Militant Settlers Attack 79 Year Old Human Rights Worker in Hebron

[Tom Joad]

http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/04/20/militant-settlers-attack-79-year-old-human-rights-worker-in-hebron/

Comment: Christian PeaceMakers Team (made famous by the late Tom Fox) has worked over a decade in Hebron, living with Palestinians as they remained in their homeland, refusing to leave despite constant extremist settler attack. As has been discussed in the forum previously, the israeli soldiers/police, refuse to protect the Palestinian population, despite it being their obligation under international law, and stated Israeli policy.

Tragically, the goal of the settlers, ethnic cleansing of Hebron, has been partially fulfilled, as many Palestinians have abandoned their homes. In the Tel Rumeida Neighborhood, the Palestinian population has decreased dramatically.
___________

Militant Settlers Attack 79 Year Old Human Rights Worker in Hebron
April 20th, 2006 | Posted in Press Releases, Hebron Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Militant supporters of the illegal settlers of Hebron attacked Human Rights Workers (HRWs), Palestinian teachers and children at approximately 7:40 this morning.

The small team of HRWs were on the street this morning ready to protect Palestinian children on their way to school. Attacks on Palestinian children are common, and tension in the area has been high during the Passover holiday period, when the settlers receive thousands of visitors who support their extreme militant actions.

While the HRW team waited for the children, a bus from Jerusalem full of young settler supporters arrived at the end of the street. About 15, aged in their late teens or early twenties got off the bus and gathered at the end of the street. Within minutes they walked up the street, heading for the HRWs and some Palestinian teachers and children.

They started to throw stones, and yelled “We’re going to kill you!” A Danish camerman from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) started to film, and immediately became a target for the settler group. The cameraman ran away. The settler group then attacked the other human rights workers, including Sister Anne Montgomery (who will be 80 in November) a member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). She was stoned, as were Tore (29) from Norway, and Karien (46) from Germany. Soldiers from the Israeli Army watched the entire incident and made no attempt to intervene.

Despite being attacked, the HRWs managed to protect two Palestinian teachers and three children who were on their way to the nearby school, which is next door to the settlement. The Palestinians were able to shelter on the first floor of a nearby building.

The attack finally stopped when the police arrived, and the attackers ran back to the settlement. All the HRWs have bruises from kicks, punches, and stones. Anna (21) a Swedish woman from the ISM was wounded by a stone. The HRWs have reported the incident to the police, but if past experience is a guide, the police are unlikely to take effective action against this unprovoked attack.

For more information:

Anna (ISM witness): 054-3045205
ISM Media Office: 02-2971824

For more on what is happening in Hebron, please see this site.
http://telrumeidaproject.org/

[Oversea Visitor]

1. As usually

it is the Palestinian fault.
That is how it will come out in the end.

[Selatius]

2. Intolerance and hate is a problem on both sides of this conflict

Although this attack is nowhere near as brutal as blowing up a bus full of innocent people inside Israel, as Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." The issue here is intolerance. The fact that they intentionally targeted innocent children is even more disgusting.

[Tom Joad]

3. No, it is not as brutal as constant shelling of Gaza, killing many more

than were killed in last weeks bombing in Tel Aviv. And this has nothing to do with the attack in Tel Aviv, it would have happened regardless, this has been a constant campaign of terror by the settlers of Hebron. It has been partially successful in driving many Palestinians from their home.

We must not pretend there is some kind of symmetry, is really not accurate. Israel occupies Palestine, and limits their freedom by military control. There is no place where Palestinians are in military occupation of Israeli Jewish areas.

I do agree with Gandhi, and do not believe in revenge. What we must do is support internationals like this and demand that Israel protect Palestinians from settler violence. We must also demand that Israel protect internationals from harm from settlers.

[Selatius]

4. You're asking too much from our own corrupt government, I fear

As long as money and power are the ultimate driving force behind foreign policy, nothing will change. Supporting Israel has benefited US interests regardless if it has treated Palestinians poorly under the occupation. It's about money and exerting power. As long as that is the case, nothing will really change. Israel has been too good of a staging point for exerting control over the Middle East to give up over moral quandries about occupation.

[anitar1]

5. I lost respect for Israel long ago. They have become what they hated

years ago.Yes, shelling everyday , all day, and killing many who are unfortunate enough to have to live in that hellhole, is a great and brave thing for Israel to do. Slow form of genocide.

[Phx_Dem]

6. Why is this a press release, not a news story?

Who is the journalist who wrote it? The settlers (and/or supporters) who were involved with this should be prosecuted.

[Tom Joad]

8. Phx, you know that they will never be prosecuted.

At most, taken in for questioning, then released within hours.

[Scurrilous]

7. Hebron settlers assault two female international aid workers

<snip>

"Volunteers from the international organization Tel Rumeida Project were attacked Saturday by Hebron settlers.

Members of the group said that dozens of settlers assaulted two women volunteers as they blocked the way to settlers who wanted to break into a Palestinian-owned store. Both women were hurt.

Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the Paratroops Brigade who were nearby intervened and tried to prevent the assault. When the soldiers called for help, the settlers cleared off.

Settlers have attacked Tel Rumeida Project volunteers three times in recent weeks. Unlike previous assaults, many adults took part Saturday."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=707980&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0

[barb162]

9. I wonder why the woman in the photo has a shoe in her hand

It doesn't exactly look like she's about to put it on her foot, does it? Rather , more like it's about to go in the soldier's face.

[Violet_Crumble]

13. Do you have anything to say about the settlers attacking a 79 yr old?

Y'know, something criticising them rather than any Palestinian that can be found nearby?

Violet...

[barb162]

10. Further down in the story

snip
A Border Policeman was lightly wounded in the head Friday at the A-Ram
checkpoint in northern Jerusalem when a Palestinian tried to stab him. The stabber was arrested.

At checkpoints in Hebron and Tul Karm another two Palestinian carrying knives were arrested. At a checkpoint near Jenin two Palestinians were arrested with pipe bombs in their possession. Over the weekend the IDF arrested 16 wanted men throughout the West Bank
snip

[Tom Joad]

11. Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

I think you are off-topic. the attack on the occupation forces in a-ram has what to do with settlers attacking a human rights worker in Hebron? It really has nothing to do with it.

It does not explain why Israeli forces are at such a loss to control settler activity in hebron.

[barb162]

12. How is it off topic when it's from an article another poster

put in there with an associated story?

[Violet_Crumble]

14. Read the title of the thread, barb...

What is yr thoughts on the sort of people who'd attack a 79yr old? What are yr views about the nastiness of these settlers?

Violet...

[barb162]

15. Read the article that was posted to which I responded

one of which dealt with a Hebron checkpoint. What are your thoughts of the nastiness of unwarranted attacks from both sides

[Violet_Crumble]

16. You cherry picked an article added to this thread...

And as usual ignored violence committed by settlers on Palestinians. Considering I've repeatedly said I oppose all attacks on civilians of both sides, why are you asking me again?

I asked you a question several times now that you've not answered. What is yr thoughts on the sort of people who'd attack a 79yr old? What are yr views about the nastiness of these settlers?

Violet...