NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2022
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First-hand report from Hebron
and the South Hebron Hills
Hebron and the South Hebron Hills made headlines right after the Israeli elections in November 2022, as harbingers of the “new order of things” in the Occupied Territories. Hebron’s Old City and vicinity saw pogroms held by Jews against Palestinians, accompanied by a violent persecution of anti-occupation activists by soldiers of the Israeli army. In the South Hebron Hills – demolitions of villages and ancient communities escalated and expanded as the harassment by settlers intensified. Lately, a construction boom is noted in the illegal outposts.
The change felt everywhere is the complete loss of any checks of such persecution, and the full backing of future ministers of the extreme right.
After years of weekly monitoring activity, MachsomWatch volunteers are familiar with the harsh local scene in Hebron and the South Hebron Hills and meet regularly with the residents. The video above is first-hand report about these volatile areas.
Access to health is a Human Right, not a Benefit
"Even before the patient lying in the ambulance met a human eye, guns and procedures, the Red Crescent paramedic cried out to the soldiers: “His condition is deteriorating!” and yelled the same again, trying to hurry them up, so that they quickly approve his crossing and begin the procedure of passing him on to the right ambulance.
All in vain. They continued, business as usual, with their usual work order – making sure the patient was really the patient, that his accompanying wife and son really are who they say they are, and that no fault be found with the transit permits. The soldiers photographed everyone’s IDs, all unhurriedly and by the book.
As I was told in the past about a 73-year-old cardiac patient who arrived at the checkpoint unconscious: “Does he really think he could just come here, cross and be hospitalized??"
Qalandiya Checkpoint, October 2022, from MachsomWatch reports
According to international law, the occupying sovereign must care for the wellbeing and fabric of life of the occupied population. This includes proper medical care. However, Palestinians face severe difficulties when trying to enter Israel for life saving medical care. With the Civil Administration
in the hands of upcoming extreme-right ministers and minimal empathy for Palestinians, the situation is likely to worsen.
A sick baby is passing for treatment in Israel, Qalandia checkpoint, December 2021
Photo: Tamar Fleishman
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Testemonies from the Field
Conversations with Friends
in the past few months we have witnessed an escalation in the level of violence exerted on Palestinian civilians. “The spirit of commander” according to MK Ben Gvir and the escalating power of settlers as rulers, back up violent conduct that only grows worse. Such violence now also affects peace-seeking Israelis who express their solidarity with Palestinians.
We present four testimonies collected in November 2022 in conversation with our Palestinian friends. All we can do is document and share their stories and experiences. We identify a new order that threatens Palestinians as well as those of us who are peace activists.
Like a Cloud Hanging Over us
MachsomWatch volunteer Rachel Afek spoke with Awad* about the accelerated destruction in ‘firing zone 918’ at Massafer Yatta.
They brought Battalions
Our volunteer Amira Ityel interviewed Rashid* about the situation in Hebron,e asking if there was any escalation in the level of violence experienced under the Israeli occupation.
Hebron - tel Rumeida
Rachel Afek spoke with Bashir* about Hebron after the violent events which took place during the reading of the Torah portion on the life of Sarah in November.
From Mahmoud Darwish to Umm Yusuf
In conclusion, Rachel and Nurit take us to the village Burin in the Nablus district. Farmer Umm Yusuf* is interviewed video about settler harassment during the olive harvest and concludes, "We are strong and we shall stay here!"
*These names have been changed
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IN MEMORY
Roni Hammerman
1940-2022
Roni was one of the founders of MachsomWatch, joining Roni Jeger and Yehudit Keshet right after they held their first vigil at the Bethlehem Checkpoint. During the First Intifada (1987), along with other Jerusalem friends she organized vigils outside the Russian Compound (detention center and court). These vigils were held in support of children from East Jerusalem, arrested for throwing stones and sentenced to long periods in jail. In recent years, Roni was a member of the Military Court MW team, which was present at trials in the Russian Compound, and reported from there together with Tova Scheintuch, her sister-in-law through Zvi, Roni’s partner for nearly 50 years and father of her children.
In addition to her activity in MachsomWatch, Roni edited the weekly Occupation Magazine (founded by our friend Victoria Buch) for over 12 years, and often traveled to Germany and Austria to lecture about the Occupation and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to anyone willing to listen. Thanks to her lectures, many people in Europe learned about MachsomWatch. In 2008 Roni was awarded the Aachen Peace Prize on behalf of MachsomWatch.
read more
Yvonne Mansbach
Ruti Rosenfeld
1944-2022
Ruti Rosenfeld was a founding member of the Jerusalem group of MachsomWatch. She was a political activist since the early days of occupation following the Six Day War, and joined MachsomWatch shortly after 2001. As a member, she monitored, reported and helped solve human rights issues in all the checkpoints in the Jerusalem area.
Ruti was a warm and strong person and this characterized her activism. She was loved by the Palestinian workers we met regularly at the Qalandyia checkpoint and she managed to maintain a good relationship with the soldiers in charge and with the DCO delegates we contacted. This often enabled her to help Palestinians who encountered problems with their permits as well as with personal problems. read more
Ronny Perlman
Editors, writers, translators, production:
Anat Tueg, Aviva Hay, Karin Lindner ,Tal Haran, Hanna Barag, Rachel Afek, Amira Ityel, Ivonne Mansbach and Ronny Perlman
Photography: Tamar Fleishman, Local Palestinian Photographers; Breaking the Silence
Distribution: Ela Greenberg