Something On Non-Violence in Palestine

This is the reality of non-violent protests in Palestine. The unfortunate reality is that very few find hope in it. I am not at the point yet where I agree with everything Christian Peacemaker Teams do but I think that they have started a trend that is much more favorable than force and violence. Anyway, give it a read and leave any comments if you want.
Steve

CPTnet26 February 2007HEBRON/BIL'IN: "I'm Ok"--CPTer lightly injured by grenade at Fridaydemonstrationby Abigail OzanneI limped home from the demonstration on my own two feet after Israeli forcesshot a grenade at me. I watched four carried away on stretchers.On Friday 23 February, I attended the weekly demonstration against theseparation barrier in Bil'in. Along with hundreds of Palestinians,Israelis, and internationals, I marched from the mosque in the village outto the fence that cuts the village off from 2300 dunams of its land. Wedecried the fence in Arabic and Hebrew, demonstrating nonviolently as thevillagers have done every Friday for two years.When Palestinian youths farther away from military than the nonviolentprotesters threw stones, the Israeli forces responded by shooting teargasand concussion grenades at everyone. A group of about twenty Palestinians,Israelis, and internationals sat peacefully in a circle on the ground infront of the fence. The military blasted them repeatedly with a watercannon and shot concussion grenades and teargas near them. Israeli policeforcibly removed two people from the group. As I sat in the circle, my armslinked to those next to me and faced the Israeli forces, I felt the power ofnonviolent resistance. The Israeli forces, armed with M-16s and a multitudeof anti-demonstrator weapons, felt threatened by us. I sat there, soakedfrom the water cannon, my ears aching from the concussion grenades, mythroat sore from the teargas, and wondered what weapons the military woulduse next.When at last we finished the demonstration and prepared to return to thevillage, we could see that the battle still raged in the valley.Palestinian youth and children used slings against the Israeli forces thatadvanced on them with rubber-coated bullets, teargas, and concussiongrenades. The military also shot teargas and concussion grenades at thenonviolent protestors as we left the site. Grenades exploded around me as Ifled. When I felt a grenade strike me in the legs, ricocheting off mebefore exploding at my feet. My ears rang, my legs hurt, and I choked andgagged on the teargas all around. I was terrified. I could not tell howbadly the grenade had hurt me.I looked down at the valley between Bil'in and me. Grenades continued toboom and release clouds of teargas. I could see soldiers aiming their gunsat the youth and children and the flash as the soldiers shot. Then I saw astone-thrower in the road hit. He fell down screaming, and his friendstried to get him to safety and medical treatment.I limped slowly back up the hill. I could see no blood on my pants andcould still walk, although painfully. A medic checked me out and determinedI was only badly bruised. After resting, I eventually made it safely back tothe village.Looking at my three bruises--each at least the diameter of a coffee cup--Iknow that I am lucky to be ok. Others left the demonstration in ambulances._______________To stop receiving messages from CPTNET on MennoLink, do NOT hit reply. Senda message with only the word, "suspend," in the body toserver@MennoLink.org.Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church inorganized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trainedpeacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reductioninitiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethrenand Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range ofChristian denominations.To ask questions or express concerns, criticisms and affirmations sendmessages to peacemakers@cpt.org.To receive news or discussion of CPT issues by e-mail, fill out the formfound on our WEB page at http://www.cpt.org/subscribe.phpDonate to CPT on-line with your credit card! Go tohttp://cpt.org/donate.php and click the DONATE button to make acontribution through Network for Good, a secure way to help support CPT.