An unusual protest is scheduled for Thursday in the West Bank: Settlers and
Palestinians are planning to march together in protest against a section of the
separation barrier Israel is constructing south of Jerusalem.
According to a report
on Srugim, a national-religious news site, the protest was initiated by
Eretz Shalom, a new pro-peace settlers movement. A handbill
distributed by the organization (shown below), claims that the planned fence
"will damage the nature in the area, hurt the residents of the [Palestinian]
village of Wallaje and their fields, won't add to the security of Jerusalem, and
will be a waste of state money."
The settlers invite all residents of the area, "Jews, Christians and Arabs",
to meet at the border police checkpoint at 4:30pm and march together in
protest.
Is this more than a gimmick? It's hard to tell. There has been some talk of peace
initiatives coming from the far-right recently. Naturally, they all lead to
the one state solution,
with most of the settlements remaining in place and the Palestinians becoming
Israeli citizens. These ideas are yet to be developed, but I wouldn't dismiss
them altogether.
Many people on the left will find it hard to accept the idea of settlers
talking about peace, but we should remember that not all the Jews living in the
West Bank are like the radical and violent residents of Yitzhar.
Some of them are from second and third generation in the settlements, and they
really struggle to find a solution that will enable them to live in peace.
According to another
report on Srugim, the members of Eretz Shalom
are not very involved in politics, and view themselves as a grassroots,
regional, initiative. I think we should wish them luck.
Posted
at
27 Apr 2010 4:23 PM
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