Holy Land: Palestinian children in march for peace

On Monday morning, one hundred Palestinian children marched from the village of At-Tuwani to a village called Tuba. along a path where illegal Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian children and shepherds, as well as international human rights advocates.

The children marched through the hills carrying banners and Palestinian flags, drumming and chanting "this land is Palestinian land, this is Palestinian land, the settlers have to leave." They were accompanied by the young women organizers of the summer camp, several fathers, members of Operation Dove, members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) , and fourteen CPT delegates. During the march, Israeli soldiers and the Ma'on settlement security guard followed the group, as well as two cars driven by settlers, who yelled at the group. This nonviolent action was a part of a two week-long summer camp taking place in At-Tuwani.

The march was designed to demonstrate the right of Palestinians to travel on their roads through their land and also to show solidarity with the children of Tuba and Maghayir Al- Abed, who attend school in At-Tuwani.

For the twenty children walking from Tuba and Maghayir Al-Abeed, the shortest Palestinian road to At-Tuwani runs through the valley between the settlement of Ma'on and the illegal outpost of Havot Ma'on. As a result of numerous settler attacks, the Israeli military accompanies these children to and from school in At-Tuwani.

The marchers walked successfully to the village of Tuba, taking the middle path around the Havot Ma'on outpost and through the hills. Upon their arrival, two Israeli military jeeps entered the village One of the fathers of the children negotiated with the soldiers, asking them to accompany the children and their adult chaperons along the Palestinian road along which the Israeli army accompanies the children each school day. The soldiers refused to escort the entire group, saying they would accompany the children, but not the adult Palestinians and the internationals accompanying them. The marchers returned to At-Tuwani on the middle path. As the group approached the outpost, settlers in two vehicles followed the marchers, shouting at them.

This is the third nonviolent march that the children have taken from At-Tuwani to Tuba. The children and organizers of the march were very pleased with the success of the action.

Source; Christian Peacemaker Teams

For more information on Christian Peacemaker Teams see: www.cpt.org/