BEIT SAHOUR - How to avoid being shot, how to get a group to make split-second decisions, what not to say to police interrogators after an arrest - these were just a few of the questions answered during a one-and-a-half-day course for political activists, held earlier this week in this Arab village on the outskirts of Bethlehem.
The course was a requisite for people interested in participating in the International Solidarity Movement's (ISM) latest action campaign, called "Israel's Wall of Apartheid."
The ISM is a coalition of organizations and individuals who use nonviolent direct action as a means for helping to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, and assist the Palestinians in their daily lives.
Early Sunday morning, in a hotel in Beit Sahour, four trainers - "core" members and field coordinators of ISM - presented a short introduction and background information about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They wrote the following definitions on a board: "Green Line" - pre-1967 borders; "settler" - colonizer; "curfew" - 24-hour house imprisonment; and "Israel Defense Forces (IDF)" - Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).
Some 20 people sat around, listening attentively. Most of them were from Sweden, Britain and the United States; there was also one person each from Japan and France. On the table near them was tea, along with "personal responsibility" forms (whereby one had to commit oneself in writing to nonviolent verbal and physical action), registration forms, lists of consulates and embassies, information about media contacts, and a quick guide to Arabic.
Aimed at preparing the participants for every eventuality during their political activities in the country, the course began in a historical and philosophical vein and became more practical. One session dealt with legal issues surrounding arrest.
"Soldiers can't arrest you, they can only detain you till the police arrive. If arrested, you have the right to talk to a lawyer. They may tell you that you don't," said the instructor. "Do not ever say, `I didn't hit him, he hit me,' because then you are saying you were there and then they don't need to prove that. Otherwise they would have to bring witnesses, it would be a long process, and they might drop it."
Spectrum of non-violence
Participants also engaged in interactive activities. For example, during discussion of the definition of "the spectrum of nonviolence," the group was told that one wall of the room represented extreme violence and the opposite wall represented nonviolence. Different scenarios were then described, after which each person had to place her or himself somewhere between the two walls.
The majority of the participants in the ISM course said that they were planning to stay in Israel anywhere between two weeks and two months. Although many were students in their 20s, others were older and said they felt a strong need to come, despite their age or the family they left behind.
"I wanted to come, but I thought I was too old till I saw there was a guy, 71, who came," said Colin Kelsall, 60, from Chester, England. "I've never done anything like this in my life. Maybe this is my last chance to make some small difference."
Said Danny Warren, 36, from Barry St. Edmonds ("the most racist town in the UK"): "I am right-wing and I feel many people who speak about the Middle East have a political agenda and that I'm not getting the whole story. I want to go back and tell my town what I discover."
A., a British Muslim, who works as an information technology consultant, agreed: "I don't think a few internationals can really change anything. It's more what we do when we go back home."
Most of the participants, with the exception of Kelsall and Warren, were wary of giving their real names for fear that they would be prevented from entering Israel in the future if the authorities discovered they had come to help Palestinians.
The group also heard lectures on the subject of ISM principles and on Palestinian culture.
"There is certain behavior we cannot accept and if you violate the rules, you're out," warned L. another American trainer, adding that physical and verbal violence, and running, are absolutely forbidden where the ISM is operating. "Never, ever turn around and run. You are more likely to be shot at. Just sit," continued L., who is based in Hebron with a similar organization, the Christian Peacemakers Team.
No alchohol, drugs or sex
Just as important, said S. is the fact that alcohol, drugs and sexual relations are forbidden among ISM activists: "If you want to drink or be with your couple, go to Bethlehem, Ramallah or Jerusalem and get a hotel room. Just the smell of alcohol on your breath in Nablus could severely damage the reputation of ISM."
In order not to be considered a collaborator with the Israelis, the course participants were advised against "photographing the faces of youth, the shabab. We're here to help, not endanger by compromising identities," explained S.
