CPTnet
25 March 2005

AT-TUWANI UPDATE: 13-18 March 2005

Sunday, 13 March
CPTers Christy Bischoff and Allen Johnson and two members of Operation Dove
accompanied At-Tuwani and Um Fagara shepherds to Khoruba. Israeli settler
security came to photograph shepherds and CPT/Operation Dove, saying these
photos would lead to the arrest of the internationals because the land is a
closed military fire zone. Israeli soldiers arrived and said shepherds
could graze toward Um Fagara but not toward Ma'on settlement. The United
Nations representative for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Concerns (OCHA) later told the team that the area was a closed military zone
for settlers, shepherds, and internationals alike according to a military
ruling two days earlier. The Israeli army was uncertain what to do
regarding grazing near Um Fagara since it lies inside the military zone.

Monday, 14 March
CPTers Bischoff and Johnson along with two members of Operation Dove
accompanied At-Tuwani shepherds along Route 317, the paved road that passes
Ma'on settlement. Israeli settler security came by at 10:40 a.m. and took
photos of shepherds and internationals, but refused to talk to
internationals. At 11:50 a.m. one jeep with Israeli soldiers arrived and
questioned a shepherd extensively, then said he could stay in the valley but
not go further up the hillside. Later in the evening a person reported that
a few minutes after Operation Dove had left the area near Route 317, two
settlers chased the Jawaia shepherds with gunfire.

 Tuesday, 15 March Due to previous day's incident, Jawaia shepherds did not
graze their sheep near Route 317.

Wednesday, 16 March
CPTers Maxine Nash, Diana Zimmerman, Johnson, and Bischoff met with a UN
OCHA representative to discuss the military fire zone. He plans to return
22 March with lawyers to discuss boundary issues.

In the morning, the four CPTers and two Operation Dove members went north
and east across Rt. 317 to accompany a woman, her son and their flock from
Jawaia. One Tuwani shepherd also came over without his flock. An Israeli
settler from Ma'on came and sat on the adjacent hill, but took no action.

Thursday, 17 March
Fifteen shepherds from Jawaia and Tuwani cooperatively herded their sheep on
Jawaia land adjacent to Rt. 317. For the past four years they have been
unable to graze or otherwise utilize the land without Israeli settlers
chasing them out. CPTers Johnson, Zimmerman, Bischoff, and Nash were all
present with cameras. Shepherds took sheep all the way to their area by the
bus stop directly across from Ma'on settlement. Israeli settler security
took pictures. Israeli soldiers also arrived on the scene.

  The Palestinian owner of the property presented a document indicating
ownership of the land. The army commander said the shepherds could stay but
would need to move to a rocky area about fifty meters north of the road.
About fifteen people from the organization, Every Church a Peace Church
(EPAPC) arrived, with CPTer Art Arbour leading the tour. The tour group
disembarked from their bus, took pictures, listened through a translator to
the Palestinian property owner regarding his difficulties with settlers, and
talked to soldiers. Jawaia shepherds later told CPT that their presence has
shifted the power dynamics between Palestinians and the army in the area.