A father’s reflection on his son’s imprisonment

by Nidal Al Azzeh and Rachelle Friesen

Ofer Israeli military prison, built on occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank, holds many Palestinian political prisoners. (Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

As families gathered in North America to celebrate Mother’s Day, my mind wandered to the families of Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem.  Aida Refugee Camp was established in 1950 to accommodate Palestinian refugees from the war of 1948. The camp was designed to be a temporary residence for the refugees, many of whom still had their keys to their houses in their original villages. However, over 60 years later, Aida Camp still exists in the same physical size as it was 1950 although its population has expanded.

In Aida, Israeli military raids are frequent. Night or day the military may enter the camp, tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets, live ammunition, sound bombs accompany them creating fear and uncertainty for many of the children that live in Aida. No child or youth has been immune to these raids.

Recently incursions by the Israeli Military have increased in Aida Camp as many mothers and fathers have watched their sons dragged off to Israeli Prison. In December 2012 there were 4,656 Palestinians (177 children) in Israeli Prison. As of March 2013 there are 4,900 (236 children).

On this Mother’s Day my thoughts were with the Al Azzeh family in Bethlehem. On the night of May 6, the Israeli military stormed their house, arresting their 19-year-old son Meras. Meras is a volunteer and folk dancer with MCC partner, Lajee Center. The military entered their house, demanding his arrest. Barefooted and in shorts his father, Nidal, negotiated with the soldiers to allow Meras to at least be able to wear pants and shoes.

On May 9, Meras had his court appearance which his father Nidal was allowed to attend only disguised as a lawyer. Here is a father’s reflection:

Many times I was presented before Israeli military courts. On May 9th it was an exception. Literally, I was not forced to go; I went there to attend my son, Meras’, trial before Ofer court. Twenty-four years ago, I was imprisoned in Ofer military base (prison) and sentenced by a judge called Shabera. I was 20 years old, Meras is 19. Although, faces and names have changed, Ofer as a ‘regime’ is still functioning!

This time, I was not a prisoner in Ofer, but a lawyer! I was told by other lawyers to hide my fatherhood and therefore I had to hide my closeness and restrain myself from going close to him. As one of the lawyers explained to me, “No hugs and no kisses; hand shaking maximum.” Simply, I had to be a lawyer and to forget that I am the father.

As a lawyer, I had to deal with all of my son’s jailers: the judges, the guards, the military prosecutor, translators…etc. Among this, I had to exchange with them morning greetings, smiles and chatting…

One of the guards whose task/responsibility it is to transfer prisoners from one prison to another, came to me and asked: Are you a new lawyer? I told him yes.

Then he started to speak in Hebrew. I understood that he was speaking about a political matter. In an unfriendly way, I told him: “I do not understand Hebrew, I speak Arabic or English.”

He mixed English and Hebrew words and used the names of Abbas and Netanyahu as well his hands to ask about my political opinion about the situation. Almost, for one minute I did not reply, just I was looking to his uniform and memorizing. Tens of pictures came up to my mind: faces of those special guards who hit, tortured and humiliated me when I was a prisoner years ago. Suddenly, the faces changed and only one picture occupied me: Meras is facing the same treatment I had by the guard who was asking and standing before me. I felt my hand moving to hit him, but I did not. Then I threw the cigarette I had and replied while moving quickly: I have no political opinion!

Five hours later, Meras and another three prisoners were brought by two guards into the court hall. They were cuffed at the hands and legs. Only their handcuffs were removed in front of the hall and then entered into the dock. Meras and I shook hands. I patted on his shoulders. He asked me: How is my mum? I could not tell him that she is missing him, crying and she has not eaten for four days… I told him she wants you to be strong, to come back home soon…

Meras said: I will.

Lajee Center Dance Troupe Forced to Cancel U.S. Tour

by Rachelle Friesen

Members of a learning tour sponsored by MCC East Coast visit Aida Refugee Camp with Lajee Center director Salah Ajarma (left). (Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

 

In the summer of 2011 Salah Ajarma, the director of Lajee Center in Aida Refugee Camp, attended the Canadian School of Peacebuilding at Canadian Mennonite University. While at the school he visited many Mennonite churches that were keenly interested in what life is like for Palestinian refugees. It was out of this visit the idea came for the Lajee Center Dubka Troupe to visit MCC constituent churches to not only display their cultural folk dance, but to also build bridges and relationships with Anabaptists in order to share what life is like in refugee camps in Palestine. The tour was to include traditional dubka dance, stories, and photo exhibitions all created by the youth of Aida Refugee Camp.

