The road to learning in Hebron

Catholic New Times, Feb 8, 2004 by Janet McDonell

It is still chilly at 6:55 a.m. in Hebron as Christian Peacemaker Teams volunteer, Chris Brown and I leave the CPT apartment.

On this September day, we are walking through an Israeli--controlled Palestinian neighborhood. We pass coils of barbed wire in the middle of our route and step through the roadblocks that allow for pedestrian passage only. A very young Israeli soldier asks to see our passports. I am aware that this is not a normal morning walk but one where barbed wire, roadblocks and armed military are symbols of the control under which the Palestinian people now live.

School children fill the streets, chasing and teasing each other as children do everywhere. Many of them greet Chris and try some English phrases on us. For three years, CPT. volunteers have patrolled this school route to assure that Palestinian children arrive safely in their classrooms.

The streets leading to Al Ibrahimi elementary school lie in the shadow of Harsina Israeli settlement. This is one of many illegal settlements built within designated Palestinian territory. One hundred and fifty thousand Israelis now live in these settlements, occupying 80 per cent of the West Bank. By international law, an occupying nation may not move their people into the occupied area. But Israel, as an occupying nation, has bypassed those laws with impunity.

Harsina settlement is heavily patrolled by Israeli security. Most of them are very young soldiers, who are not above provoking the school children verbally. Teenage Palestinian boys react by throwing stones at them and a conflict ensues. The soldiers use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the children. CPTers try to lessen these conflicts by counselling the children and reasoning with the soldiers,

As we continue up the street we pass the tomb of Abraham and Sarah. Ancient buildings of white stone with walls over one metre thick surround us. These buildings speak to me of permanency and stability. These are buildings bulldozed and demolished when security forces hunt down a suspected terrorist. An agonized history cries out from the rubble all around us.

Soon we enter Al Ibrahimi schoolyard. We greet Mr. Zaki Shaledeh in the principal's office. "Saalam aleikum (Peace be with you)" and he replies "Aleikum saalam," in traditional Arabic custom.

"How does so much violence affect the students?" I ask Mr. Shaledeh. "They are in class bodily but their minds are elsewhere, he says. Many of them, even older ones, are bed-wetters and show other physical and psychological problems. Last year we lost 56 days of class due to curfews and closures in the name of security. Only Arab Palestinian schools are affected by this."

"Occasionally when closures have occurred on days marked for government finishing exams, clandestinely, Israeli schools have allowed our students to sit the exam with their students. Arab families put a high value on education but it is very difficult for them now. With the cost of maintaining the conflict, the Israeli government pays less and less attention to education and health."

We leave, wishing each other peace. "Peace." I hear irony in even this traditional greeting. Walking back through the streets of Hebron I feel a shiver pass through me. How many of these children will become the victims and perpetrators of a violent and revengeful future? Will the international community continue to stand impotent before such terrorism?

Peace-seekers must have a voice stronger than those who hunger for the trophies of war. I am grateful that I could come here and grateful for the presence of Christian Peacemaker Teams and all those who work for peace. I am equally indignant at the power allowed to those who make wars involving their own innocent citizens and eventually, the world community.

Janet McDonell is a member of Our Lady's Missionaries.