On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would force the TIPH out of occupied Hebron accusing it of being “an international force that acts against us”.
Middle East Monitor,
February 1, 2019 at 12:17 pm | Published in: Israel, Middle East, News, Palestine
Open letter to Freeland by UNJPPI Chair
Dear Minister Freeland,
I am writing to you to express my grave concern with respect to the Israeli government decision to force the Temporary International Presence (TIPH) out of occupied Hebron and to urge you to take action to force Israel to reverse this decision.
Prime Minister Netanyahu accusing TIPH of being, “an international force that acts against us.” I cannot imagine anything further from the truth based on my time in Hebron five years ago as a human rights observer and my recent visit there. TIPH has brought a modicum of safety to Palestinians in that area. Palestinians, including very young children, face some of the most violent illegal settlers in the West Bank and an Israeli military that treats Palestinians, including children going to school, as something other than humans deserving dignity and respect for their human rights under international law.
In my brief recent visit, I witnessed Israeli military personnel aggressively harass and search Palestinians who were leaving the Tomb of the Patriarchs. I also witnessed a Palestinian being beaten by Israeli military personnel when he offered minimal resistance to arrest in the streets of Hebron.
These incidents reminded me of five years ago when I stood on a quiet street corner near Shuada Street and noticed a small red dot appear on my chest that originated from an Israeli soldier aiming his rifle at me from across the street. At that time, the street was quiet and I believe his/her action was purely an intimidation tactic directed toward me as a human rights observer clearly wearing the vest provided by the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel.
Respectfully,
Rev. Steve Berube,
Chair: United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel.