M I D - E A S T R E A L I T I E S -- HEBRON, Eye-Witness Report **********************************************************
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[MER - The Hebron Agreement, like those that have come before, is neither a real peace nor a sound agreement for Palestinians. For the first time a "Jewish section" now appears on the map of a West Bank town. Putting occupied Palestinians on the modern-day equivalent of Reservations -- and disenfranchising all the rest in the camps of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan -- is swiftly proceeding. This eye-witness report from a group known as the "Christian PeaceMaker Team" which has been witnessing the situation in Hebron for a number of years.]HEBRON: REDEPLOYMENT & THE DIVISION OF HEBRON
by Terry Rempel - CPT Hebron January 18, 1997
Less than six hours after the Israeli military handed over control of the Civil Administration buildings overlooking Hebron to the Palestinian Authority, the meaning of the redeployment for some 20% of Palestinian Hebronites who remain under Israeli occupation became self-evident - division.
Around 1:30 pm today Israeli forces placed a curfew on the market area and Deboyya street in H-2, the part of Hebron that remains under Israeli control. All morning Palestinian Hebronites had gathered in front of the crowded market in the Israeli controlled area of the city from where they could see the joint Palestinian-Israeli patrol unit on Mount Abu Sneineh overlooking Hebron. In light of the redeployment, the Israeli military and police had stationed some 100 soldiers and policemen in the small square that afronts both the market and the Avriham Avinu Jewish settlement.
As in area of the city (H-1) that came under Palestinian control today, area H-2 remained peaceful most of the morning even as Israeli authorities struggled to keep the square clear for traffic, often pushing back Palestinian onlookers into the already over-crowded market. Shortly after noon, CPT members Pete Byer and Terry Rempel who had been observing the morning events in the square noticed a disturbance at the far (East) end of the square. Within moments several rocks came flying over a nearby fence and the crowd began to surge as Israeli troops chased the suspected stone-throwers up the hill to the adjacent area which falls under joint Palestinian and Israeli control.
Jewish settlers at the nearby Avriham Avinu settlement meanwhile began to clap and sing as the Israeli authorities closed down the produce market and placed the area under curfew. Palestinian shops that had not yet closed for Ramadan were forced to close their doors and Palestinian were ordered off the streets. In area H-1,however, that part of Hebron which was handed over to the Palestinian authority, Khalilis (Hebronites) continued to fill the streets, unfurling the Palestinian flag and welcoming the newly-arrived Palestinian police force.
Tonight Hebron is a city of contrasts. In much of area H-2 Palestinians remain indoors while Jewish settlers freely roam up and down Deboyya street singing and dancing. In area H-1 Palestinian Hebronites set off firecrackers as they continue to celebrate both the transition to Palestinian authority as well as Ramadan. Earlier in the day, Byer and Rempel passed through the newly-established joint-patrol post between areas H-1 and H-2 at the West end of Dubboya street, where they were greeted by an Israeli policeman who said, "You are welcome, we have peace now." That peace, however, still seems a long way off.
THE COMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST (COME) & MID-EAST REALITIES (MER)
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