Visiting An Nu'man
We sit in a garden in An Nu'man, a village east of Jerusalem. It is a warm summer day. Jamal Dirawi, the landlord has shown us his pigeon breeding, the surrounding villages that we see across the valley away, and the trees under which we now are beyond the summer of distributed bear almonds, Askadinia, peaches and pears. "What kind of a program where you work? What is ecumenism? "Asks Jamal. We tell
by the WCC and the cooperation of the churches in the world. We call him the countries of origin of our team: Sweden, U.S., Germany and South Africa. For six years, volunteers come to Palestine and Israel in order to get to know the situation of people from the surrounding community to show their solidarity with those suffering from the conflict and the occupation of Palestine, and later at home, in their churches and their
countries of origin, to tell the tale. "This is necessary," sighs Jamal, "the world has recorded it, to look away and do not see what is happening here." It sounds bitter. He makes a great gesture on his house, his village and the valley below us. The Israeli separation barrier runs like a fence with guard towers, and with the road for military vehicles across the landscape. "This is war," he says, "our country is stolen, our water is derived, and we need to buy expensive it back. We live like prisoners in our own village, such as release prisoners in a prison. But why are you here, what can people who come from such a beautiful country, bring in this depressing country? "
Again, we explain. Justice tells of the long struggle for freedom in South Africa and how her life will change now. He wants to continue some of the good developments To give the experienced his country. I talk about my childhood in the GDR, from my youth in the Cold War, which had separated me from my parents and sisters. And from the night in which I have seen how people have broken through the Berlin Wall, so to speak. We talk about hope and about the end of systems of injustice that we have experienced. Where the world has expected nothing more, the people have won, who believed in the unbelievable.
Jamal's view remains in the dry little tree hanging in his garden. Ibrahim, his older cousin follows his gaze and declares that the water is blocked again and again, supposedly because of problems in the construction of the road. But the road has long since finished. "They also block the flow regularly. The phone line is switched off. They want us to leave the village. "Since we're on the subject.
by the WCC and the cooperation of the churches in the world. We call him the countries of origin of our team: Sweden, U.S., Germany and South Africa. For six years, volunteers come to Palestine and Israel in order to get to know the situation of people from the surrounding community to show their solidarity with those suffering from the conflict and the occupation of Palestine, and later at home, in their churches and their
countries of origin, to tell the tale. "This is necessary," sighs Jamal, "the world has recorded it, to look away and do not see what is happening here." It sounds bitter. He makes a great gesture on his house, his village and the valley below us. The Israeli separation barrier runs like a fence with guard towers, and with the road for military vehicles across the landscape. "This is war," he says, "our country is stolen, our water is derived, and we need to buy expensive it back. We live like prisoners in our own village, such as release prisoners in a prison. But why are you here, what can people who come from such a beautiful country, bring in this depressing country? "Again, we explain. Justice tells of the long struggle for freedom in South Africa and how her life will change now. He wants to continue some of the good developments To give the experienced his country. I talk about my childhood in the GDR, from my youth in the Cold War, which had separated me from my parents and sisters. And from the night in which I have seen how people have broken through the Berlin Wall, so to speak. We talk about hope and about the end of systems of injustice that we have experienced. Where the world has expected nothing more, the people have won, who believed in the unbelievable.
Jamal's view remains in the dry little tree hanging in his garden. Ibrahim, his older cousin follows his gaze and declares that the water is blocked again and again, supposedly because of problems in the construction of the road. But the road has long since finished. "They also block the flow regularly. The phone line is switched off. They want us to leave the village. "Since we're on the subject.
A bureaucratic error
An Nu'man is a very small village with 20 houses and as many families. Actually, there are two large families with about 220 residents living here and owning the land. An Nu'man heard since 1967 on the part of Palestine that Israel has inflicted on the city of Jerusalem and annexed. The villagers were not recognized as citizens of Jerusalem, they kept their Palestinian Passes. Later, the Government has declared a mistake. For life in the village, nothing had changed: they had, as previously, used the medical care and hospitals in Jerusalem, the higher schools, workplaces and educational institutions. It was a walk down to the next suburb, which was connected by bus to the transportation network of Jerusalem. But friends and relatives also lived in the next Palestinian villages. The life was marked by the village and work in the fields.
has certainly changed only when Israel has constructed in 2002 its barrier and a checkpoint that had to happen now anyone in the neighboring villages wanted. Now, the residents of An Nu'man cut of all: Set in Israel, with Palestinian ID cards, they were considered illegal in their own homes. The dirt road to Jerusalem was filled in and guarded, no one was allowed to go to Jerusalem, cars could not drive. Only the path through the barrier and the checkpoint remained in the valley below. Relatives, friends, business partners and doctors were not allowed through the checkpoint. Also, we have always problems to be allowed to happen. The trouble, however, is that the soldiers can exercise this control point and arbitrary harassment. When I first visited Jerusalem in 2006 from the village, was a farmer been tied to his donkey, the donkey had panicked and had dragged the man behind it, which the farmer did not survive. should be the concern
based n the village, either transfer to the barrier so that the village is in the Palestinian territory, or to give the inhabitants of Jerusalem identity cards - There was a trial before the Constitutional Court where this case - denied by the military authorities and access to it to open again.
