January 23, 2002

Hebron (Settlements)

[West Bank, Palestine] Do you know about Hebron? If you don't, you should. Hebron is a town split into two parts, called H1 and H2. H1 is under Palestinian control. H2 contains 30,000 Palestinians and 400 Israelis. Did you read those numbers correctly -- 30,000 Palestinians and only 400 Jewish settlers? But it's actually a few more. There are at least 1,200 Israeli soldiers there to "protect" the 400 settlers! It's crazy. There are at least three times as many soldiers as residents of the settler communities. And get this -- the settlements are built IN THE MIDDLE of the Palestinian areas! Can you believe that? Israel has build homes for its people in the middle of the Palestinian city. Why would anyone move into a home in the middle of his enemies? If I were an Israeli, I would wonder how much my government cares for me, if they are building me a home in the midst of my enemies. There's no good reason to move there -- unless you want to stir up a little trouble. If you want to cause problems, then it is a perfect place to move. Of course I still say that settlements are only excuses for Israeli military presence. Israel takes whatever property they want, they build a settlement on it, and then they fill the place with soldiers. It is just plain nonsense! If anyone has a rational explanation for this behavior, I'd like to hear it.

Now maybe this does not bother you. Should it? Of course it should! If you are concerned about things like peace and accountability. These settlers and soldiers have no business being there. Their presence doesn't do one darn thing to promote peace in the area. It only makes Palestinians resent them more. If the soldiers and settlers left, the area would calm down. And if you are an American taxpayer, then you are helping to pay for this. The billions of dollars in annual aid that Israel receives from the US comes out of our pockets! What an incredible waste of our money.

Today I made my first visit to Hebron. The Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) kindly hosted me and a few friends. We took a walking tour of the area, and what I saw just amazed me. Sure, there are settlements in Bethlehem. Precious farmland surrounding the town was taken and settlements were built. Terrible shame. But what I saw today in Hebron would be like a Jewish settler building a home in Manger Square in the middle of town. It's really like the big bully in school who pushed everyone around to get his way. I hate to see it. It's just so unfair. And I wish the rest of the world could honestly see what is going on.