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Israeli Peace Movement at Jenin Checkpoint DemonstrationSunday 14 Apr 2002
author: Ben Scribner (ccmep@hotmail.com)
summary
We had gathered at an intersection within Israel's 67' borders, 18 kilometers from Jenin. Buses arrived for over an hour, unloading into a swelling crowd of "thousands" according to the local media. The scene was hopeful and impressive. Maybe there is something going on with the Israeli left.
Israeli Peace Movement at Jenin Checkpoint Demonstration
by Ben Scribner on Israeli/Palestine border near Jenin
Saturday, April 13th
Tay Yush. Yesh Guvul. Gush Shalom. Bat Shalom. Peace Now. I'm getting confused navigating the Israeli peace movement. But this is not different from our own in the U.S. - no one can speak officially for the party line, there are tendencies within tendencies within tendencies. Yonathan (forgive my attempts at phonetic spellings), however, who I have just met, is emphatic on the point that all these groups are anti-occupation. "The issue that people argue about is the right of return," he says.
I'm asking Yonathan, who was just on camera with press (in their helmets and flak jackets, of course - I've now learned it's a matter of insurance coverage) what just happened at the demonstration that is now breaking up.
"Well, everything I know is rumors," he says, "but my understanding is that the food convoy was allowed through to Jenin." I'm concerned, I didn't see
it happen with my own eyes.
We had gathered at an intersection within Israel's 67' borders, 18 kilometers from Jenin. Buses arrived for over an hour, unloading into a swelling crowd of "thousands" according to the local media. The scene was hopeful and impressive. Maybe there is something going on with the Israeli left.
Again there was a large Arab presence, out of proportion with their 1 in 5 numbers in Israel. On the bus coming in, Chaya, an American Jew who
emigrated to Israel in 1950, tells me "The number one rule today is to mix - Jews and Arabs, men and women. They'll try to separate us and beat up
especially hard on the Arabs." And then someone else chimes in "And since you're not a Jew, an Arab, or a woman, we'll have to work something out for you!"
Along with the buses were three large and laden trucks carrying shrink-wrapped foodstuffs. One had a bin that was being loaded by hand with blankets, clothing, and more food brought by individual Israelis. The goal was to get the aid to Jenin. No one thought it would work.
Charles Linchner, a U.S. Jewish peace activist described the plan: "We go to the checkpoint, demonstrate, and get tear gassed and beaten." With these expectations, I was surprised that the food had simply been let through "from another route." But Yonathan, an older, white-haired man from Tel Aviv who speaks with a gentle European accent, has faith: "If they lied to us, all of these people will remember, and there will be more trouble with
them." He reads my skeptical expression. "You think this is bullshit?" he says, laughing.
* Ben is one of four Coloradans currently in Palestine joining many internationals in solidarity with Palestinians in ending the illegal Israeli military occupation of Palestine. More on their trip at: http://www.ccmep.org/palestine.html