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By
Dianne Roe
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
On my last
day in Hebron before returning to the states in late October I
wondered what had happened to Liga. There was no way to telephone
her. The cave dwelling in the remote area in the south of the
Hebron district where she tended her sheep and raised her children
was out of range for most cell phones, even if she had one, and
there was neither a phone line nor electricity for recharging
batteries in the rocky area where her family lived.
I had heard that the Israeli government had placed much land in
that area under military closure and that families had been given
twelve hours evacuation notice. So on my last day in Hebron I went
to Yatta, the village south of Hebron, to find Liga's niece Manal.
"Yes," Manal told me. "We have heard from my aunt. Three days ago
Israeli soldiers came in the middle of the night and evacuated them
from their land. They were forced to go where there is no water and
there are no caves for shelter. They are afraid that if they do not
do as the soldiers say they will lose their sheep. Our families
have lived on this land for hundreds of years. My aunt is very
afraid."
I think about Liga now that I am back home in Corning, NY, as our
churches prepare for the advent season. 2000 years ago Jesus may
have been born in a cave such as one of those that shelter Liga's
family. Today hundreds of Palestinian families whose lands have
been subject to closure, confiscation, or home demolition don't
even have mangers in which to lay newborn babies.
But Advent is about hope. Along with the birth of the newborn baby
there are shepherds, angels, and wise men and the care and love of
God who watches over us all. As I think of Liga today, I remember
with thanksgiving the visitors God has sent for families like
Liga's. They are part of a coalition that includes Palestinians,
Israelis and internationals.
The Palestinian Land Defence Committee (LDC) are shepherds watching
over their flocks. Abdel Hadi Hantash of the Hebron LDC knows these
families by name.
The Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD) are angels
who have come to the shepherds with a message that says "fear not."
Harriet Lewis witnessed a demolition near Liga's land in March,
1997 while she was spending time with Christian Peacemaker Teams in
Hebron. She confronted the soldiers then and went back to her home
to spark the formation of ICAHD.
Who are the magi, the visitors from afar? They are you, the members
of our churches. Christian Peacemaker Teams' Campaign for Secure
Dwelling (CSD) has matched dozens of churches with families who
face problems such as Liga's. As we enter this advent season there
is a CPT Rebuilders Against
Bulldozers (RA B) delegation made up of visitors like you who want
to give a voice to people like Liga.
It is with Thanksgiving for your witness that we prepare for a
multitude of pilgrimages in to the Holy Land of the lowliest
places.
Let us go to those
places together as the Wise Men (and women) have done before us.
Decemeber 22, 1999
CPT Hebron has maintained a violence reduction
presence in Hebron since June of 1995 at the invitation of the
Hebron Municipality. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an
initiative among
Mennonite and Brethren congregations, and Friends meetings who
support violence reduction Teams around the world.
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