and lengthy children at checkpoints. For instance, nightmares, bed-wetting, and lack of hours of television the soldier that threatened to hit a concentration at school. 3 Children assisting parents in the child; the soldier that mentioned he family business or children working is ordered to shoot at any Palestinian Consequences of the Occupier not themselves as vendors that does not follow orders of providing access to Education 4 An increase in conflict with bored security; the soldier that shoots at a By not addressing the salary cut of children amongst their siblings

18 Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 The UN World Health Assembly The picture of Palestinian children Adopt Resolutions for school thus far appears bleak unless all children Palestinian voices are heard and The World Health Assembly reported, international pressure is strongly “...Palestinians attach great expressed with the result of a positive importance to education.” Is the poor change by the occupiers. access to education of Palestinian children then a strategy of the occupiers to make access to education a struggle for the Palestinians who according to the WHO report have proven to value education? WHO further reports that “85% of those between 5 and 17 years of age attend schools. This percentage has dropped by more than 50% in the past seven months because of closures, communication disruption...” World Health Organisation (WHO) - 54th World Health Assembly Adopted 16 May 2001, pg 5.

Conclusion Rahman, a Muslim from New Zealand expresses that, “Until the Palestinian people have a viable country that provides them with access to employment and a decent standard of living, adequate health care, education and freedom of movement, they have little hope for the future”.

References: • http://ftp.who.int/gb/pdf_files/WHA54/ea54id7.pdf • http://www.aen.org.nz/journal/1/1/rahman.html • http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=10405 • http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/docs_new/documents/A-RES-S27- 2E.pdf • http://www.aen.org.nz/journal/1/1/rahman.html • Seattlepi.com. Sunday, October 22, 2006 · Last updated 2:11 p.m. PT. Palestinian strike imperils school year. By Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press Writer

Chain Reaction Issue No 5, 2007 19 World Council of Churches (WCC) is the broadest and most inclusive among the many organized expressions of the modern ecumenical movement, a movement whose goal is Christian unity. The Churches Commission on The WCC brings together more than International Affairs (CCIA) 340 churches, denominations, and comprises 30 people nominated by church fellowships in over 100 churches and regional ecumenical countries and territories throughout organisations to advise the WCC in the world, representing some 400 international affairs. The staff of the million Christians and including most WCC International Affairs, Peace and of the world’s Orthodox churches, Human Security team - experienced scores of denominations from such professionals from around the world historic traditions of the Protestant - engages with and supports churches The Ecumenical Accompaniment Reformation as Anglican, Baptist, and ecumenical bodies on these Programme in Palestine and Israel Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed, urgent priorities: (EAPPI) supports Palestinians and as well as many united and Israelis working for peace by independent churches. While the • peace-making and peaceful monitoring and reporting violations bulk of the WCC’s founding churches resolution of conflicts of human rights and international were European and North American, • militarism, disarmament, and arms humanitarian law, offering protection today most are in Africa, Asia, the control by accompanying local communities Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle • human security and the root causes in daily activities, and by advocating East, and the Pacific. of terrorism with churches for a peaceful end to • human rights, religious liberty, and the Occupation. The programme, The Roman Catholic Church is a full intolerance which began in 2002, is coordinated member of many national ecumenical • impunity, justice, and by the World Council of Churches and several regional ecumenical reconciliation (WCC) within the Churches organisations and has a regular • international law and global Commission on International Affairs working relationship with the WCC. governance (CCIA). OTHER PUBLICATIONS FROM THE EAPPI

• ChainReaction No.1: “The EAPPI Confronting violence with presence”

• ChainReaction No.2: “While The World was Watching Gaza” • ChainReaction No.3 “Children and the Conflict”

• “EAPPI - a general introduction”, a 12 minute DVD

• “Theological Reflection on Accompaniment”

• Sawahreh Against the Wall - The Struggle of a Palestinian Village, dealing with the Infringements on Freedom brought about by Israel’s ever-tightening Occupation

• Separated Families: A Report by Anna Seifert, Ecumenical Accompanier (September- December 2004) www.quaker.org/eappi

• The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel: Two Years of Nonviolent Witness and Active Presence for Peace

• Security or Segregation? The Humanitarian Consequences of Israel’s Wall of Separation

• Video: End the Occupation - Voices for a Just Peace (21 minutes)

All the above can be ordered by writing to [email protected]. More articles and further information on the programme can be found by going to www.eappi.org. World Council of Churches