Previously I’ve written an article about the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) that was invited to Hebron by that city’s mayor, Mr. Natshe, in 1995. Because of this courageous group of men and women, who are trained in non-violence, have been to various troubled spots in the world, it was hoped that their presence in this West Bank town would help maintain the peace. They have done much there and the Palestinians have appreciated their efforts to “get in the way” of any violence.

Previously I’ve written an article about the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) that was invited to Hebron by that city’s mayor, Mr. Natshe, in 1995.  Because of this courageous group of men and women, who are trained in non-violence, have been to various troubled spots in the world, it was hoped that their presence in this West Bank town would help maintain the peace.  They have done much there and the Palestinians have appreciated their efforts to “get in the way” of any violence.

Today I wish to share with you the experience of a friend of mine who has been present in Hebron over the years, staying for three months at a time. She writes of her experiences these past ten days.  From reading this you will see what they must now put up with, and I hope that you will remember them before the Lord:

Let’s Play “Dodge Stones”
By JoAnne Lingle

When I was a school child we played dodge ball at recess. Palestinian teachers and students of Qurtuba Girls School, located across from the Israeli settlement of Beit Hadassah, have to dodge stones every morning as they are entering their school.

About ten days ago, Qurtuba’s headmistress, Fariel Abu Heikel, called at 8AM and asked if CPTers could come quickly to accompany teachers who were being stoned by settler children.  Teammate Mary Lawrence and I responded, but by the time we arrived, the teachers were safely in the school and the settler children had left.  Most mornings since then CPTers have accompanied teachers and school girls to Qurtuba School.

There was a time when CPTers could discourage settler stone throwing by CPT’s presence; however, lately it seems that CPTers are targets as well. Practically every day CPTers have stones thrown at them by settler children and settler youth while Israeli soldiers stand nearby watching. Occasionally when a CPTer asks a soldier to stop the settler children from throwing stones, the soldiers yell at the children to stop. Oftentimes they do nothing. One morning a soldier said to us, “You are teasing the children by standing there.  Don’t you know they hate you?  Why don’t you leave and they won’t throw stones at you.”

If the soldier’s solution to stop settler children from throwing stones at CPTers is for CPT to leave, is the solution to stop the settler children from throwing stones at the Qurtuba teachers and students for the Qurtuba School to close?

I keep wondering why Palestinian school children can’t play “dodge ball” instead of “dodge stones”?