12/2/2009
Hi All,
So much happens so quickly here that it is very hard to keep updates going to you all..but do know that in between these shocking adrenaline pumping events there is time for cooking Palestinian style, new and deepening friendships, walks in the villages, patting donkeys etc..not to mention heating water for washing, spending much time getting from one place to another, learning how to fix stuff and just making do. Life is way simpler and in so many ways very grounded here....

But two items you will want to know about:

First, I hope you remember my involvement with the evicted and threatened to be evicted families in East Jerusalem. I wrote about the large group of internationals coming on Friday afternoons in support of the Palestinians living on the street in front of their confiscated homes and, I think, about Rifka al Kurd who is in her 80s and facing the demolition or confiscation to settlers of the front section of her house which she built for her son, granted without a permit to be sure but, then Israelis never give permits to Palestinians for repair of their homes or additions or building.( I hate to say never but i do think the 3 percent of permits granted since 1967(ICHAD..but you can check) kind of qualifies as 'never').our press and Israeli PR is full of the "essential' natural growth of the settlements..but NEVER about the right of Palestinians for natural growth as well. Instead, as I said they are not allowed to even repair. When they do they are threatened with the entire structure being demolished ( which the Palestinians then have to pay for. How egregious is that?) or the house being confiscated if it is in the interest of settler growth.

So Rifka's house was in court facing a decision re demolish or confiscate. If the settlers get the front part she and her family would most likely not be permitted to live in the back section. The family was even considering demolishing the front section of the house themselves to prevent the settlers from getting it).By the way, the homes in this area were built by the UN in 1956 and given to the Palestinians refugees in exchange for continued food aid. The UN and the then Jordanian authorities were lax in issuing written land titles but the settlers who are bringing papers claiming land rights dating back to the Ottoman Empire are on dubious grounds as Turkey is, I hear, looking for the original of these papers which are thought to be forgeries. Not that this would matter in an Israeli court.

Once, since I had visited last week, the settlers had invaded the front part of her house. The police had come and forced them out but Rifka ended up in the hospital with a stroke. After her discharge, there was a threat the settlers would return before or upon the court verdict
So internationals have been sleeping in a tent pitched in the yard( along with nearby Palestinians still camped out on the street for the fourth month) in hopes of thwarting any unlawful entry and really protecting (!) Rifka and her fmily in the back..I spent some of the Saturday evening with Rifka and then Lois ( from Watrtown) and I spent a surprisingly comfortable night in the tent and that morning..the court decision was due. Many others joined in support. We even had one of my colorful parachutes out in the street with the children. An ugly incident with new settlers arriving on the street and many heated words between them and the Palestinian neighborhood. but all calmed down for now. So with no court verdict the crowd dwindled down throughout the afternoon.

Yesterday, Tuesday, I learned that the court decision and the settlers came in. The settlers won the house. They charged in with the police, some arrests made, and Rifka was taken back to the hospital via ambulance.This is very discouraging and so sad. this weekend I will go see Rifka and her family.

I will write about Monday's accompaniment of farmers to clean up the olive groove attacked by settlers in Burin near Nablus later today..but for a happy time Gaie (UK) and I are going to an opening of a womens' center that has been able to upgrade to a new site...

take care,
Ridgely