LIVING UNDER OCCUPATION
Few places reflect the oppression of the occupation in the West Bank more eloquently than the city of Hebron. Split in two areas and divided by walls, checkpoints and barbed wired, Palestinians and Israelis live very different realities in very close proximity, particularly in the historic city centre where the Palestinian residents are confined to their homes if not displaced.
Hashem al-Azzeh, was a peace activist who refused to leave his home despite the restrictions in movement and closure of streets by the Israeli military in response to the killing of 29 Palestinians by a settler in the Ibrahimi Mosque in 1994.
Like other residents of Tel Rumeida, he had to show proof of residency to go to buy groceries or attend medical appointments, he couldn’t drive a car or even walk through certain streets of his neighbourhood open to settlers.
I met him 5 months before he died. Since he lost his job with the UN due to the severe restrictions, he became a tour guide showing foreigners how life is under occupation, provided first aid training to the community and taught peaceful resistance to children. He entered his home from the rear because he wasn’t allowed to use the main entrance. His children couldn’t play outside because they would be attacked by the settlers. And yet, he didn’t want to give up his land, their rights. The day he felt a pain in his chest he had to walk to the closest vehicle outside his area to go to hospital as ambulances are not allowed in, but the tear gas from nearby clashes proved fatal and doctors couldn’t save him.
LIVE IN THE FIRING ZONE
Al Mufaqarah is one of twelve villages located in the South Hebron Hills, declared a military zone in the 1970’s. Their grazing lands came under the 3000 hectares that Israel called ‘Firing Zone 918’ and the IDF confiscated for military training. The village also falls under Area C, as does 60% of the West Bank, under full Israeli military and civilian control. Palestinians here can’t build any permanent structure on their own lands without Israeli permission, which is never granted. Even water pipes or tents, built with international funds, are crushed to the ground regardless of the damage caused to people’s livelihoods. In contrast, the illegal Israeli outpost of Avigayl across the hill is connected to the electric grid and has running water.
Evictions started in 1999 after the homes were declared illegal despite the fact generations of Palestinians lived there before the Israeli occupation of 1967. Today, returning to their ancestors cave dwellings is the only way to avoid demolition, for now. Around 1000 residents have been fighting a lengthy and costly battle in court to defend their right to remain in their communities.
The intended total evacuation of these villages is not an isolated case. According to the civil rights organization B’Tselem, 30% of Area C is defined as ‘live fire zones’, almost double the amount of land that the Palestinian Authority fully controls, which is around 18%.