Aida Refugee Camp was established in 1950 to accommodate Palestinian refugees from the war of 1948. The camp was designed to be a temporary residence for the refugees, many of whom still had their keys to their houses in their original villages. However, over 60 years later, Aida Camp still exists in the same physical space it inhabited in 1950, although its population has expanded. Over 4,700 people live in Aida Refugee Camp. The buildings are tall which create narrow alley ways that children play in. The one green space that used to provide therapy for the residents is an olive grove that runs alongside the camp. Yet in 2004 the Israeli Military built the separation wall pressing up against the camp, separating the refugees from their green space.

The wall and the cramped streets are not the only challenges the camp faces. Israeli military raids are frequent. Night or day the military may enter the camp. Tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets, live ammunition, and sound bombs accompany them, creating fear and uncertainty for many of the children that live in Aida. No child or youth has been immune to these raids and many have witnessed their brothers or fathers being dragged off in the middle of the night.

It is in this context that the Lajee Center Dubka Troupe dances not only provide stress release but also hope for the residents of the camp. Having traveled around Europe their dance has also become a method to tell their story to broader audiences.  The youth looked to Mennonites and Brethren in Christ in the U.S. as another outlet and opportunity for relationship building and awareness-raising.  The youth were going to show us how they work, struggle, and dance for a hopeful future of freedom.

Unfortunately on May 6, 2013 the long awaited and planned for trip had to be cancelled. Arrests, clashes, and night invasions had been increasing in the past few months and on the night of May 6 one of our dancers was arrested in the middle of the night without charge or reason. He would be the second dancer to be arrested by the Israelis. In addition, two more of our dancers were at risk of being arrested or detained by the Israelis. One of those two is the brother of a photographer who was shot in the face by an Israeli soldier last month while photographing an incursion into the camp.

However the arrests were not the only challenge. Despite the various European visas in their passports, out of our 13 participants, only eight had received a U.S. visa. Another four were told that their application had to be sent for additional security checks, which is a waiting game we no longer had time for.

This was a very disheartening decision. The youth and leaders had put in countless hours training and preparing for the trip. Two of the participants were unable to even reach their visa interviews in Jerusalem because they did not have a permit.  The U.S. Consulate is built on the internationally recognized Green Line, and therefore claims that Israelis and Palestinians should be able to access it without issue. However, this is distant from the reality where a wall, checkpoints, and a bureaucratic permit system prevent many Palestinians from the West Bank from entering Jerusalem.

Despite the disappointment, the youth remain hopeful and are confident that their story will reach out to others of the life they are living. They continue to dance, build bridges and relationships, and dream of a time when they can travel freely without checkpoints, walls, and fear of arrest or detention.

VIDEO: MCCer Photos and interview about Gaza on ‘Context with Lorna Dueck’

From the episode synopsis: “GAZA.  Meet Izzeldin Abuelaish – a Palestinian who turned a personal nightmare into a lifelong pursuit of peace.  And a photographer -Ryan Rodrick Beiler – and peace worker describes everyday life on this extraordinary strip of land.”

About the show: “Context with Lorna Dueck is a weekly, half-hour, independently-produced television program. Our program presents “life beyond the headlines,” exploring news and current affairs stories from a Christian world view. Journalist and host Lorna Dueck and the Context with Lorna Dueck team dig behind the headlines to investigate those points at which news and spirituality converge, to illuminate God’s involvement in the issues and events of our day.”

Life in Bethlehem: Interview with an MCC Peace Development Worker

interview with Rachelle Friesen by Susie Guenther Loewen

The Israeli separation wall divides Bethlehem lands near Aida Refugee Camp. (photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

With Christmas having come and gone, I would guess that not many of us are thinking about the “little town” of Bethlehem these days. Even at Christmas-time, many of us probably picture the serene and peaceful image from carols and greeting cards, conveniently forgetting about the harsh realities mentioned in the biblical story: the long journey Mary was forced to take while at the end of her pregnancy, just for a census; the lack of space in the inn, leading to a birth in a squalid stable; the attempts by Herod to find and kill the baby, forcing the family to become refugees to Egypt. This is hardly the silent, peaceful town of Christmas mythology! And even today, violence and unrest continue to be far too common in Bethlehem. In order to find out a bit of what life is like in Bethlehem today, I spoke with a good friend of mine, Rachelle Friesen, who’s currently living and working in Bethlehem as a Peace Development Worker with Mennonite Central Committee Palestine. Here’s what she had to say:

Could you explain what your day-to-day work in Bethlehem consists of?

