Near Yanun we met a gentleman who had just witnessed his fields being cleared and tilled by settlers. We discussed actions: he told me that he did not want us to occupy the land as I suggested but would rather go through legal channels to fight it. About this time, twenty military police showed up on the scene and proceeded to guard the settlers from any action we might have taken. The owner of the land yelled out, "You have no right being on this land" and the
response by the settler was, "god gave this land to the Jews." The owner responded that his father gave this land to him.
We managed to work out a deal with the military where we would be "allowed" to harvest some of the fields that this gentleman owned--as long as it wasn't close to where the settlers were seizing the land! We picked olives for most of the day.
VILLAGER LEADS DEFIANCE OF ARMY AT YASUF
The next day, we met again at the road block leading out of Yasuf to harvest olive trees, and the military informed us that, because of a suicide bombing the evening before, north of Tel Aviv, all olive harvesting "anywhere in the West Bank" was prohibited. People were furious, but most accepted the order. Then one lone gentleman tried to enter his fields. Soldiers jumped in front of him telling him to leave or be arrested. With amazing courage, the gentleman pushed his way past the soldier and, along with me and a couple of other ISM
delegates, walked with into his fields. The soldier did nothing. After a few minutes, a few more families did the same, and with the assistance of about 15 internationals the villagers were able to put a good day in harvesting the fields.
response by the settler was, "god gave this land to the Jews." The owner responded that his father gave this land to him.
We managed to work out a deal with the military where we would be "allowed" to harvest some of the fields that this gentleman owned--as long as it wasn't close to where the settlers were seizing the land! We picked olives for most of the day.
VILLAGER LEADS DEFIANCE OF ARMY AT YASUF
The next day, we met again at the road block leading out of Yasuf to harvest olive trees, and the military informed us that, because of a suicide bombing the evening before, north of Tel Aviv, all olive harvesting "anywhere in the West Bank" was prohibited. People were furious, but most accepted the order. Then one lone gentleman tried to enter his fields. Soldiers jumped in front of him telling him to leave or be arrested. With amazing courage, the gentleman pushed his way past the soldier and, along with me and a couple of other ISM
delegates, walked with into his fields. The soldier did nothing. After a few minutes, a few more families did the same, and with the assistance of about 15 internationals the villagers were able to put a good day in harvesting the fields.