AT-TUWANI: Israeli authorities enforce closed military zone for Palestinians, but not for settlers
April 28th, 2008
in:
CPTnet
28 April 2008
AT-TUWANI: Israeli authorities enforce closed military zone for Palestinians, but not for settlers
On Thursday, 24 April 2008, Israeli military authorities declared the area north of route 317 (across from the village of At-Tuwani) a closed military zone. They began to enforce the closure from approximately 3:15 p.m., stopping Palestinian drivers coming from both directions but allowing over thirty Israeli settlers to violate the order.
The settlers gathered on route 317 near three military vehicles around 4:20 p.m. Members of the At-Tuwani team documented apparently friendly discussions between the settlers and the military personnel. Five vehicles containing settlers, two settlers on a quad bike, two settlers on horseback and two riding donkeys made their way onto the Palestinian road to Yatta; several of the settlers were either masked or hiding their faces. The military vehicles followed the settlers, as did six members of Christian Peacemaker Teams and Operation Dove. The officer in charge repeatedly ordered the internationals to leave, saying the area was a closed military zone. Responding to their requests, he showed the internationals a map and a document in Hebrew but refused to translate it or to allow the internationals to photograph these papers; indeed, on one occasion he threatened to arrest an international if he photographed the document. The officer told an international that he would evacuate the settlers, and that he would arrest them if they refused to leave.
However, the settlers made their way off the road onto cultivated Palestinian land. Despite their threatening behaviour, a Palestinian family continued to harvest their wheat in a nearby field.
After thirty minutes, the settlers left. The military left immediately afterwards.
28 April 2008
AT-TUWANI: Israeli authorities enforce closed military zone for Palestinians, but not for settlers
On Thursday, 24 April 2008, Israeli military authorities declared the area north of route 317 (across from the village of At-Tuwani) a closed military zone. They began to enforce the closure from approximately 3:15 p.m., stopping Palestinian drivers coming from both directions but allowing over thirty Israeli settlers to violate the order.
The settlers gathered on route 317 near three military vehicles around 4:20 p.m. Members of the At-Tuwani team documented apparently friendly discussions between the settlers and the military personnel. Five vehicles containing settlers, two settlers on a quad bike, two settlers on horseback and two riding donkeys made their way onto the Palestinian road to Yatta; several of the settlers were either masked or hiding their faces. The military vehicles followed the settlers, as did six members of Christian Peacemaker Teams and Operation Dove. The officer in charge repeatedly ordered the internationals to leave, saying the area was a closed military zone. Responding to their requests, he showed the internationals a map and a document in Hebrew but refused to translate it or to allow the internationals to photograph these papers; indeed, on one occasion he threatened to arrest an international if he photographed the document. The officer told an international that he would evacuate the settlers, and that he would arrest them if they refused to leave.
However, the settlers made their way off the road onto cultivated Palestinian land. Despite their threatening behaviour, a Palestinian family continued to harvest their wheat in a nearby field.
After thirty minutes, the settlers left. The military left immediately afterwards.