ICAHD Camp Volunteer*
Summer Camp 2009: Dreams & Reality
On the second day of the building camp, work continued as usual, sandwiched by a nonviolence training by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and a presentation on the history of Beit Arabiya from Saleem and Jeff.
Controversy erupted, however, over the presence of Anata children at the building site. Throughout the construction of both houses, young boys were close by, either assisting with work, interacting with international participants, standing back and watching, or in one case, throwing rocks at nearby soldiers, guarding construction of the Israeli “separation barrier.” The soldiers fired back teargas, and then observed the building camp atop a nearby hill for the following three hours.
This incident in particular brought up discussion in the group, over whether children should be allowed on the site. Participants had felt anxious about the soldiers, said one participant from California. They worried that these boys’ form of resistance to the occupation, regardless of its legitimacy, could impede ICAHD’s form of resistance.
Summer Camp 2009: Dreams & Reality
Participants who had not even witnessed the rock-throwing were concerned about the safety of kids helping on the work site, because small children have taken the initiative to carry heavy materials without much supervision. The children might also distract participants from their own work. One participant from Turkey disagreed, seeing the boys as curious and polite, and enjoying their company.
The group concluded that the best solution was to involve the Anata community. Salim Shawamreh spoke with families in the area, explaining ICAHD’s form of resistance and recommending supervision of the kids. Some participants also bought paper and crayons to engage the children while participants worked.
Even with small disagreements, building has continued on schedule, and the houses are looking promising!
Each day, a different participant will post a piece of writing to the website, describing their perspective on the day. Today’s entry was written by a volunteer from Spain.
4:30 AM: During my sleep, something sounded new, blended with my dreams but still stuck in reality. The sound soon became recognizable as praying, sounding from a nearby mosque. Small time spaces between each phrase made it a conversation that had suddenly erupted. Although reality had already replaced dreaming, it wasn’t clear yet which one was better: If I was still dreaming, I would be distracted from the terrible situation faced by this place and its people. Yet the prayers were real, but still magical, recognized by me, neither a Muslim nor Arabic-speaker, as a statement of hope and a pursuit for peace, shared between us (The ICAHD group) and everyone living here in Anata.
During the day, I experienced in practical terms what I had heard at night. Walking through Anata (and its destroyed houses and streets filled with what no being should even have to deal with) it was clear to me that we are expected here, respected here and above all, given as much as possible here.
That made me wonder whether we, as Westerners, have given as little as a thought toward these families and their children, that play with handmade toys and ride broken bicycles, with the same joy that they use to welcome us in here, using big smiles, strong handshakes, and spontaneous football games. Yes, even with their rotten bikes these children smile!
It was this hope, and this feeling of homecoming, that started my day and reassured me that yes, these people deserve it, yes, hope exists, and yes, I am here!
* Some camp volunteers prefer to write anonymously to avoid potential problems with Israeli authorities during their time in Israel/Palestine.
