Israeli Peace Movement at Jenin Checkpoint
Demonstration
by Eric Blair on Israeli/Palestine border near Jenin
Saturday, April 13th
* Also appeared in the
www.PalestineChronicle.com on 4/15/02
Tay Yush. Yush 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.
* Eric 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:
www.ccmep.org/palestine.html