There is very little routine to my day or to my week. Some days I am in the field, visiting farmers whose land has been confiscated or destroyed by settlers. Other days I spend visiting MCC Partners, providing support or just drinking a cup of coffee as we talk about life and work under army occupation. Often people related to MCC show up and I provide them with a presentation of our work in the region, or show them around to see the situation for themselves. On other days I am in my office writing reports, articles, blogs, and planning Learning Tours. Of course, some parts of the week are spent waiting at checkpoints.

You’re fairly young to be working for the church so far from home. Does your age impact your work at all, either positively or negatively (or both)?

My age combined with my gender and my marital status (single) does provide some challenges in working within the church. Despite our best attempts to have the church represent the Kingdom of God, it is still a human institution with all the flaws of the current systems humanity lives in. One challenge in particular is that when I speak about social justice or the situation here, my ideas on occasion have been attributed to me being young and therefore blinded by idealism. Luckily, these comments are not the norm. Mostly people have expressed gratitude at my commitment. My age also requires me to be humble and ask for help and guidance from our partners. Therefore working here requires a team atmosphere and in that, it is very representative of the Kingdom of God.

As a single woman in a cultural context that is very different from the Canadian one(s), how does your gender impact your work and/or relationships with people in Bethlehem?

As an outsider it is easier to be more acutely aware of the patriarchy that exists in Palestine. This allows me to spend time reflecting on feminism and what women’s liberation in a global context means. Westerners often criticize the Middle East for the patriarchal ideas that lead women to cover up; at the same time many people in the Middle East criticize the West for the patriarchal ideas the lead women to undress.

One thing to always remember is that patriarchy, and the accompanying sexism, exists everywhere in the world. Just as it exists in Palestine, it exists in Canada and some of the challenges I experience in my work because I am in a woman are not very different from the challenges I have faced working in Canada. Despite the challenges, I appreciate the opportunity to meet with women of all ages in Palestine and hear about how the occupation affects them as women. It is very humbling to hear women talk about how they care for their sons after they return from prison, to hear about how young mothers worry about the future of their children, and how young women are getting involved in resistance. I have been honored to receive endless wisdom from elderly women, mothers, and young women as they struggle to live in a world of just relationships.

Most of us probably automatically associate Bethlehem with Christmas and the Nativity story. What has it been like for you to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem?

Christmas in Bethlehem feels raw instead of romantic. In many ways there are feelings of sadness, waiting, and anticipation. Sadness, that another year has passed and the occupation continues – children are arrested, the wall continues, land is confiscated, and bombs drop on Gaza. There is the waiting for a change. Waiting and wondering when this vicious system of violence will finally lose its fuel. There is anticipation, just like the first Christmas, for a liberator to be born out of this oppressive system who will bring peace and justice to all people.

You’ve experienced times (maybe even many times) of danger and unrest during your years in Bethlehem, and yet you’ve recently renewed your term. What gives you the courage to stay and continue working there, knowing that it’s sometimes a dangerous place to be?

Oppressive systems exist everywhere in the world. We are in an age where people around the world are starting to become more aware of these systems and how these systems are not protecting them but enslaving them. From the ‘de-occupy’ movement in Palestine to the ‘occupy movement’ in Canada, people are starting to rise up and speak truth. In response, governments are using various tactics to try to suppress dissent. Wherever and whenever truth is spoken, it is dangerous, and yet as a Christian I am required to speak truth and follow the words of Micah “love mercy, do justice, walk humbly.” Being a Christian puts us in ‘unsafe’ places. However, that does not necessarily mean we need to travel abroad. I am well aware that in Canada and on the streets of Winnipeg people are feeling unsafe. Racism and sexism are still prevalent in Canada resulting in danger and fear for many people.

For me, my eyes have been opened to what is happening here in Palestine and despite the danger, as a Christian I cannot be silent when my brothers and sisters are oppressed. Yet even as I attempt to live in solidarity with those struggling for justice, I am aware that my international white privilege means that I will never be put in the same amount of danger as my neighbours.

