"This is not true"

During our patrol today, we followed around a group of Israeli soldiers, who themselves were patrolling the Souq. ISMers and CPTers will often follow around soldier patrols and film them. We realize this must be extremely annoying to them, but sometimes during their patrols they harass Palestinians or worse. We want to be there to be able to document when this happens, and, more importantly, to let the soldiers know they are on camera and in this way to discourage them from doing such things.

Today, we noticed a group of soldiers who were very close to Abed's house. We asked them why they are there, and one of soldiers replied that the Palestinians there throw stones at his Israeli friends. I asked him if he is aware that Israelis in that area throw stones at people's homes. He told me "this is not true".

The soldier who told me that "this is not true" seems to be one of the new ones, so it is possible that he may really be clueless as to what is happening here. Either that, or he is lying.

The ISMer who was with me tried to ask the soldier again if he is aware that Israeli settlers attack the Palestinians, and the soldier, who was speaking English very well up to now, suddenly told us he doesn't speak the language.


Abed's family has been being attacked by settlers for years. The last year I was here, almost every third day they would throw rocks at his house, and tried to dump water on me and another ISMer one time after we arrived. They also twice broke into his personal property, once in plain view of the soldiers, who did nothing. Our first night here this year they threw rocks at his home.
The week prior to this, they not only threw rocks, but also used a water hose to drench his house, by shooting a stream of water through his window.

Unfortunately, such things are not isolated occurrences. They happen again and again.

May one day there be peace and justice for every Palestinian and Israeli. It is my prayer that God, our Creator and Saviour, brings this about in the Holy Land.


Israeli soldier denying that settlers throw rocks at homes of Palestinians.
http://youtu.be/2HimZPQd40o

An attack on Abed's house, June 29.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iwXhUj8vAE