CPTnet
19 March 2005

AT-TUWANI: Settlers attack and threaten shepherds twice in one week

by Kim Lamberty

At 1:00 p.m. on 7 March 2005, CPTers Kim Lamberty and Diana Zimmerman
and an Operation Dove (OD) member learned that around noon Israeli settlers
had attacked and injured Palestinian shepherds grazing their sheep at
Jawaia, the hillside across the paved road from Ma'on settlement. Lamberty
and the Operation Dove member then met the shepherds at the side of the
paved road near At-Tuwani, where they were waiting for the police to arrive.
Zimmerman arrived thirty minutes later and provided some medical assistance.

Five masked settlers with sticks attacked the Palestinian family, injuring
two women. One woman sustained a puncture wound to her head, and another a
fractured hand, along with cuts and bruises. After many phone calls, the
police finally arrived at 2:07 and transported the family to the Kiryat Arba
police station for medical treatment and to file a complaint.

The CPTers, ODers and members of the Israeli group Ta'ayush agreed that the
shepherds need international accompaniment, and agreed to coordinate with
the shepherds of At Tuwani to provide it in the future.

On Monday, 14 March, CPTers Allen Johnson and Christy Bischoff and two
members of Operation Dove accompanied the Jawaia shepherds on the same
hillside. Around 2:00 p.m., after receiving assurances that the shepherds
of Jawaia were ready to leave, the internationals departed to accompany the
At-Tuwani shepherds at Khoruba. Five minutes after the internationals left
the scene, Israeli settlers came out from the Ma'on settlement and shot
their guns in the air, frightening the Palestinians, who ran away.

CPT and Operation Dove are continuing to provide regular accompaniment to
the Jawaia and At-Tuwani shepherds.