Israel Engagement

Jonathan Licht, Co-Chair

Before going on my most recent trip to Israel, I became interested in the Israeli NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Zazim, which is Hebrew for “Moving.” They are involved in improving the relations between Jews and Palestinians on the West Bank, with one of their projects being a practice called “protective presence.” In this NGO context, “protective presence” includes placing volunteers/activists physically with Palestinian civilians in or near places at risk of settler attack. The object is for violence to be deterred, incidents documented (often including filming and recording), and Palestinians feeling less alone and more secure while tending to their land and their animals.

I contacted Zazim to volunteer when I returned to Israel. In a Zoom meeting shortly after I arrived, we were introduced to the leaders of the organization, some Israelis and some Palestinians. There have been increasing settler attacks of vandalism, arson, beatings and even murder over the past few years. In desperation, some Palestinian villages have turned to this organization and others because the Israeli Police and Army were not protecting them as required by international law for an occupying power. Zazim set up a schedule of volunteers to use protective presence for those requesting their help.

We were invited to attend a seminar near Jericho. We heard from a Palestinian man whose family had to leave their village after extreme harassment and finally physical destruction of their property. He told of his efforts to seek help from the authorities and restitution from the Israeli Government. Both efforts were unsuccessful. We heard a lecture on elements of protective presence and practiced role playing to simulate events that we might encounter. Following the session, we were asked if we wanted to sign up for shifts.

Since I wanted to start as soon as possible, I ended up working with another NGO group allied to Zazim, called Mistaclim Lakibush Ba’Einayim, Hebrew for “Looking the Occupation in the Eye.” They were working in an area east of Ariel, where about six Palestinian families dotted the terrain of a valley. They made their livelihood as sheep and goat herders, and their flocks grazed in the valley. A settler compound had been set up among them. In recent months, the Palestinian family’s electricity cables were severed, and the pipes that bring them water were smashed. Repairs were not allowed to proceed and the children had been mostly evacuated. Our first task was to bring water to the remaining family members. We brought water from a municipal site in a large plastic container on a trailer pulled by a four-wheel drive vehicle. Using a pump, we filled dry wells and containers that could keep the families and their animals alive for a few weeks. We also provided a protective presence for any settler confrontations. Almost every day, the settler compound sent out their sheepherders, teenagers or young adults, who would graze their herds surrounding the Palestinians’ yards and houses to intimidate the families. We stood between them and the Palestinians’ property filming them silently as they took pictures of us. We did not move and eventually they left. Our leader saw a Palestinian goat herder below us heading toward the Israeli sheepherder. If the herds were mixed it could lead to confrontation and possible loss of some of the animals. This would be difficult to peacefully reconcile. We quickly warned the Palestinian of the proximity of the other herd and fortunately no confrontation took place. As we made our rounds to check on each family, we were rewarded for our presence by thanks, sweet tea and pieces of watermelon.