Images of Occupation

What do we mean when we use the word "Occupation"?  I have been involved in IfNotNow (INN), an organization fighting to end the American Jewish support for the occupation, since February.  Being part of INN has been really meaningful - finally I have the opportunity to really engage in conversations, learning, and activism around Israel/Palestine.  But what do we mean when we say occupation?  Before joining the Center for Jewish Nonviolence in the West Bank five days ago, it was, in some ways, a very vague concept to me.  I knew there were horrible human rights violations, I knew there was military force being used against Palestinians, and I knew about settlements, walls, and checkpoints; but I couldn't really visualize any of this.  My hope in sharing some images and captions is that I can start to spread the atrocities being committed against Palestinians under military occupation.  This is only a start.

This is Claire.  In this picture she is standing between her house on the left and the wall on the right.  Her house is surrounded on three sides, she has lost significant business and says that this feels like being imprisoned.  Between 1996 and 2004, Claire and her family were subject to extreme military invasion.  She shares stories of Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers invading her home to use her roof as a lookout and times that her home was nearly destroyed.  The wall illegally runs into Bethlehem in this area so that Israelis can visit nearby Rachel's Tomb.  Learn more about Claire here.

This is the Carmel settlement.  It runs along the fence of Umm al-Khair, a Palestinian village.  Settlements allow Jews to live in the West Bank and even live in the middle or on top of Palestinian villages, thus splitting or displacing groups of people.  Settlements are supported by Israel with military protection and all of the rights of being an Israeli citizen (like water and electricity...see next picture).  Settlers are not allowed to expand their settlements without permits, but they often do expand by creating outposts.  Outposts are illegal; however, while the case goes to court, the IDF protects the families and they are allowed to build infrastructure.  By the time the case is heard, the outpost is so established that it becomes a legal settlement.

This is a picture taken in the Palestinian village of Susiya of their solar panels and water system.  Many Palestinians live very environmentally friendly in Area C (Israeli controlled parts of the West Bank) because they are not given access to the grid for water and electricity.  Another way Israel does not grant the same rights to Palestinians in the West Bank as it does to the settlers.

I shared this picture in my previous blog post.  It is a picture of a demolished home in Susiya.  The IDF is able to issue demolition orders to many buildings in Palestinian villages and they can then be demolished at any time.  The destruction of homes is dehumanizing and a shocking show of military power.

The settlement of Susiya is built in the middle of the Palestinian village of Susiya.  Palestinians were forced out of their homes by settlers and the Israeli government and their homes were turned into an archaeological site.  This marker, pictured above, is found at the archaeological site of Susiya and shows that it was funded by Americans - someone from Silver Spring, MD and the Jewish National Fund.  American Jews contributed to the displacement of Palestinians.  This is why it is so important to end the American Jewish support of the occupation!  Also, not surprisingly, there is no acknowledgement of Palestinian history at this site - it only tells stories of Jewish history.

This is a street in Hebron that used to be a main street - a bustling area of commerce and social life.  Hebron is divided in two parts - H1 (Palestinian control) and H2 (Israeli control).  H1 makes up about 80% of the city and H2 is about 20% of the city.  The settlements make up about 3% of H2.  Between 2000 and 2016, the Palestinian center of H2 has become a ghost town.  Shops were closed, doors were welded shut, families were forced out.  There are complicated laws about which streets Palestinians are allowed on and road laws change block by block.  Some residents are not allowed on the streets outside the front of their houses.  The pushing out of Palestinians in H2 was extremely strategic.

 Most Palestinians living in H2 have built cages around their windows in order to protect themselves from settler violence.  Settlers are given significant protection by the IDF and police, Palestinians are not.  They literally have to cage themselves in.

This sign stands at the entrance of all Area A (Palestinian controlled) cities.  It reads "This road leads to Area "A" under the Palestinian Authority, the entrance for Israeli citizens is forbidden, dangerous to your lives, and is against the Israeli law."  This sign and the law it represents further separates Israelis and Palestinians.  It strikes fear in Israelis and everyone who drives past it (I want to note that I have felt very safe everywhere I have visited in Area A so far) and it draws attention to the real, concrete, militarily, legally enforced barriers to living as a Palestinian in the West Bank.  The blocking of roads is an important tool used to keep Palestinians restricted from certain areas and Palestinians and Israelis separate.

Occupation is Not Our Judaism

            I am finding it hard to put into words what I have been seeing, hearing, learning, experiencing, feeling.  During an activity this evening with Center for Jewish Nonviolence director Ilana Sumka about nonviolence as a personal/spiritual practice, Ilana asked us to start by going around the group and saying two words that described how we were feeling after today.  My words were horrified and rejuvenated.  I feel horrified after seeing the 12-meter wall that surrounds Bethlehem to keep Palestinians out of Israel, after hearing stories of violence and manipulation, and after visiting the recently demolished homes in part of the village of Susiya.  I feel rejuvenated after seeing the resilience of individuals and communities in Palestinian villages and from being surrounded by an insightful, strong, and dedicated group of Jews fighting to end the occupation.

