CPTnet
April 21, 2004

HEBRON: Six Israeli soldiers search CPT Hebron's apartment

by JoAnne Lingle

At about 1:00 PM on April 18, I heard loud banging on the front door of the
CPT apartment. Looking out the second story window, I saw six Israeli
soldiers. They said they had orders to search the house. When I asked why
they wanted to search our house, they said they were told to look for
something "suspicious". They refused to say exactly what they were looking
for.

The search was thorough. They looked through closets, drawers and personal
items. I told them that we have no secrets and gave them the web site of
CPT so they could find out more about our work. I handed out our newsletter
and invited them to have conversations with us when they see us on the
street. When I showed them posters on the wall in the men's apartment of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Dalai Lama, one of the soldiers said,
"I read a book about the Dalai Lama." I reminded him that Buddhists do not
believe in violence, even in the killing of an ant. He said, pointing to his
gun, "I only use it if I have to."

One of the soldiers said, "There was a Palestinian and some Germans who came
to see you last week." I said, "Maybe, I don't know but our door is open to
anyone who comes in peace. If you came without your guns, you could sit and
drink tea with us."

After 40-45 minutes, they were through and left.

When I returned from assignment last February 2003, my home in Indianapolis
had been broken into. It was a simple burglary. Things that were taken
could be replaced. However, to sit and watch soldiers search and look
through our personal things made me feel powerless and violated.