CPTnet
15 August 2007
HEBRON REFLECTION: Fear or forgiveness?

by Jan Benvie

"I know what it is like to be powerless to forgive. That is why I would
never say to someone, 'You must forgive.' I can only say: however much we
have been wronged, however justified our hatred, if we cherish it, it will
poison us. We must pray for the power to forgive, for it is in forgiving
our enemies that we are healed." (Dr. Sheila Cassidy who was tortured in
Chile, during the Pinochet regime.)

A few weeks ago, a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) that provides
psychological help to people in Hebron Old City, contacted us. They asked
if we could accompany a Palestinian woman and her children on a visit to her
parent's home. A house where Israeli settlers live lies between her home and
that of her parent's. She is afraid to walk there alone.

We have spoken to some of the Palestinian families in the area and they too
believe that the settlers would attack them if they walk alone on the
street.

Every Saturday, settlers and those we refer to as 'settler visitors' tour
the Old City souq. A small Jewish community lived in Hebron for centuries
until riots broke out in 1929. Although many Muslim families saved their
Jewish neighbors, the Arab rioters killed sixty-seven Jews. The British,
who ruled Palestine at that time, forcibly evacuated the Jewish survivors.
On Saturday, the tour comes through the Old City souq, with a heavily armed
military escort, visiting the sites related to the pre-1929 community.

We have spoken to some of the visitors and they believe that the 'Arabs'
would attack them if it were not for their armed guard.

Here in Hebron we speak with Israeli soldiers, settlers and visitors, and
with Palestinian residents and visitors. All of them have deep feelings of
fear, anger, and distrust. Last month, I listened to an exchange, in
English, between an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian man. Each was
recounting the wrongs that had been done to their community by the other.
Each was justifying the wrongs that their community had done.

As I listened to the exchange, I was reminded of the words of Edward Said, a
Palestinian-born writer, who spoke of the Palestinians being "the victims of
the victims." For Said, it was important that both communities acknowledged
the suffering of the other.

Like Sheila Cassidy, I would never say to someone "You must forgive," but
like her I believe in the healing power of forgiveness. Here in Hebron I
meet children, Palestinian and Israeli, who throw stones and swear at
strangers, because they perceive them as the 'other.' Here in Hebron I see
two communities who live in fear of and hatred for the 'other.'

I hope, pray, and work for the spirit of understanding and forgiveness to
enter into the hearts of the people of Hebron. Only then can they begin on a
journey to peace.