Thursday 6th: Army enters Abu Dis!

Army enters Abu Dis

 

Although this may sound shocking back home, and I guess it should do, this is unfortunately a regular occurrence for people here as the Israeli military forces come in to stamp their control on the community.  I had wondered why the street was deserted at about 11.50 this morning as I walked to the school where I was due to teach a lesson.  Then I came across about three army jeeps with a melee of heavily  (they always are) soldiers.  I couldn’t see what they were doing and thought it best not to take photos as I aproached but managed a quick one after I went by.  I decided the best course was to walk casually on past their agressive glares.  After they were gone people came out on the street again and continued their business.  I went to school and taught my class.

 

I was introduced earlier in the week to the daughter of Maryam, the woman who was killed by soldiers here in September (I shall write her story separately).  She is a student and told me that the soldiers come and target the students at their schools or student hostels or internet cafes which are regularly used by students.  They make the students stand on one leg or crouch with hands on heads for a long time holding rifles at their heads telling them they will shoot if they move.  Hiba commented astutely that they do this “so that we are under control”.  So next time you hear that phrase e.g. “the situation is under control in the West Bank”  you can think this is what it means.

While on the subject of army activity, Moein, teacher at the Arab Institute school, told me an accont of some of their boys in their “orphanage/boarding school” being arrested after another boy had thrown stones at a jeep and run off.  They came into the school and took different boys , took them to prison and although they had a trial, witnesses do not count against army witness statements and they spent 14 months and 9 months in prison.  One was on track to get 100%, the highest score in West Bank in his A level equivalent.  When he was released he returned to school, took his exams late and scored 98%  He is now studying medicine.  An incredible story but of course others are not so resilient.

I asked Hiba why students didn’t retaliate in some way.  She said that if for example there was much action like stone throwing, the University would be completely closed. Also that there are now informers living in the community and so people would be sure to end up in jail.  No one now knows who to trust.

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