K., a young, well-dressed Palestinian ISM coordinator from a Nablus refugee camp, taught the group about Palestinian culture. He explained the importance of the family in Palestinian society and described its hospitality, loyalty and ties to the land.
"Women teach children. Man has control," he said. "Relations between man and woman are not shown publicly. Don't shake hands. If a man means to pray, he won't refuse the hand offered by a woman, but then he must go wash again."
On a more political note, K. added: "Be sensitive about the `suicide bomber' issue. Don't say: `That's stupid.' They are giving their lives for their land and people, and even if you and I may not agree with the way [they do it], you must be sensitive and respectful."
The ISM course participants were told that the various political activities undertaken by the activists - whether removing a roadblock or trying to prevent a house demolition - are well organized, with each member playing a role and deciding on a plan by consensus. One person documents the "action," whether by photos or video; another acts as a media spokesperson if a journalist shows up; a third is the "arrest support" person who carries a list of the names, emergency phone numbers and instructions of each member of the group (e.g., "In case I'm arrested, please tell my brother to feed my cat"); and the others are "arrestables" who go to the front lines first.
Roles can be decided on the spot, L. explained: "If I'm walking with my partner and we see a soldier beating up a Palestinian 100 yards away, I say, `Hey, I'll be the photographer - so do you want to handle this one?"
Activists are told to consult with the Palestinians on the scene, "because no one knows as well as they do. Even if you're negotiating with soldiers to release detained Palestinians, ask them first because they are directly affected by it," explained S.
Ready for action
It's almost 8 P.M. and the participants are looking tired. The trainers announce that they will be divided up into groups after the course: Yanun, where settlers forced olive-picking villagers out of their homes; Nablus (where there are long curfew and house demolitions); Tul Karm/Qalqilyah (so-called "apartheid" wall area); and Gaza. Everyone suddenly becomes alert.
Gaza is a fairly new area of ISM action, K. explained, and the group will be dealing with daily house demolitions, opening roadblocks, and escorting ambulances, among other things.
One hefty, blue-eyed American from California, who said he became a Muslim a year ago, asked: "Where is the most action?" The answer: Gaza. "Then I'm off to Gaza."
Said M., 25, a Swedish art history student: "I'm a little bit nervous. Before I came I was really nervous, and so were my parents ... They really think I might get killed - and so do I."
F., 28, a down-to-earth neuroscience grad student from the U.S., was not phased: "I'm young and American and I know about the situation," she said. "It's worth getting hurt to do whatever I can. There are a lot of people I know who can't come and I felt I must do something."
R., 26, from Cambridge, England, said he decided to come to the country after reading about the Temple Institute on the Internet. "I read about the institute and immediately bought a ticket here." He hoped to find out more about the creation of the Third Great Temple. He also knew people from the ISM and decided he would volunteer for the organization as well. "I'm looking for something, I'm not sure what."
While some people debated over where they would go, others were more decisive. A., 36, a computer project manager at Columbia University in New York decided to go to Gaza. "Once you come and have seen what's happening and how the media in America is completely blocking that information, it becomes that much more important," said A. "My family is Polish and they were thrown out of their homes by the Germans. No one came to help. For me, to come and say `we're not going to let this happen,' is so important."
Once the locations are decided, dinner is served and the topic of conversation is what to say and what not to say to the security people at the airport when leaving the country.
The following day, more foreign participants trickled in to the ISM course. The group learned how to avoid reacting to verbal and physical violence, how to come to decisions quickly in the field, and how to identify Israeli weapons. Used tear gas grenades, a percussion grenade, various bullet shells and a "rifle grenade against demonstrators" (written clearly in Hebrew) are passed around the room.
Toward the end, S., the trainer and Nablus field coordinator, told Anglo File: "I can't imagine not being here. You know at the end of every day that your presence has made some people's lives easier. Our unique role as human shields can help Palestinians just go about their daily life. Resistance here is just walking out of one's house to buy bread or get medical help [for someone].
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