has certainly changed only when Israel has constructed in 2002 its barrier and a checkpoint that had to happen now anyone in the neighboring villages wanted. Now, the residents of An Nu'man cut of all: Set in Israel, with Palestinian ID cards, they were considered illegal in their own homes. The dirt road to Jerusalem was filled in and guarded, no one was allowed to go to Jerusalem, cars could not drive. Only the path through the barrier and the checkpoint remained in the valley below. Relatives, friends, business partners and doctors were not allowed through the checkpoint. Also, we have always problems to be allowed to happen. The trouble, however, is that the soldiers can exercise this control point and arbitrary harassment. When I first visited Jerusalem in 2006 from the village, was a farmer been tied to his donkey, the donkey had panicked and had dragged the man behind it, which the farmer did not survive. should be the concern
based n the village, either transfer to the barrier so that the village is in the Palestinian territory, or to give the inhabitants of Jerusalem identity cards - There was a trial before the Constitutional Court where this case - denied by the military authorities and access to it to open again. demonstration of the settlers
At that time, 2006, I witnessed a demonstration of Jewish settlers, the construction of a road to Jerusalem through the Fields called on Nu'man. This demonstration was mounted police and army to protect the settlers have been used. At that time I learned that according to Israeli security view, the well-armed settlers for the villagers are dangerous, but reversed the villagers for the settlers. And I've learned that the settlers act professionally and are very organized. The settlers got their road. She's been blasted into the mountain, which has previously connected to Nu'man with Jerusalem. Now there is no way through here.
A year ago, in summer 2007, I was at the hearing in the Constitutional Court there. The saying the judge has "two sides", the army, guarding the barrier and the village, which is enclosed by it, imposed to improve their relations. How will the villagers to improve their relationship with the Barrier and the soldiers? A final verdict had been postponed.
No score for An Nu'man
we sit, two hosts in the village and imprisoned two visitors from all over the world, in the garden. Only foreigners are allowed to have by the checkpoint. The evening light appeared all in friendly colors. Our hosts are almost exuberant. It has long ago was that they had guests. His saloon - he points to the two large windows upstairs - was found. Formerly his house was known throughout Palestine, he says. But now he was written off. 
Two Pigeons play their game: The pigeon put the pigeon food in its beak. It's a long, prancing running scene. "Look, what he's up," Jamal says, laughing. The pigeon, after a successful transfer of the gift, jumps up and does the dove, pigeon and do other cocks in the world. The men laugh and apologize immediately: they would only laugh, because they make our visit so happy. "We get virtually no guests but more," he repeated.
This year, on 9 July 2008, The case recalled. And that was the reason why we made this visit to Jamal Dirawi in An Nu'man.
support for An Nu'man - Addendum 5th July
Meanwhile, last two weeks. Tonight we will go to a lecture that Jamal Dirawi, Judge of the Court of Arbitration in Ramallah, talk about the situation of his village is. He is supported by the Palestinian human rights organization Al Haq, also report on the process and the appointment in the next week. I have no hope of a verdict in favor of the village - laying the barrier or legalized within Jerusalem. But my job is to hope to support and believe in the unbelievable. How am I going to do for the villagers? If the children experience of An Nu'man the end of the disastrous occupation? And how soon? Will my church its own trauma, the debt to the Jews, handle so that they overcome the taboo language against Israel, which hinders any effective criticism of Israeli policy do? I think she is, and I hope they do it soon.
The verdict - Addendum on 12 July 08:
The court ruled against the village, the barrier is final, the villagers have to individually Israel Ministry of the Interior Applications for housing justice are in their homes, they had already done three times in vain. Our team was now in An Nu'man and has bye. I promised that I will come again in a few weeks to introduce the new team. It is the task continuation, keep the hope alive.
Two Pigeons play their game: The pigeon put the pigeon food in its beak. It's a long, prancing running scene. "Look, what he's up," Jamal says, laughing. The pigeon, after a successful transfer of the gift, jumps up and does the dove, pigeon and do other cocks in the world. The men laugh and apologize immediately: they would only laugh, because they make our visit so happy. "We get virtually no guests but more," he repeated. This year, on 9 July 2008, The case recalled. And that was the reason why we made this visit to Jamal Dirawi in An Nu'man.
support for An Nu'man - Addendum 5th July
Meanwhile, last two weeks. Tonight we will go to a lecture that Jamal Dirawi, Judge of the Court of Arbitration in Ramallah, talk about the situation of his village is. He is supported by the Palestinian human rights organization Al Haq, also report on the process and the appointment in the next week. I have no hope of a verdict in favor of the village - laying the barrier or legalized within Jerusalem. But my job is to hope to support and believe in the unbelievable. How am I going to do for the villagers? If the children experience of An Nu'man the end of the disastrous occupation? And how soon? Will my church its own trauma, the debt to the Jews, handle so that they overcome the taboo language against Israel, which hinders any effective criticism of Israeli policy do? I think she is, and I hope they do it soon.
The verdict - Addendum on 12 July 08:
The court ruled against the village, the barrier is final, the villagers have to individually Israel Ministry of the Interior Applications for housing justice are in their homes, they had already done three times in vain. Our team was now in An Nu'man and has bye. I promised that I will come again in a few weeks to introduce the new team. It is the task continuation, keep the hope alive.
