CPTnet
March 1, 2004
HEBRON/IRAQ REFLECTION: Occupation

by Art Gish

I was standing in front of a demolished home. The family watched as we
looked at the rubble. I was in tears. It could have been in Palestine, but
this time it was in Iraq.

I have been working with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron for the past
eight years. After spending two months in Palestine, I spent a week in Iraq
with CPT.

 I felt right at home in Baghdad. The walls and fences, the tanks and
soldiers on the streets, the midnight raids on peoples' homes, the arrests
and detentions without charges, lack of access to lawyers or trials, all
sounded familiar. I have seen demolished homes, cut trees, and collective
punishments in both Palestine and Iraq.

These similarities are not coincidental. We see the same style, the same
footprints, and yes, the same mistakes. The news reports of American
soldiers being trained by the Israeli military sound credible.

In both Iraq and Palestine, short-term security interests seem to take
precedence over long term preparations for peace or even long term security.
In both Iraq and Palestine I hear deep resentment and anger toward the
occupying authorities. The humiliation of subjugation, powerlessness, of
living with guns pointed at everyone, is difficult to bear. In both places,
this resentment breeds violent resistance to the violence of occupation.
Military subjugation does not create peace.

No one wants to be occupied. The human spirit longs to be free. In both
Palestine and Iraq, I hear people crying out for peace and freedom.