“Most people do not like that
you are here. They think of you as Israeli, for them you all look the same, and
they do not understand what you are doing here.”
This was the answer by a local contact in the little village of Qusra, when I asked what the 5000 people in the village thought about our presence there. The previous day we had been providing protective presence as settlers from a nearby outpost attempted to use land owned by the village. The soldiers had quickly come to secure the area, and it had eventually become a standoff between soldiers and Palestinians, with us sitting on the sidelines with the Palestinians.
We, my
colleagues and I, who have all been placed in different parts of the West Bank,
have felt very welcomed by the Palestinian people. The hospitality and
generosity are both very striking. For example, today it is my birthday, and a
family I have never met before had prepared a great meal, including birthday
cake with candles and a present.
Generally
speaking there are several ways of looking upon our presence. Some do say that
we are most welcome, and are very happy that we are present in solidarity with
the Palestinian people. The Qusra
facebook page, has posted pictures with us, with comments such as “Thank you
dear EAPPI” and “Thanks for being there.” The idea is that our presence is an
active way to show that we are interested in what happens on the ground, and
that we will report if there are any breaches to international humanitarian law
or human rights. We make it safer for the Palestinians to assert their rights,
as well as providing accurate information, preventing the soldiers from being
accused of excessive violence. We practice principled impartiality, and do not
take sides for or against any party, but instead proclaim to be in favor of
human rights and international humanitarian law – for all, equally.
Of course
many of the people who are affected by the conflict, even though they work with
us, may consider our presence unwanted. A villager from Al Walaja says: “You
are most welcome to our home, but I do not like that you are here. That you are
here, it means that something is wrong; you should not have to be here. I would
like for you to be here only to visit, but not for internationals to come and
help. When we do not need your help, when we can help ourselves, then I am
happy that you are here.”
Our
intentions are always to be a part of the solution, instead of becoming a part
of the problem. We try to include the local people and avoid villages where our presence is not
appreciated by the majority of the people. Yet to provide protective presence
and observe the human rights situation on the ground, requires a certain level
of accommodation by the Palestinians. They have to tolerate us as we are trying
to help, even when we may not be able to produce tangible results. We have to
accept their frustration with our flaws, and the limits of our mandate.
Regarding
the land owned by the village of Qusra, we may not be able to change the facts
on the ground. However by being able to report first hand about the situation
on the ground, trying to get media to come to the site at the time, and talk to
them about what is going on, we can at least actively raise awareness and
advocate for change. And I can tell you
that yesterday I saw how settlers were allowed by the Israeli government to
start building a new outpost (which is illegal according to Israeli law and international
law) on Palestinian owned land, under the protection of the Israeli military. I
can also say, see for yourselves.
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