In 2006 I traveled with a delegatation of Christian Peacemaker Teams to Paslestine and Israel. I recently found notes I made while in Hebron.
August 5, 2006 - I visited Hebron as a team member of a delegation of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). Tonight, we were alerted to something happening two doors down. Up to six Israeli soldiers entered a house and began a search. By invitation, three CPT members entered the house to accompany the familily living there. When directed to leave by the soldiers the CPT members refused. The soldiers searched the home and left. It seemed to be a routine search, maybe even a training mission for new soilders. The men waived their automatic weapons as if they were expecting a terrorist to sprang on them. I observed some of this from an adjourning terrace.
As we began our trip to Jerusalem the next day, we left behind a town where people live under occupation. In this place some people are largly confined to their apartments as prisoners would be to their prison cells when darkness comes. Freedom of movement is largely a dream. Streets are empty at night with shops locked by 7:00 PM. The sounds of children playing, men talking, women calling from balcony to balcony are missing. Only the sounds of dogs chasing the one is heat breaks the stillness of the night. And from the roof tops one can see several observation posts. There are walls everywhere.
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