Ok. Time for a Twitter-Photo Essay. I'm going to call it.."Just Another Strange Afternoon as a Guest in Occupied East Jerusalem." Here goes:
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
1. We arrived in Issawiya, 4 Israeli leftists, invited by residents to see the police barrier blocking the village pic.twitter.com/FqpOCsoUns
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
2. The barrier had been there since Friday, after the murder of Ali Saad Dawabshe in the West Bank, and clashes btw police & youths
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
3. "This is collective punishment," the men said. "3 days, they are punishing our entire village. This isn't right." pic.twitter.com/eoyIhUfidk
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
4. Soon, we found ourselves walking down the hill, marching toward the policemen parked on the other side of the road pic.twitter.com/Wp1zZoW8OG
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
5. As our group arrives, we can feel the tension crackle in the air. The policemen don their vests, pick up their tear gas launchers.
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
6. "Take the barrier down," says Omar, one of the men. "You're punishing our entire village." The policeman shrugs. pic.twitter.com/jwRSIFMJqp
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
7. "Listen," says the officer, "I respect every race, religion & sex. But theres nothing I can do about it. It's not my decision."
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
8. "Call your commander here," says another group member, "We don't want problems, but we want this taken down." pic.twitter.com/UBWQY7cqfL
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
9. Grumbles, mumbles, private conversations, phone calls. Meanwhile, the other police men (and woman) are ready. pic.twitter.com/8X9Vkip3Vo
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
10. I overhear snippets: "Do we go home? Do we block the road? Do we wait til tomorrow?" Some tension. Some laughter. pic.twitter.com/NmMZYcve4c
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
11. Police car arrives, someone says the name "Chaim." Apparently a higher ranking officer, come to talk to the group pic.twitter.com/bmU7qgbC76
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
12. Chaim gives a lecture about security and stone throwing and burning tires. He says that the blockade is not collective punishment.
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
13. Then he tells the residents they can remove the blockade, but that if there are clashes… People begin to walk. pic.twitter.com/K1dqRid6qv
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
14. Back at the top of the hill, everyone is smiling, taking pictures. It feels like a small victory. pic.twitter.com/XeUgMjsSC3
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
15. "Until next time," they Palestinian organizers say. "We'll be in touch." We say goodbye; so do the policemen. pic.twitter.com/psJZZMnsps
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
16. As we are leaving, a bulldozer crests the hill. It is the most beautiful bulldozer I have ever seen. pic.twitter.com/Ezc7cjKcw8
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
17. Within minutes, the barrier is gone and the road is opened. Small battles, small victories. pic.twitter.com/bewpqKi0VW
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
18. Just another strange day as a guest in occupied East Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/N6ugOHzyqy
— Mori Rothman-Zecher (@Moriel_RZ) August 3, 2015
The Leftern Wall 