We arrived in this small village on the side of a mountain, in order to help the inhabitants work the land a bit and plant some trees. We observe the different illegal settlements (illegal even according to Israeli law) not so far from the village. There is an ecological farm and other small houses around us. A member of Combatants for Peace and Ta’ayush who stayed in the village for some months in 2007 explained what they have been suffering for the last years. Extremely hard stories of crazy settlers coming down to attack the Palestinians. In the last 10 years 3 people have been killed, and attacks have taken place in the most horrible ways, including the scalping of a young Palestinian. The fact is sometimes settlers become extremely violent and have legal access to weapons. On the other hand, the IDF normally intervenes and defends Palestinians against them, and it is thanks to them that worse things do not happen. However, some other times certain IDF officers do not react when settlers attack Palestinians or even Israeli peace activists.
After helping them and being invited to amazing Palestinian home-made food we come back to Tel Aviv. The people I meet in the group of Combatants are really interesting. Many of them are soldiers, still active in the IDF, but they oppose what is happening in the Palestinian Territories. We go for a beer and some shots, talking and having a great time in a cool rock bar, who turns out to be originally from Spain.
It is interesting for me the fact that soldiers even still serving in a body I had considered as “the root of all evil”, the army, are active militants and have a clear opinion against what is currently happening in the OPT. I ask them if they would serve in the OPT and they say they would, as for them not doing it might cause a lot of problems. This is something I find difficult to understand. However, the army is a basic part of the national culture of this country (with all the good and bad consequences that this has). Furthermore, refusing to serve in the occupied territories can also have bad consequences from the viewpoint of someone concerned about the Palestinians, they say. Firstly, it is probable that someone much more fanatical can take their place. And it is true that it is thanks to the IDF that some Palestinian villagers are saved from the rage of fanatical settlers. On the other hand, if all the peace-concerned people here did not serve or refused to go in the OPT the army (and the part serving in the OPT) might become full of extreme nationalists. As a matter of fact, if a withdrawal from the settlements was finally approved by the politicians here, this would never be able to be enforced with an army full of extremists. On the other hand, refusing to go to the army might be understood as treason in the mindset here. The fact that they oppose some of the things the army does, does not mean they do not want to defend their country. Things can be changed from outside, but also from inside, they say.
I do not really know what to think. Next morning I talk to a Palestinian friend. I tell him there are really amazing people here in Israel, fighting against injustice and doing it in a not very friendly environment for it. He tells me that Israelis must have a big campaign of disobedience against the occupation. I understand his point of view and support what he says. But is this really possible here? I remember my conversation from yesterday with the activists refusing this idea. I don’t know what to think. How can things be really changed here?
This was really interesting - and in reference to the above post, I need to start the process to extend my visa and hope there's no problem!
ResponEliminaI was amazed to find settlements illegal by Israeli law that are still protected by Israel! Amazed and absolutely in awe!
Finally - great pictures and I enjoyed the discussion of service vs. civil disobedience. It's a debate I find very interesting.