Up Hill Both Ways, Peaceful March to Al Fakhiet

On January the 9th, CPT participated in a march to demand safe travel for the children in the South Hebron Hills district who struggle everyday just to make it to and from school. These school children constantly experience violence and harassment from nearby settlers. As a part of a community strongly committed to non-violence, they persist in their efforts to get to school without responding angrily or with retaliation. Instead, these kids have been forced to change routes in order to avoid settler encounters, switching from the short and direct route of 20 minutes, to the middle path of about 40 minutes, and when the hassling continued, eventually finding a new way that takes almost 2 hours to walk. This new way provides a massive buffer zone from any settlements so that settlers would have to go well and truly out of their way in order to continue to scare or harm the children.

You can imagine what it would feel like having to travel more than three hours to and from school when it need only take you a total of 40 minutes. Unfortunately, while the attacks may be less frequent, they have certainly not stopped. Although the Israeli army is legally obliged to provide safety to escort children, it cannot be said that they are diligent in this task. Recently the army confiscated and destroyed the school truck, previously used to carry the younger ones to school. Another common occurrence is the systematic destruction of the rocky road used. Whatever the motivation of these acts, from army or settlers, it is amazing and inspiring to see the community respond not with retaliation or defeat, but with creativity, wanting to bring attention to their children's right to walk safely and peacefully to school.

This is why we felt so honoured to join in on what turned out to be a special day of significance and festivities. Despite the fact that only ten minutes prior to the commencement of the march, the military declared an unexpected Closed Military Zone around the entire area where the march was to take place, closing roads to internationals and media personnel. Nevertheless, the march went on as planned and was lively and optimistic in spirit. Not only did we have the chance to hang out with these precious and brave kids, we experienced genuine Palestinian hospitality and traditional Palestinian dance.

What a treat! It is refreshing to see a culture still so strongly celebrated amidst the testing conditions of the ever-present occupation and its devastating effects. This small step may help the children on what seems like an uphill trip both ways.