Richard Goodman EAPPI

n the Autumn of 2006 Richard Goodman from Leicester spent three months in Palestine as part of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme for Palestine and Israel EAPPI organised by the World Council of Churches. In the UK EAPPI is co-ordinated by the Quakers. www.quaker.org.uk/eappi

At first Richard was based in Yanoun a small village near Nablus that has been subject to repeated attacks by Israeli settlers. Later he moved to Bethlehem.

THE OLIVE HARVEST BEGINS

The main olive harvest is due to start this year after the feast of Eid Al -Fitr which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. However some farmers have already started gathering the olives even though they are still not at their best. This is because of fears that the trees will be sabotaged by settlers who have stripped them for themselves in recent years, or damaged them, and more often just prevent the farmers from being able to reach their land.

The team at Yanoun have been asked to help a family who own some land near Nablus in a village called Kufer Kalil. In recent years the family have been prevented from reaching their trees but a court ruling has this year enabled them to do so. This does not mean that there will be no problems. The olive grove is surrounded by an extremist Israeli settlement which has already tried to claim the fresh water spring that feeds the area.

On our arrival it was obvious that problems had already occurred. The photograph below (left) shows a large charred area and you will notice many of the trees are grey.

This is a common tactic where trees are just set on fire to cause maximum damage. The second photograph shows an area in the centre of the olive grove where, once again, settlers tried to set the trees on fire.

One cannot help wondering what young Muhammed (pictured) will have to farm in the future. The family were so kind, a real pleasure to work with, and a real joy filled the days when we, and other internationals were working with them. I think for this Palestinian family it was just knowing that they have not been forgotten which so encouraged them. We are determined to see that their land and living is not stolen from them and as we carefully cut the trees, after the years of enforced neglect, it seemed right to hope that they may bring their trees back to full health once more.

One development which is particularly encouraging is the work between faiths to see that justice is done. On the day I was there Muslims, Christians and Jews were working together to ensure this family could earn a living and feel secure in working their land. It was wonderful to see the good relationship that the owner of the land, Ali, had with Rabbi Arik from Jerusalem who works for an organisation called Rabbis for Human Rights. They co-ordinate much of the international help that the Palestinians need at this time of year and are invaluable when settlers launch attacks, as they have contacts in Israel and with the Israeli defence forces which can be called upon if violence erupts. With such a presence it makes it less likely that settlers will do their worst, although safety is not guaranteed. Some find they are harassed by the Israeli army itself who have often been present when attacks occur and do nothing to stop the assailants or to apprehend them afterwards. For us, the army made one visit just to see what we were doing but did not get out of their vehicles or try to stop our work. The time passed peacefully but in the next few days we will be picking the olive trees on the highest ridge closest to the settlement and each day the family seeks assurances that we, or other internationals, will be there before they go to work on their own land.

Ali, the owner, was asking me if I could get him work in Britain. The next day I heard him asking one of the Swedish members of our team if she could get him a visa for that country. Just as I saw with the Christians of Nablus, this longing to escape is strong in many, whether Muslim or Christian. Looking down from Ali`s trees at the valley below, with the Huwwara checkpoint filling with people and cars, where just two days before a man had been shot dead, one could understand why he would feel this way.

Yet seeing below me Jews and Arabs, Christians and Muslims, all working together as friends for the good of all, one could not help but hope and imagine what it could one day be like in this troubled land.

The Rabbis for Human Rights know that the activities of some of the settlers have nothing to do with the Jewish faith and tradition and believe in the God who loves and cares for all and is interested in mercy and justice, not in real estate and land confiscations and demonisation of the other. Surely, in this there is a glimmer of light where it is often difficult to see any, and it is a privilege to be witness to it.

Newsletter 15th October 2006 First impressions of Yanoun

Newsletter 14th November 2006 Does Christianity have a Future in the Holy Land ?

Newsletter 27th November 2006 Checkpoints

Newsletter 12th December 2006 Bethlehem

Newsletter 19th December 2006 Final Thoughts