CPTnet
21 March 2005

AT-TUWANI UPDATE: 4-12 March, 2005

Saturday, 5 March
Approximately twenty Israeli settlers occupied Palestinian homes in
Qawawis, a village adjacent to At-Tuwani. The Palestinian shepherds left
Qawawis three years ago due to Israeli settler harassment from Avigal, the
nearby settler outpost. Last week, members of the International
Solidarity Movement (ISM) accompanied the shepherds as they began moving
back into their homes. Israeli soldiers eventually removed the settlers
from Qawawis, but none were arrested.

A group of Israelis dressed as soldiers driving a military humvee stopped
to speak with shepherds from At-Tuwani grazing in Um-Faqarah. In the
presence of two members of Operation Dove and CPTer Kim Lamberty, one
soldier, who covered his face with a scarf, threatened to go to the
shepherds' houses in the middle of the night and shoot them and their
sheep if they continued to graze around the settlement outposts of Avigal
and Havat Ma'on. A few minutes later the humvee crashed and two soldiers
were injured.

Sunday, 6 March
Shepherds from At-Tuwani were grazing sheep on open land adjacent to the
short road connecting the Ma'on and Havat Ma'on settlements. CPTer
Justin was accompanying, along with two members of Operation
Dove. After the shepherds moved their sheep into the valley in front of
Ma'on settlement, Israeli soldiers appeared in an unmarked white pickup.
They informed the shepherds and the internationals that the sheep could
not be in the valley and threatened all of them with arrest. The soldiers
confiscated the ID of one shepherd, but returned it to the village about
one-half hour later.

Monday 7 March

A member of Ta'ayush called CPTer Kim Lamberty and one member of Operation
Dove at approximately 1:00 p.m. to inform them that Israeli settlers from
Ma'on settlement had just attacked Palestinian shepherds in the nearby
fields of Jawaia, across the paved road from Ma'on. The two
internationals met the Palestinians whom the settlers had attacked on the
side of the paved road and waited with them for the police to come. After
several phone calls, the police arrived at 2:07 p.m. The police drove the
Palestinians to the police station so they could make statements and
obtain medical care. One woman had a puncture wound in her head and
another, a fractured hand.

Tuesday, 8 March

CPTers Kim Lamberty, Maxine Nash, and Vincent Lummerding, along with one
member of Operation Dove, walked all the way to Khoruba to watch the Tuba
children walk home from school in At-Tuwani. An Israeli settler security
vehicle appeared and began taking pictures of the internationals. The
security official informed them that they were in a military firing range
and not permitted in the area. He called the Israeli army, who appeared a
few minutes later and confirmed the settler's information. The
internationals asked whether settlers are permitted in the area, and the
soldiers replied that the security official works with them and is
therefore allowed in the firing zone.

Wednesday, 9 March
Rain prevented the shepherds from going out.

Thursday, 10 March
Lamberty and one member of Operation Dove accompanied the shepherds behind
the short road leading between Ma'on and Havat Ma'on settlelements. An
Israeli settler truck drove up and informed the shepherds that they could
not cross the road into the valley. The settler may have been settler
security, but he was unknown to CPT and Operation Dove. The settler
claimed that the road is the border between Arabs and Jews. After about
twenty minutes an army jeep arrived and confirmed that the shepherds have
to be on the hill side of the road. They could not produce a map or
orders closing the area to grazing. The soldiers claimed that the area
has been a military zone for three to four months.

Friday, 11 March
CPTers Lamberty and Allen Johnson, along with one member of Operation Dove
accompanied the shepherds from Um-Fagarah near Avigal settlement. The day
was rainy and uneventful, except for the birth of a goat.

 Saturday, 12 March Lamberty, along with members of Operation Dove, ISM, and
Ta'ayush, met with the villagers of Qawawis to discuss the future
international presence there. The villagers confirmed they would like a
permanent presence. ISM committed to remain for another two weeks, and will
check with others in the organization regarding future commitments.
Lamberty said CPT could possibly provide one or two persons to occasionally
supplement the ISMers beginning in April, but not before.

CPTers Johnson and Christy Bischoff accompanied shepherds at the short
road that runs between Ma'on and Havat Ma'on settlements. After three
visits from Israeli soldiers, the soldiers allowed the shepherds to graze
their sheep in the valley across the road.