12/20/2009
Hi All.

Right now I am sitting in a hostel waiting to find out what happened to the young American activist who yesterday was arrested for the third time because he has been a consistent witnessing presence at what remains of Rifka al Kurds home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Increasingly on Fridays the young Israeli protest to the settler invasion of Sheikh Jarrah and the Israeli armed response has grown. Last Friday, twenty-one were arrested in what was reported to be a pretty violent crackdown. Pepper spray was used on handcuffed demonstrators and folks shoved to the ground.

My young friend was sitting on the wall of the yard but pulled down and arrested. I might have told you that when I did an overnight shift night at the Al Kurds' tent last week, settlers were trying to take photos of us in the tent placed between the settler occupied home and that behind of Rifka, and her family)//.picture of her attached

This Friday, twenty-six people were arrested. Nine of them were on the way to the neighborhood as part of the marching band. Their instruments have been confiscated for several weeks. Likewise my friend was arrested before the demonstration even arrived in the neighborhood. He has clearly been marked and even though the last two arrests resulted in no charges or physical restrictions there is concern now that now he will be deported.

The only positive aspect of all these Friday arrests is that my Israeli friends are saying more and more Israelis are joining the Friday protests. It is said that this has become a rallying point for the fading peace movement. I spent time outside the jail last night with parents of those arrested. They spoke of deep pride in their children. Also it is interesting to hear these young Israelis talk about the one state solution as the only just and viable outcome to this conflict. So after hours at the jail Saturday night, waiting for all those arrested to be brought before the court and have decisions made. All the Israelis were released at 12:30am 'without condition'..meaning they can go back to Sheikh Jarrah next Friday.(How unlike the US where folks get a year's probation with stay away orders! The Israelis I talked with about this said they would never accept this. They can appeal much more easily, as it would infringe on free speech..BIG TIME as we know)

There is some sense that the Israeli govt is getting a bit of back lash over its Sheikh Jarrah actions. I am told the EU finance minister spoke of it yesterday. Unfortunately my American friend was not released with them and I am still looking for him.

Also, since my last email I have been back up north. It seems like eons ago. With the International Women’s Peace Service I paid a visit to Yasouf..the small nearby village where a bit over a week ago settlers entered and set the village mosque on fire. This burning attracted international press but I am not sure if that means it made it to the boonies of the US media..The village council members were understandably deeply upset and described this as only the most blatant attack by settlers who have attacked their land, olive trees and come into the village to set fire to their cars. This action represents the new price tag strategy of the settlers who say for every action the Israeli govt takes against them, they will extract a price from the Palestinians. Scores of Palestinians have been beaten up and their property has been destroyed as a result of this. Members of the town were cleaning the mosque. I have attached a picture. The IWPS women promised to come act as witnesses if asked but I don't think much can be done. It is up to the Israeli army and the Israeli govt ( and the US funders!)

The next day we went to Jayyous..which is a wonderful village(pop 3700) that is deep in the hearts of Boston activists, many of whom have spent summers helping farmers..Jayyous, a major and fertile farming community, lost almost 75 percent of its land behind the Israeli Wall which is a fence complex here..Sheeraf, a leader in the community, refuses to call the land lost but merely isolated. They have spent years ( and huge amounts of money) in court fighting the path of the wall which also isolated four of the towns wells. This past October Jayyous won another ruling so more of the land will hopefully be returned, if the army complies. The army can overturn a court ruling for security reasons.

In the meantime the farmers have half an hour to get through the gates in the morning and half an hour to return in the evenings. Specific times when the gates are open are random. The farmers are scrutinized just as heavily when they come back from their fields to the village as when they leave for work..go figure)

When I was observing an evening crossing, a donkey with cart decided he wasn't subject to Israeli soldiers commands and proceeded through at a clip, without its handlers. Once again my Prospect St experience was useful as I contained the donkey, much to the relief of the Palestinians who might have faced a long walk back to their homes.

Neighbor Ellen Cantarow recently wrote a great and touching piece on Jayyous in Tomdispatch google it.The town, which was one of the first to have an active and consistent nonviolent resistance to the Wall has paid, and continues to pay, a huge price for its resistance. The night before we arrived the Israeli army came in and arrested eight young men. I am not sure if you in the US see a recent pattern but here it is very apparent that the Israeli Army has been busily arresting many nonviolent protesters leaders in Bi'lin, Nablus etc.

I hear the weather is very grim in Boston....stay safe and warm....
Ridgely.