What are the main things you wish the Canadian Mennonite church understood about the political and social context you’re in?

Of course, the situation in Palestine and Israel is not so simple as two peoples fighting for one piece of land. When people look at the situation in Palestine, it is easy to become paralyzed by the complexities. Despite the complexities the situation here is not unique. The same systems of oppression were seen (and are unfortunately are still prevalent) in South Africa and in the colonization of Canada. In these situations there are oppressed and oppressor and activists floating in between the two categories trying to remedy and draw awareness to the situation. It is not a conflict of religions or races; rather it is people struggling for justice and trying to overcome institutional systems that require and feed on oppression and exploitation. This struggle is not just limited to Palestine but involves the entire global community and in this struggle there is no neutrality. Therefore it is important for the Mennonite Church in Canada to ask these questions, does our current stance on Palestine contribute to humanity’s quest to liberate itself from empire, or does it further entrench the oppression? As a peace-church are Mennonites willing to take a nonviolent stance with respect to global injustice?

Martin Luther King Jr., said that to act nonviolently takes sacrifice, suffering, and struggle. Palestinian and Israeli practitioners of nonviolence know these three S’s all too well. As Palestinians and Israeli activists head to demonstrations every week, they know they will likely be tear-gassed, have rubber bullets shot at them, and/or be arrested. In Palestine, practitioners of nonviolence know that their actions may cost them not just their life but also the livelihoods of their families.

Sacrifice. Suffering. Struggle. This is a necessary element of nonviolence and pacifism. Is the Mennonite Church in Canada willing to do the same? Are we willing to stand for justice until the point that we are suffering and sacrificing, recognizing that when we take a nonviolent stance we will be isolated, called names, criticized and our livelihoods potentially threatened? The early Anabaptists felt the effects of nonviolence; Mennonites in World War II in work camps felt the effects of nonviolence; Jesus felt the effects of acting nonviolently; and Palestinians and Israeli activists feel the effects of nonviolence. As a church that supports nonviolence, are we willing to do the same?

This interview originally appeared in Canadian Mennonite.

MCC U.S. board acts for peace through its investments

The MCC U.S. board took unanimous action to respond to a call from partners, including churches, by not knowingly supporting through its investments and purchases violence against Palestinians, Israelis and other people groups.

By Cheryl Zehr Walker

AKRON, Pa. –The board of directors of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S. unanimously decided that MCC U.S. will not knowingly invest in companies that benefit from products or services used to perpetrate acts of violence against Palestinians, Israelis and other people groups.

The action, taken at the board’s March 16 meeting in Akron, grew from a call from partners in Palestine and Israel, including churches there, and follows a discernment process with leaders of the denominations that sponsor MCC U.S.

MCC staff in the Middle East delivered the message from churches and other partners in a letter shared about a year ago. MCC has worked with partners in Palestine and Israel for more than 60 years and more than 40 years, respectively.

The board agreed that “all reasonable measures” are to be applied immediately to not support violence in the Palestine and Israel conflict, and also that staff should explore “similar actions in support of partners in other parts of the world.”

The action means that MCC U.S. will not invest direct holdings in companies on the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) “Israel/Palestine Investment Screen” list, will choose to invest in mutual funds that limit exposure to companies on the list and will join efforts to encourage the mutual funds that it holds to adopt similar screens. Staff also will aim to align MCC U.S.’ purchasing patterns with these investment principles.

MCC U.S. Executive Director J Ron Byler explained that while the list names only companies that support Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, perpetrating acts of violence against Israelis is already illegal for Europe- and U.S.-based companies. “We will take action if we become aware of offenders against Israel, but our government ensures we do no harm to Israel, while there is no such care for Palestinians. With our partners, we desire peace, justice and reconciliation for all.”

MCC U.S. investments traditionally have mirrored the organization’s core Christian values, using vehicles such as socially responsible funds.

Byler said another aspect of the action included participating with sponsoring denominations’ peacemaking and justice-seeking efforts as invited. He said opportunities for this exist now with sponsoring denomination Mennonite Church USA.

Cheryl Zehr Walker is MCC U.S. director of communications. 

Exit Into Gaza

by Emma Bergen

Palestinian shepherds tend their flocks in the border zone near Gaza’s northern crossing with Israel. Israeli forces frequently open fire on Palestinians who enter the border zone. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

I was allowed the possibility of going into Gaza. As we entered Erez Terminal an object caught my attention. It was a small sign with a few words. It read “Exit to Gaza”. I found it was a disturbing phrase that presumed Gaza was not a place to go to.

