CPTnet
13 August 2005

AT-TUWANI UPDATE: 22-29 July 2005

Friday, 22 July

At 5:30 p.m., Israeli soldiers set up a temporary checkpoint at the village
entrance, so the team members went to observe. Israeli soldiers refused to
let a Palestinian man on a tractor pass, telling him, "This is not an
authorized road." Team members explained that for Palestinians it was the
only road leading to the South Hebron Hills. Two hours later the soldiers
left. The man on the tractor returned and continued his journey.

Saturday, 23 July

At 8:30 p.m., Israeli soldiers set up a temporary checkpoint at the village
entrance again. The internationals from Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
and Operation Dove walked to the checkpoint and saw twenty Palestinian men
and boys lined up on the side of the road. After five minutes, soldiers
released the Palestinians and allowed them to continue traveling. The
soldiers left at 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, 24 July

No doctor came to the clinic even though the Palestinian Authority had made
prior arrangements to provide a doctor every Sunday.

In the morning, the team members accompanied Palestinian shepherds to
Khoruba, an abandoned village near At-Tuwani. This area is close to the
Havot Ma'on outpost, and Israeli settlers and soldiers have prevented
Palestinians from going on their land here in the past. One of the
Palestinians had received a map from his lawyer showing the closed military
areas around Ma'on and Havot Ma'on. The Israeli military also provided the
map to the Israeli High Court. The area of Khoruba is not marked as a
closed military zone on this map.

Monday, 25 July

In the morning, the team members accompanied Palestinian shepherds to
Khoruba again. A settler security guard from Ma'on settlement drove his
vehicle very slowly to the area. He stopped several times before driving
back toward Ma'on.

Tuesday, 26 July

In the morning, CPTers accompanied Palestinian shepherds to an area close to
Khoruba. A settler came out of the trees of the Havot Ma'on outpost, but
returned quickly.

In the afternoon, two settlers on horses rode past a Palestinian home close
to the Havot Ma'on outpost.

At 6:00 p.m., CPTers monitored a temporary checkpoint setup by the Israeli
military on the road to Karmil and Yatta. In conversation about service in
the Israeli military, one soldier said, "When I am done with the army, I may
join Ta'ayush" (an Israeli peace group that helped set up the At-Tuwani
project.)

Wednesday, 27 July

In the morning, the team members returned with Palestinian shepherds to
Khoruba. During the day, Israeli military vehicles drove through the
village twice.

Thursday, 28 July At 9:00 p.m., the team members monitored a temporary
checkpoint once again set up by Israeli soldiers at the village entrance.
The soldiers detained an At-Tuwani villager for around fifteen minutes.

Friday, 29 July

Team members accompanied Palestinian shepherds to Khoruba in the morning.

An Italian group toured At-Tuwani. As the group departed, Israeli soldiers
detained them for fifteen minutes at the entrance to the village.

*******

During this period of time, the team in At-Tuwani consisted of Operation
Dove members and CPTers Diane Janzen, Matthew Chandler, and Mary Yoder.