            My head is spinning with facts – I am learning a lot about what it actually means that there is an occupation; many facts about settlements, Israeli and Palestinian history; and nonviolence.  I hope to write more about all of these at a later time, when I am not as exhausted.  For now, I want to share a little about what we have been doing since arriving in Bethlehem on Sunday morning (less than 48 hours ago, hard to believe!) and who is part of the group.  We are an intergenerational group of 45 people from 7 different countries, representing many different movements of Judaism and activist organizations.  It is an incredible group of people that really cares about each other and about learning about and ending the occupation.  It is remarkable to be part of a group where I don’t have to worry about my politics and am free to ask questions and discuss honestly.  In standing in solidarity with Palestinians, we are also cultivating an inclusive and inspiring Jewish community.

            On Sunday afternoon we spent time touring Bethlehem, where we are staying.  One might expect that the Church of the Nativity would draw many tourists to Bethlehem; however our tour guide, Elias, explained that tourists that do visit only come for an hour and jump on and off the tour bus.  This means that Bethlehem’s economy suffers.  As we toured, Elias pointed out various streets that used to thrive with commerce and have essentially shut down – people are scared to come to Bethlehem.  In addition to walking through the heart of Bethlehem and seeing many shops and restaurants, peace centers and churches, we walked along the 12-meter tall, concrete wall that divides Jerusalem from Bethlehem.  The wall made me feel claustrophobic, we were closed in and could not see the rolling hills beyond.  What must it feel like to live behind walls like this?  Elias described it as an open air prison – furthering this concept by sharing that all Palestinians must carry their ID cards everywhere they go and can only go into Israel if they get a permit in advance and must have a “good” reason to visit Israel, such as work or a doctor’s visit – it is very hard to obtain a permit.  Despite all this, there was obvious resilience from the Palestinians that live behind these walls.  There was lots of graffiti on the walls that said things like “Free Palestine” and “Embody Solidarity.”  There were also banners with stories of Palestinians on the walls, designed by an Arab-Palestinian NGO, which were powerful to read.

Standing next to the wall in Bethlehem

            On Monday, we spent the morning at Umm al-Khair, a Palestinian village of about 100 people in the South Hebron Hills where we helped to till fields so that they will be ready to plant za’atar.  This village sits against the settlement of Carmel and it is shocking to see the big houses of the settlement and the waving Israeli flags through the fence.  Umm al-Khair has many demolition notices for its buildings – it is unclear if and when these demolitions will happen, but it is a possibility at any moment.  However, we are planting so that it will be harder for the Israeli Civil Authority to justify demolishing these homes.  Despite the hard work, hot sun, and desperate situation, our hosts smiled, sang, danced, and celebrated (especially when they found out that one of the boys in the village passed his matriculation exams and will be able to apply to go to university).

            Monday afternoon, we visited the Palestinian villages of Susiya and AL-Twani.  Susiya is a divided village with the settlement of Susiya right in the middle.  The settlement is on the grid, which means they get water and electricity.  Susiya is not.  Most Palestinian villages use solar and wind power and collect rain water and/or bring in water.  A staggering fact is that the UN says that health code requires that there be 100 liters of water per person per day available; however, the settlements have enough water for 450 liters per person per day, while the near by Palestinian villages have between 20 and 70 liters of water per person per day available.  This is just one illustration (and concrete number) that shows the deep divide between the treatment of Israelis and Palestinians. 

            In Susiya we also saw recently demolished homes and rebuilding efforts of these families.  We talked about the trauma that one goes through when they see their home demolished and the importance of rebuilding.  We saw the rubble and the concrete slabs covered by a tent that serves as a home.  We were welcomed by a family who smiled and gave us candy, despite what they have been through.

Recently demolished homes in Susiya

            There are so many symbols of the occupation that we saw throughout the day.  It is upsetting and dehumanizing for the people that live under it.  I am so thankful to be part of the Center for Jewish Nonviolence – for the chance to learn, to see, and to fight for a future of freedom and dignity for all.

            I’ll write soon – it’s 11 pm and I have to be ready to work in the hot fields again tomorrow, with breakfast at 6 am!

P.S. Check out the Center for Jewish Nonviolence’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CenterForJewishNonviolence/ - we will post updates, pictures, and videos there as well!

Summer Plans: Heading to the West Bank

This July, I will be joining the Center for Jewish Nonviolence with Jews from around the world for 10 days of solidarity activism with Palestinians in the West Bank.  We will work with Palestinians who are being evicted from their homes and pushed off their land in the name of ongoing settlement expansion and occupation. Likely projects include: infrastructure development, agricultural projects, sit-ins, and marches.

This delegation is called "Occupation is Not Our Judaism."  I have always struggled with the idea that we can participate in a Judaism that celebrates liberation and instills values of social justice, while actively or passively supporting the occupation.  By spending time in the West Bank this summer, I'm hoping to gain my own understanding of how the incredibly complicated dynamics of Israeli/Palestinian relations affect people in their day to day lives.

I believe that it is important for American Jews to see first hand what is happening in the West Bank and Israel because the American Jewish establishment blindly supports the occupation and continues to silence Jews who believe in the liberation of all people.  Because of this I've joined IfNotNow, a new young-adult-led organization, that seeks to end the American Jewish support of the occupation.  This trip is an opportunity to inform me and to help me become a more confident leader by deepening my understanding of the occupation through personal experience and shared stories.

I am raising $2500 to cover the cost of my participation in the delegation and airfare.  Any donation, big or small, will help me reach this goal. I hope you'll be willing to support me in this journey in any way you can. Please follow my blog here at http://aharrisridker.blogspot.com/, donate to support my trip if that's possible at https://igg.me/at/SZFMdJhQUsE, and most important I look forward to sharing my stories with you when I return.