My first impression of Gaza was quite stunning. I stepped through the wall into Gaza I saw the greenest grass running over every hill.

Despite what the sign told me I had entered Gaza.

My amazement at the beauty was crushed as I realized the green was part of the restricted access area. As we walked into Gaza a sheep herder stood in the forbidden fields. He led his sheep while living with the possibility of being shot from the concrete Separation Wall.

I visited Gaza City. The main streets were paved and there were tall buildings and structures crumbling as a result of wars including the war that took place in November. There was construction to revive a building that had been damaged as a result of bombs that had landed in close proximity.

Getting into the country didn’t take long because Gaza itself is only 360 square kilometres or twice the size of Washington, D.C. We encountered muddy roads and buildings absolutely full of bullet holes. These homes, which families and children lived in and around, had a shocking amount of destruction caused by military attacks. One other sight that shocked me was a large stretch of land being used as an open sewage reservoir for Israel, right in Gaza. We could see and smell it from the road.

While in Gaza I met amazing people. They had hope and spread it to the people in their communities. One family in particular had a small garden and kept ducks and pigeons. The mother had started a rabbit farm with help from the organization we were traveling with connected to Mennonite Central Committee. This rabbit farm was to create an opportunity for her to sell and generate meat for her family. It was with these rabbits that over a few years she was able to purchase the ducks.  This endeavor was proving to be a very valuable way of generating income and pride for the woman. It was distressing to hear that her family had lost all their rabbits due to trauma from bombs in November. Their meat supply was limited but their hope remained as she planned to start up again.

As a result of meeting people in Gaza I saw how hopeful they were despite the reality of being trapped. We must listen to their stories and hope with them for justice.

With these hopes I went through security and followed the signs put up again by Israel that read “Entrance into Israel” and exited Gaza.

Emma Bergen, age 19, is the daughter of MCC Palestine country representatives Dan Bergen and Joanna Hiebert Bergen.

Dear President Obama: Do not visit Bethlehem’s Nativity Church

Graffiti of U.S. President Barack Obama’s first election campaign slogan, “Yes We Can”, appears faded after four years on the Israeli separation wall diving the West Bank town of Bethlehem. (photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

President Barak Obama is planning to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity as part of his visit to Palestine/Israel. The Church of the Nativity, of course, is not the only thing to see in Bethlehem. I suggest that as the president enters the town, from Jerusalem I presume, that he takes a look to his right, and he will see the separation wall. It is hard to miss. It is that ugly concrete structure that gives you the impression that you are inside a big prison. I am sure the president will notice how the wall is killing life in Bethlehem, cutting deep into our neighborhoods.

As he continues on his way through the main street, I suggest he pays attention to his right, to the Azza Refugee Camp. I hope it reminds him of the misery of more than 5 million Palestinian refugees today, who are still waiting in hope for a just resolution to their suffering (see UN Resolution 194).

I know that the president is planning to visit the Church of the Nativity to pay homage to the child of Bethlehem. If so, then I would like to remind him of a story that person once told: the story of the Good Samaritan. It is a story about mercy. It is also a story about apathy. The two men who did not do mercy were religious. They were so occupied, it seems, with the religious task ahead, that they neglected to see the suffering of the man they passed by. I mention this story because we in Bethlehem are tired of people visiting our town as a “religious duty” without paying attention to the plight and suffering of the people of Bethlehem. This is why we were so moved by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem in 2009. Would the President do the same?

This is why I suggest, President Obama, since your time in Palestine/Israel is so precious, that you visit other urgent places in Bethlehem. If this is about a religious duty, then there is nothing more religious than speaking the truth and working for justice and reconciliation. May I therefore suggest that, instead of visiting the Church of the Nativity, you go instead to the town of Beit Jala and visit the area of Cremisan. There you will hear from Palestinian Christians how they are fighting to keep their land from being confiscated, and maybe you can join them in their weekly prayer. You will be giving, after all, homage to the child of Bethlehem, when you show compassion, and work for peace and justice. It is Jesus who said after all: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God”.

Munther Isaac is the Vice Academic Dean at MCC partner Bethlehem Bible College and a PhD candidate at the Oxford Center for Mission Studies. He is also the director of the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference.