Richard Goodman EAPPI

In 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.

First Impressions of Yanoun

Yanoun is a beautiful village in a remote part of the West Bank, the nearest city being Nablus. Looking out from the windows of my home in the International House it is hard, at first glance, to believe the village is living under military occupation. In the olive groves beautiful Syrian woodpeckers swoop between the trees and overhead colourful bee-eaters shine in their incredible rainbow plumage as they sweep the skies looking for insects.

Taking a closer look reveals the true realities of life for the people of the village. Looking to the hillsides you become aware of buildings, watchtowers and search lights, all outposts of the Israeli settlement of Itamar, an extremist community that attacked Yanoun in 2002 forcing its inhabitants to leave after months of threats that made life for the villagers unbearable.

Today, because of internationals from the World Council of Churches maintaining a permanent presence in Yanoun, many of its inhabitants have returned to their homes but they fear that were we to leave they would, once again, be quickly attacked and forced to leave their homes. All the villagers have stories about what happened in 2002 and some bear the physical scars of their attack. The lights shining on Yanoun every night from the hillsides and the threatening presence of settler vehicles moving slowly along the ridges of the hills is a powerful reminder that we are being watched.

The olive harvest is soon to begin and, once again, the realities of the occupation are all too evident. Palestinian farmers own the olive groves and have done for generations. These are precious to them, yet a kind of invisible border is drawn on the hillsides over which no person from the village should tread. To do so could be seen as a provocation to the settlers, drawing them down to attack the community. Likewise shepherds can only graze their sheep so far, or again, they risk the same danger. I, along with other internationals, will be helping to gather in the olive harvest although it seems the Israeli Defence Forces want to prevent this. This is probably because of pressure from settlers who are saying our presence is a provocation. Which trees can be harvested and what help can be given remains to be seen but previous experience shows an increase in threats and attacks at the time of the harvest.

What threat can the community possibly be to Itamar?. Its people live a very simple life working the land and rearing hens. They are a very warm and friendly people, so it seems the issue is simply one of wanting to own the land. The villagers of Yanoun are here and the settlers want them out so they can gain possession of the land. To this end the tense atmosphere and constant fear of what would happen if internationals were not present points to the policy of the settlers to make life difficult and then the Palestinians may just leave. For the residents of Yanoun these olive groves and these hills are their life. They give them their living and they tend them with care. To lose them is not only an economic catastrophe but also an ecological one. Thousands of trees have been cleared throughout the West Bank by the Israelis in what often seems nothing more than a scorched earth policy. To lose even one more would be tragic. Already the environment of Yanoun is being affected. It should be the perfect place to view the wonders of the night sky, yet when darkness falls the obvious growth of settlements is all too apparent. Most of the hill tops are occupied by settlers and the Palestinian villages lie mostly in the valley bottoms. This, along with the spotlights shining onto the village, has largely obliterated the night sky in the same way as streetlights do in the average British city. So this small community sees change coming from all around yet, for now, they try to carry on their lives much as they always have done, living with the restrictions that affect them and all Palestinian life. Thankfully, this year the olive harvest is a good one so the farmers will need all the assistance they can get to gather it within the time allowed and Inshallah (if God wills) it will pass in peace.

Richards Report 30th October 2006 The Olive Harvest Begins

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

Richards Report 27th November 2006 Checkpoints

Richards Report 12th December 2006 Bethlehem

Richard's Report 19th December 2006 Final Thoughts