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Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002
From: Dorothy Naor
Subject: Ta'ayush in Bethlehem Christmas Eve 2002
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Ta'ayush in Bethlehem Christmas Eve 2002
The media paid little attention to Ta'ayush's presence in Bethlehem
Christmas eve. In fact, Bethlehem itself received little attention.
Nary a word about it appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, San
Francisco Chronicle, and the Guardian, nor in the London Times which does
not publish on Christmas Day. Reports about Bethlehem on Christmas eve
did appear in the Independent, CNN, and BBC. But none of these mentioned
the most unusual fact that Ta'ayush - Jewish-Arab Partnership--had come
to Bethlehem, and that, among other things, had demonstrated against the
occupation together with our Palestinian friends from Bethlehem, and a
lively French contingent of about 40 peaceniks. CNN did have a
photograph of the Patriarch's parade, in which could be seen in the
distance signs being held; a message was visible on one: "End the
occupation". The photo's caption read, "Protestors join the Latin
Patriarch's annual procession to the Church of the Nativity". Israeli
TVs 1st and 2nd news channels mentioned the Ta'ayush presence, but
with small ado. -Undoubtedly the event would have been more newsworthy,
more spectacular, had the army clashed with the demonstrators. But it
didn't.
Ta'ayush arrived in two separate groups a smaller and a larger. The
smaller group, an advance guard of 50, arrived at about 9:00 AM, the
larger at 1:00PM. The purpose of the former was to ascertain an Israeli
presence in the city, in case the military blocked the larger group from
entering later in the day. The anticipation that the military might do
this was not unfounded. Bethlehem is classified as an 'A'ׂ city, that
is to say, it is theoretically under the Palestinian authority's
control theoretically because there is now no area in the West Bank and
Gaza under Palestinian control. Nonetheless, Israeli law prohibits
Israelis from entering 'A'ׂareas.
Yet neither of the two Ta'ayush groups had difficulty either in getting
in or out. Apparently the military had decided to avoid adverse
publicity on Christmas eve, and therefore ignored Ta'ayush. The
military has not always been so obliging. On a previous occasion,
Ta'ayush demonstrators were met at the Bethlehem check point with water
canons and mounted police, who thrashed the demonstrators with clubs.
By contrast, yesterday was quiet. But although the IOF stayed away from
Manger Square, the atmosphere did not exude gaiety. Men and children
hawking wares were abundant, but buyers were few. The square remained
undecorated in protest against Israel's refusal to allow Arafat to
attend the ceremonies. Even the fact that the curfew had been lifted for
the holiday--the first time in over a month that the Bethlehemians had
any reasonable length of time free--and even the fact that the weather
conspired to make the day pleasant, did not help. The rain that was
promised in Bethlehem fell mainly on the plain instead. The sun
occasionally popped out to smile on us. The inhabitants that were in
Manger Square were friendly and chatted with us, some in fluid Hebrew,
recalling times when they had worked in Israel, others spoke in English
or Hebrew of present hardships. The children were playful and friendly.
But the atmosphere was not exalting, nor exhilarating. The occupation
hangs heavy over Palestinian heads every day of the week, every hour of
the day, holiday or not.
The high point of the day was when the larger contingent of 200
Ta'ayushers walked past the checkpoint, signs held high, chanting in
Hebrew and Arabic, "Stop the Occupation". During the 2 kilometer walk
to Manger Square, residents of the city ran excitedly out to join the
Ta'ayush marchers. Later, Ta'ayush distributed gifts to the children.
At about 3:00 PM, we ended our visit in joint demonstration: Ta'ayush,
our Palestinian friends, and the lively contingent of French peaceniks.
Those of us who had come in the morning, were ushered upon arrival into
the Peace Center. There, in a hall, we were formally greeted by the
city's notables; after which we heard 3 talks: by a representative from
the office of the Minister of the Interior, by an NGO in charge of
Prisoner Affairs, and by the Deputy Governor of Bethlehem. Each recounted
details of life under occupation.
The gentleman from the Ministry of the Interior, related that his meeting
with us recalled to mind his first meeting with Israeli peace activists
in July, 1980 at Beith Sokolov in Tel Aviv. Both parties then agreed on
the necessity of ending the Occupation and of bringing peace to both
peoples. He continues to believe this, as also the possibility of
Israelis and Palestinians living in friendship. "We have to work
hard", he concluded, "to establish 2 states for the 2 peoples, to live
in democracy and peace".
The Deputy Governor related that the city's infrastructure had been
severely damaged, much of it destroyed. Records have disappeared. Roads
and buildings have been either damaged or destroyed. $33 million dollars
are needed to repair and restore.
The gentleman in charge of prisoner affairs presented stark statistics.
I list them.
The Over-All Situation
1. At present 8,000 Palestinians are incarcerated in 8 facilities.
According to our lecturer, most prisoners are ordinary civilians.
[B'tselem statistics show fewer prisoners, but are for the beginning
of December, and will not be updated till January 5th.]
2. 1,500 of the prisoners are held under Administrative Detention. This
means that they can be held without charges being brought against
them, and without trial. Administrative detention is up to 6 months,
but is frequently extended. The process can go on indefinitely, with
the prisoner never knowing when he/she will finally be released to
return home and to family.
3. 300 of the incarcerated are chronically ill. They suffer
additionally from being denied proper medical care.
4. 120 have been killed or have died of other causes during their
imprisonment.
5. There are cases where a father and his sons are imprisoned.
6. 48 of the imprisoned are women.
7. 250 are boys under the age of 18.
8. 80% of those arrested have undergone torture to one degree or
another.
9. Since March, when the IOF incursions began to destroy the Palestinian
authority, treatment has become harsher; soldiers now frequently hit,
humiliate, and in other ways mistreat prisoners.
10. Conditions in jails, particularly in Ktsiot and Opher, are
unsuitable for human habitation.
11. For the past 2 years, families have been denied visits to prisoners,
and prisoners have been denied receipt of packages from the families,
even when containing warm winter clothing to help cope with low
temperatures and no or insufficient heating.
In Bethlehem
1. 160 persons have been arrested in Bethlehem.
2. Of these, 46 are still in prison.
3. 24 are on Administrative Detention.
4. 17 of the 46 are youngsters under 18; 3 of these are girls.
5. Bethlehem prisons are unfit for human habitation. Prisoners suffer
from the cold; they are allowed to go to the toilet only every 5
hours.
6. Arrests are made after midnight, when families sleep. Soldiers bang
on doors, scaring the children, demanding that the inhabitants all
exit; then make their arrests.
7. Bethlehem witnesses 3-5 arrests nightly. Monday night (Dec. 23, 02)
4 were arrested.
Afterword
Arrests continue, despite the holiday. The 7:00 AM Israeli news reported
this morning, December 25, that last night soldiers had arrested 3
people in Bethlehem.
* Defense Minister Mofaz proudly announced just this past week that in the
past 6 weeks Israel has incarcerated 800 Palestinians.
* Ha'aretz, one of Israel's 3 leading dailies, reported today that in
the past 4 months Israel has arrested 1,800 Palestinians.
* The morning news for the past month or two has daily reported 14, 15, or
so arrests.
* An IOF soldier who shot and killed a 96 year old woman
returning home from the hospital in a taxi, has been sentenced to 65
days in prison.
Given the circumstances, it is small wonder that a pall hangs over
celebrations.
May Ta'ayush's visit to Bethlehem next Christmas eve be under happier
circumstances, in the spirit of peace and good will towards all.
Dorothy
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