A Tale of Two Demonstrations

Checkpoint Hebron

There a group of 300-400 people marching from the center of the city to a check point in the outskirts of Ramallah, in the direction of one of the settlements. The group is aggressive, and composed mainly of men and boys. When we arrive at the checkpoint we realize that there have been clashes there before. The nearby houses have been damaged and abandoned. On the other side of the checkpoint there are two armoured jeeps. Some of the small boys begin to throw stones, after which the jeeps move forward passing the first cement blocks.

From there they begin to shoot rubber bullets and tear gas. There are wounded, ambulances and private cars arrive to take them away and the group of demonstrators moves back. Small boys remain behind the carcasses of overturned cars and continue to throw stones. The situation is chaotic. We didn't expect it, and we quickly look for a place to be out of the way. People are everywhere.

The boys collect more stones and then move forward to throw them. There are a number of TV cameramen who are filming. The person with us explains that these demonstrations have become daily appointments of protest which follows the same routine every day. We see an Israeli settlement in the background and conclude that it is not a coincidence that the protest is held here: on the outskirts of Ramallah but at the intersection of a road which goes to the settlements. We see this demonstration as a play which has been written ahead of time, a desperate form of resistance to the continuing episodes of violence, humiliation and injuistice to which Palestinians are subject every day.

Children at Jelazone refugee camp

In the late afternoon we go to another demonstration in Jerusalem. It has been organized by the Israelis against the division of Jerusalem and the dismantling of the settlements. It is a large demonstration - perhaps some 50 000 people; the newspapers talk about 250 000 it didn't seem that big. There are many many young people, as well as families with numerous children.

There are many flags and the atmosphere is both joyful and militant; the participants' anger over the Intifada can be felt. Many said "we gave them peace, we gave them land and they replied with terrorism". This is the leit motiv of all, whether they be inhabitants of the new settlements or the political/religious settlers. The demonstration is accompanied by joyful songs carried over the loudspeakers.

There is a climate of "exodus": heroic nationalism combined with a determination to resist. Many dance, sing, and wave flags: a pretty girl tells us: "this is our land, they have to leave, the Arabs have 21 countries to which they can go and we have only this one. We talk to a person who tells us that the Palestinian Authority has demonstrated that it doesn't know how to govern, that the Palestinians are not yet ready for independence, that the occupation must continue Yet even here there is fear and worry: the Israelis seem not to have gotten over the shock of having been awakened in the middle of a beautiful dream, and are angry for what they have found.

They appear to be ready to fight, to resist the invasion of refugees, to hold on Jerusalem and to defend their homes in the West Bank and Gaza. One wonders where they have been for the last seven years. One wonders what the soldiers who mistreat and humuliate the Palestinians at checkpoints talk about when they get home. One wonders why the Israelis never ask themselves on whose land they are building their settlements.

In many, the surprise appears genuine, but one wonders how this came about.

Links

The full text of this and other reports available at http://www.tiscalinet.it/intifada2000.

http://intifadaonline.com

http://www.mideastdiplomacy.org/article8.html "A better way to make peace" by Rabbi Bentley