Chris Doyle Profile picture
Commentator on Middle East, international politics & Director of @Caabu Council for Arab-British Understanding. (Views mine alone)

Jun 5, 2023, 13 tweets

Reflecting on powerful @Caabu @MedicalAidPal @AmnestyUK Parliamentary delegation to West Bank last week. Thanks to Flick Drummond MP, @SeemaMalhotra1, @AnumSNP @Lord_Collins for coming. Vital to see the lived experience of Palestinians living under occupation & discrimination

In Jerusalem, the rate of demolitions of Palestinian homes is at highest rate in years. Met families in Sheikh Jarrah under threat of forcible eviction. One family had to share their property with settlers. Had little faith that international law would be applied.

In Silwan, in occupied E Jerusalem, thousands of homes are under threat from the extremist settler organisation Elad. In Bustan, one section of Silwan we heard from residents – representatives of 85 families all at risk.

The tent of the Israeli extremist National Security Minister Ben Gvir in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. He used this as his office, designed to be provocative. Looks a lot tattier than when I saw it last November.

We visited the community of Jubbet Al Dhib southeast of Bethlehem. This is in Area C. On 7 May the Israeli army demolished the community’s school, funded by donors - this is what remains. The children still go to the site and try to study under the trees.

Another 57 schools, all Palestinian of course, are under threat of demolition. The Israeli occupation hits Palestinian children extremely hard. The violence but also the daily harassment, humiliation, the grind of daily control, denial of access.

In the Jordan Valley we saw @MedicalAidPal's terrific mobile clinic at work, delivering services to communities in Area C, who do not have access to basic health care. They face demolition & forcible transfer. Most do not have access to running water & electricity unlike settlers

Settler violence is at record highs. We visited communities north of Ramallah and in the Salfit region. In this community a week before settlers from two outposts burnt these crops(wheat) with the help of soldiers.

Nearby was a small plot of land fenced off. A sign that stated that this was a donor-funded agricultural project, with the tag line, talking about being there to help protect vulnerable communities. Summed up the impotence of the international community to hold Israel to account

In the South Hebron hills, settler outposts are increasing. Many in the Israeli government want to legalise them under Israeli law – they are of course all violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, war crimes.

Visited the divided city of Hebron. In the Israeli-occupied and controlled area H2, Israel has created 'sterile' zones where Palestinians can neither drive nor walk.

A settler woman tries to harass the delegation. Around 700 settlers live in the centre of Hebron, for whom the city was divided. This is a major Palestinian city with a population of over 215,000 but nearly all cannot access historic centre.

Overall, the situation is extremely dangerous. Settlers commit daily acts of violence. Major settlement plans going forward. Palestinians facing ever more acute systemic discrimination under a clear regime of apartheid. The international community is doing far too little.

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