The work of CPT in Hebron is varied according to the needs and requests of the community, but one routine task is to patrol the Old City of Hebron and the surrounding area at least three times a day. During these patrols we may find young men detained at one of the many checkpoint, families experiencing harassment by settlers or shop keepers being threatened.
This boy ran to our home as we were finishing dinner to inform us that settlers were throwing stones into his family's courtyard. We went to the home and talked to soldiers who reported that they saw the incident, but did not act on it.
This boy ran to our home as we were finishing dinner to inform us that settlers were throwing stones into his family's courtyard. We went to the home and talked to soldiers who reported that they saw the incident, but did not act on it.
Young men bringing 'Abraham's Soup' Home to their families. Much of CPT's interaction on patrol are with young men and boys who are often targeted by Israeli soliders. On early morning patrols of the check points we monitor the number of children going through the check points, the number of students and teachers being detained (and often made late to school) and the number of bag checks. These numbers are submited to several local and international human rights watch organizations.
When we do come to a check point, like we did in this incident, where a man was being detained, in this case being forced to squat down facing the wall for several hours (according to the soldier) we maintain a presence, possibly speak to the soldier or the detainee, and call our partners Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) who will also document and report the incident. International presence often changes the course of events in cases of Palestinians being detained, harassed or victimized.
On another call on 2 June, two boys, residents of the Beit Hadassah settlement in Hebron’s Old City, ages 14 and 15, threw multiple stones at Palestinians walking in the market below. Some of the rocks were as large as 5 inches. One nine year old Palestinian boy was struck with two stones causing a head injury that splattered the sidewalk and storefront with blood. An ambulance arrived to rush the boy to the hospital.
An Israeli soldier stationed beside the settlement had neither tried to stop the boys nor take any action against them after they hurled the stones. An Israeli policeman later called on a Palestinian resident who saw much of the incident, and took information to investigate further.
This same resident's house is back to back with the Beit Hadassah settlement. Besides enduring daily harassment from settlers, he boards up his windows to protect his family from the violence of the settlers. Lately, he has reported several incidents, including settlers from Beit Hadassah smashing his car windows and throwing eggs at his store.
On evening patrol, Islam, one of the older of the boys and young men roaming the street selling key chains and bracelets, took time to show us his family’s homes, and told us stories of the second intifada when his uncle was killed in the mosque and several children were killed right in front of his home. He is a young man who has grown up knowing violence, death and occupation as the dominate reality and violence as the only bleak solution out of this state of oppression.
This same resident's house is back to back with the Beit Hadassah settlement. Besides enduring daily harassment from settlers, he boards up his windows to protect his family from the violence of the settlers. Lately, he has reported several incidents, including settlers from Beit Hadassah smashing his car windows and throwing eggs at his store.
On evening patrol, Islam, one of the older of the boys and young men roaming the street selling key chains and bracelets, took time to show us his family’s homes, and told us stories of the second intifada when his uncle was killed in the mosque and several children were killed right in front of his home. He is a young man who has grown up knowing violence, death and occupation as the dominate reality and violence as the only bleak solution out of this state of oppression. 
The life Hebron offers children is astonishing to me- just how they can grow into peacemakers and not jaded and violent is an amazing testament of hope. Where there was once life in al- Kahlil, there is now concrete, dust and fear. Suspicion takes the place of sounds of normal life. For the children of Hebron the occupation is normal; they have grown up knowing machine guns pointed at them on the way to school, school bags searched as they are scrambling to study for their final exams, friends being blindfolded and taken away to jail.
I saw one young girl coming on her way to school through the mosque check point, in her school uniform, turn the corner from the soldiers and head straight toward a rose bush from which she picked two flowers and continued on her way. In this atmosphere, one must search with intention for beauty, grasp it and carry it with you, like the rose, to share with others. Beauty is not as obvious for those living under occupation- but that does not mean joy is far.
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