CPTnet
November 10, 2004

AT-TUWANI, HEBRON DISTRICT: Settlers harass children on the way to school
despite soldier escort

by Kim Lamberty

This morning, November 10, 2004, at around 7:00 a.m. CPTer Maia Williams and
a volunteer from the Italian peace group Operation Dove, watched as an
Israeli army jeep, a civil (military) administration jeep, and a settler
security jeep escorted the five children from the village of Tuba to their
school in At-Tuwani along the middle road. One soldier walked along with the
children, while the other officials remained in their jeeps.

Before the escort arrived, Williams heard shouting and horn blowing from the
trees where Havat Ma'on, the settlement outpost, is located. When the
escort convoy came into view, Williams saw two settler men and one settler
woman walking along with them, sometimes behind the settler security jeep
and sometimes above them in the hills. The settlers frequently yelled and
blew their horns at everyone in the convoy, but especially at the children.

The children reported to Williams that the settlers were yelling, "Go home!"
and "You don't belong here!" The settlers continued to walk with the convoy
until they reached the edge of At-Tuwani. At this point the children
continued on to school, and the army jeep parked at the edge of town. The
settlers walked back into the trees, and two soldiers followed them to the
edge of the trees but did not go into the forest. The soldiers left
At-Tuwani at around 8:00 a.m.

CPT has videotape of this incident available.